Montgomery County sentinel. [volume] (Rockville, Md.) 1855-1974, 1873-04-18
AGRICULTURAL.
For the Sentinel.
Improvement Of Land.
NO. "

Few are really aware Of the important rela-
tions which geology and chemistry bear to
agriculture They supply us with principles
by which we can predict the general quality
of both soils and subsoils and where soil is OF
iaferior quality, and yet susceptible Of i'm
proyement. The same general principles in
dictate whether the means ofimproying it are
likely to exist in any given locality Such
knowledge is of infinite importance to those
now emb0rking in this section in The quest Of
homes. Indeed, may say that no kind Of
agricultural knowledge can be as valuable as
that TO which the rudiments of geology ard
chemistry will lead them.
Those who settle among us being prepared
by this former privilege Of geology, &C. in
locating, will say 'on this spot rather than
on that in this distric. rather than in that
viii purchase my home BECAUSE though
both appear equally inviting, yet know from
the geological structure Of the country that
here shall have the more permanently pro-
ductiye soil here am more within reach of
agricultural Improvement, y and this oversight
has arisen chiefly from the value Of such
knowledge not being understood from
the very nature Of il being unknown even 10
otherwise well instructed practical men, 1t is
not to men well skilled merely in the details
of local farming, and who are therefore de-
servedly considered as authorities and good
teachers in regard 10 local practice, that we
are to look for an exposition of those greet
principles in which II universal system Of ag-
rlculturc must be based without which, 1t
must ever remain mere collection of empiri-
cal rules, to be studied and l,lboricusly mas
tered in every district we go to, as the tray
eller in foreign lands must acquire new Ian
guage every successive frontier he passes.
Piaro-are certain definite objects which, in
their connection with agriculture, chemistry
and geology may hope to attain In the first
place, TO coileet and ia0estigate all kHown .fdcts
in Pr1cticM husJanhy. Many things which
are received as facts in agriculture prove to be
more or less untrue when Investigated and
tested by xperiment-many ascertained facts
appear ineNpcabe TO the uninstructed- manv
even opposite and contradictory, which known
principles clear up and reconcile yet there
are many more which only prolonged research
can enable us to explain
The scientific principles upon which the art
of culture depends have not heretofore been
sufficiently understood or appreciated by prac-
teal men in this section. If agriculture is ever
TO be brought to that comparative state of per-
lection TO which many other arts have already
attained, it will only be by availng itself, as
they have done, of the many aids which sci.
ence offers to it. And if the practical man is
ever to realize upon his farm all the advantage
which science is capable Of placing within his
reach, he must become so far acquainted with
the connection which exists between the art by
which he lives and the sciences, especially of
chemistry, geology, and chemical philosophy.
The management and tilage of the soil is
branch of practical chemistry, which, like the
art of dyeing, of lead smelling, or Of glass
making, may advance TO certain degree of
perfection, without the aid of pure science, but
which can only have its processes explained,
and be led on to shorter, more simple, more
economical and more perfect processes by the
aid iof scientific principles.
Already are our people awakening to the
importance of this truth. There is an old
adage that the darkest cloud has alwaysa sill
very lining, and am disposed to. appropriate
the adage. The cloud Of adversely which has
so long darkened our lard is giving place to
silvery lining. The South is yet the wealth.
est part of America. She is not poor-and a
few years hence, when auriferous haryests are
teeming from every "wornoutn field, ard our
cities are prospecting by their increasing
trade and population, and the whr Of ma
chinery is echoed on the hill tops from our
waer-eourses and railroads. like net WORK,
intersect every section, this inspired truth
shall be re-echoed.
GLAUCUS.
EuLALIA, Montgomery Co, Nd.
SEED CoRN The experience of each passing