The Somerset herald. [volume] (Somerset, Pa.) 1870-1936, 1875-03-10
The Elements OF Our National
strength.

They ell spring from the soil
There can be no civilization where
the soil is not cultivated. Civiliza-
ton never belonged to nomadic lie.
The Asiatic hordes that swept over
Europe from the plains to Asia, bad
no civilization. Alike with the Amer
lean Indian, they passed from coun-
try to country consuming the natu-
raj products Of the soil, and moving
on as rapidly as they were consumed.
Whatever nations or communities,
or tribes have halted long enough to
cultivate the soil from instincts oil
selEpreseryation, then agriculture
gave a basis to civilization.
Nations that have lived chiefly on
commerce have had to sell the fruits
of their labor in exchange for bread
that was raised by other countries.
The first institution eve establish
ed in the world was that of a family.
Ont Of these primeval forces have
enrunr communities, laws, govern
mems. religion, civilization. All the
wealth Of the world comes from the
soil and the wealth of a nation, and
the aggregate wealth Of the world
+ depends on an exact ratio TO the
amount Of labor we'll directed and IN
diligently performed on the soil.
The products of the soil fix the value
Of everything else.
It is not enough to raise bread out
of the soil. The question comes up
how much bread and meat, aud fruit
/, and clothing can be brought out Of a
) given area Of ground in the best con,
dition aud with the least labor and
/ injury to the source Of production,
This principle of modern science
as applied to agriculture, has only
begun to be understood even by th'
ATTEST agriculturists.
What the soil is SasS.s one man OF
7 the earth yet perfectly understands
much less is anything known on thu
> subject by many Of those who plan
Z and reap.
Just in proportion, therefore, al
. knowledge on these subjects is mul
tiplied. exactly in that proportion Ii
/, wealth increased, and all the art
. that adoFn and embellish civilized
|, life.
5 In this business, as ia all others
1 the first thing to do is to diseoVe
q mistakes, and then remedy them
Until within a hundred years il is
/ very doubtful matter whether thu
i world had, for two thousand years
Il made any progress whatever in actu
b al agricultural knowledge. Th
r Greeks and Romans, and Egyptian
u and Assvrians, cultivate their sol
+ better than any portion of the eartl
n was cultivated even City years age
One great drawback TO the difu
sion Of correct views on this subjec
a is the same drawback we meet will
It in Disseminating truths on all othe
subiects-namely, preconeeived nc
lions which cannot be readily over
thrown. In religion, they max
q bigots; 10 science, they bury or cru
city martyrs, like Calico OF Colum
d bus; in literature, they perpetual
!; and transmit frsm age to age book
and theories, and styles, which ever
educated mau coming afterwards !
confronted with and which canno
readily be o%verthrOwn. Bacon fount
f. this true when he overthrow the sys
S tenn of Aristotle, but be knew j
e would take a century TO do it, and
he says, 81 leave my fame to aftel
ages"
The hardest obstacle to overcome
; in disseminating correct views oil
agriculture, however, is not precon
+ eeiged impressions, which may b
called prejudices, but the actual dis
q semination, ia too many instances, {
false views.
The time has come when the bes
= intellect Of this nation should b
: brought TO bear in collecting and di
y fusing. as widely and as rapidly a
- possible, all the knowledge that tn
r human race possesses in reference {
4 this greatest of all material que'
tons: How to till our soil.-Pen an.
. Plor.