The Stark County Democrat. [volume] (Canton, Ohio) 1833-1912, 1874-10-29

lefeSl Oh lilt Nuuillig WIZ HNtu''.
such are the passions of mankind, and
such has been the ambition or folly OF
rulers, that we cannot point to single
day since the history of the race began
to be written when peace prevailed IN
every part of the globe. That the want OF
communication between different peo-
ples and even between the people OF diff
ferent portions of the same country, ma
terially retarded the acquisition OF knowl
edge, is obviously true, and presents a
contrast between ancient and modern
times so striking as to excite feelings ap-
preaching to wonder. In ancient lltera-.
ture we find volumes upon volumes OF
history. politics, the art OF war, phlloso-
phy. mathematics, and the drama; and
poems whose grandeur and beauty have
never been surpassed, possibly never
been euualled, by any similar productions
of human genius. But, with a few mea-
gre exceptions, we look in vain for hooks
of travels: and those we do find are al
most or wholly destitute OF practical
much less scientific value. Though we
read of vast migrations stretching from
the mountains and plains of ASIA to the
shores of the Mediterranean and the Az
lantic. the story is always the same; 1t Is
of war and of conquest, of havoc and OF
destruction, of the overthrow OF clVlllza--
ton and the spread of barbarlsm, ana
not of the diffusion of knowledge, the
progress of arts and of science, the I'M
provement of the earth and It's greater
Weld, the bettered condition OF the hu-
man race, and the spread Of peace ana
goodwill among men. In an address de-
! iivered in 1869 Professor Buckhnd SAID ;
I can remember the time when large
numbers of English farmers seldom went
beyond the boundary of their own coun-
ty: some even hardly passed the limits
of their own or the adjoining parish
What change has been affected since
the introduction of the railway Farm
ers NAV now be seen travelling hundreds
of miles to an exhibition, or in company
as members of club paying periodic
visits to inspect the practices OF distln-
guished individuals of their craft IN dli-
ferent parts of the country A little per-
ambulating of this sort has a most salll-
tary effect in enlarging the farmers circle
of observation, enabling him to gain new
ideas TO break loose from traditional pre-
indices, and to improve his practice by
adapting it to the new lights which
science and enlarged experience throws
across his path.
What is here said of the perambula-
tions of the farmers of England may be
repeated with more emphasis of our own
countrymen; for of all the dwellers upon
our planet there are none so addicted to
locomotion as the people of the United
States. In country with l3,OOO miles OF
coast along which thousands OF vessels
ply from port to port in country
| trayersed in every direction by naviga-
BILE streams, OH which the steamboat Is
seldom long out of sight; in country
with 10000 miles of railway in operation
and uncounted miles of turnpike roads
in community of thirty-seven States
and ten Territories, between which unre-
stricted free trade exists; with popula-
ton whose related members are scatter
ed from the Atlantic to the Pacitic-a
father for instance, in Maryland, a son
in Missouri, grandson in California or
Oregon, all drawn by natural affection to
desire from time to time each others so
ciety-it is not strange that Americans
are by far the greatest travellers in the
world. And as to the inducements offer
ed to the farmer by agricultural and me
chanical societies and exhibitions to leave
his home for brief period each year,
and improve his knowledge by discussion,
observation, and comparison, IN no coun-
try are they so great as in the united
States; for in no other country do such
associations and exhibitions abound TO
the same extent. But if the friendly
personal intercourse of mankind has IN
creased in 80 wonderful a degree in mod
ern times, the growth of their intellectual
intercourse is yet more remarkable and
striking. Compare, or rather contrast,
the slow and toilsOme practice OF manu-
| script writing, by which facts and
thoughts were formerly recorded, with
the marvellous product of the steam
printing press, and your wonder Will be
not that the ancients knew so little, but
that, with such imperfect means, they
learned so much and you will readily
acknowledge that not until the discovery
of the art of printing was it possible to
get together and compile grand record
of facts and experiments, under different
climates. at different attitudes, in differ
ent soils and under a multitude OF vary
ing conditions, from which the man oi
science might deduce general agricultural
truths and without which his efforts
would be comparatively vain. have
thus briefly and imperfectly remarked
upon some of the reasons for the slow
growth OF agricultural knowledge; bu
there is one Of them about which a word
at least, should be said. Chemistry,
says the Encyclopedia Britannia" "a
a regular branch of natural science, is o
comparatively recent origin, and ear
hardly be said to date from an earle
period than the latter third Of the pas
century. y From the very natur
/ Of chemistry it was impossible that
should take truly scientific form unit
the balance was applied to it," whicl
was first done by Lavoisier little NOR
than one hundred years ago. But, in tn
, opinion of many of the ablest writer's O
) the subject, there cannot be, without tn
1 application of chemistry, true and pei
: feet scientific agriculture; and hence az
: ricultural chemistry forms a. part Of tn
+ regular course of instruction in all school
i in Europe and America instituted for tn
r purpose of promoting agricultural know
i edge. And here it may be well to motto
), an objection which, though often mad
:, and often answered, is yet frequently n
Q peated, and perhaps will ever be. How
says one, can a farmer, engaged froI
o youth to old age in manual labor on h
" farm, acquire this scientific knowledg
i SO much vaunted and said to be so nece
o sary? How can he find time and oppo
l. mnity to master geology, chemistry, DO
e any, and physiology, and apply them
D, his daily pursuit? And if success in h
J. calling is dependent on his profouI
n knowledge of these sciences, how can
,r ever hope to succeed? The answer
It these questions is plain to him who o
II serves and reflects. Every farmer is n
|; expected to master either OF the
-. -. ..,,-s. -. .. L. to a.-xrtoffod