The Portland daily press. [volume] (Portland, Me.) 1862-1921, 1876-07-25
THE FARM AND HOUSEHOLD.
Scientific AgricuIture.*

Scientific Agriculture
Until the beginning of the present century,
agriculture may be said to have been known
only as an art-the knowledge and expert
ence of men, related merely to its practical
operations. If art may be defined to be
work, and science thought, then the latter
had no existence in ancient husbandry, as
farmers only worked to raise bread enough to
keep alive the inhabitants of the earth, hay
ing few or no plans for economy of labor,
surplus production, or the preservation of all
elements OF fertility for the benefit of future
generations. Even down to the beginning of
the Christian era, and in the time of Virgil
and his contemporaries, the records of agri-
culture will compare favorably with those of
the last century, SO far as an approach to sci
ence, or disposition to embrace absurdities
is concerned.
At the period referred to, few thoughtful
minds began to review the mass of facts and
results, which, for six thousand years, had
been accumulating in the world of agricul-
ture, and to draw out some fundamental and
all-pervading principles, upon which all SUBJ
sequent operations might be intelligently
based. To the impulse given by the SUCCESS
tions and investigations of Sir Humphrey
Davy, Baron Liebig, and their successors. are
we mainly indebted for the present activity
manifested In this field of scientific research.
While, however, we recognize the existence
Of clear and well-defned science in the realm
Of agriculture, we have to regret that it is
not more widely diffused. Outside of labor
atories, libraries and lecture rooms it is rare
ly found; and it becomes matter of great
importance to decide. how it shall be gener-
ally disseminated. Wherever it is practica.
BILE, 1t is certainly the best way to receive in
struction In this department OF natural sci
ence, from the lips of the teacher, as has been
demonstrated in the somewhat similar de.
partment Of medicine. If the multitude of
agricultural associations, boards, Institutes,
etc., were to go up and down the length and
breadth of the land as itinerant instructors,
more beneficial results would follow than
from their stationary sittings.
As, however, it is well nigh impossible for
farmers as body to avail themselves of even
such opportunities, on account of the nature
Of their employments; we find that they can
only be reached by the press.
A recent examination OF work designed
as textbook for schools and colleges, leads
us to the belief that it is worthy of the notice
of every intelligent agriculturist. who wishes
to be well informed on the general subject of
scientific agriculture. OF southern origin,
and containing some matters related espec-
tally to their system Of husbandry, it never
heless deals in those general principles and
facts of universal importance with which all
progressive farmers should be familiar. Its
successive chapters treat of-the anatomy
and physiology of plants, agricultural mete-
orology. soils as related to physics. chems-
try of the atmosphere, of plants and soils,
fertilizers and natural manures, animal nu-
triton, with an appendix and notes, full of
facts relating to some Of our staple crops and
to recent discoveries. Omitting those Dor
tions relating to abstract science which,
from the use of technical terms, would be
somewhat obscure to those not versed in sci
entific nomenclature; we find that the fol.
lowing topics are treated-germination of
seed, plant growth, formation and growth
of wood, circulation of sap, temperature,
frost, formation of clouds, causes of rain,
electricity, division Of soils. drainage,
trenching, plows, subsoiling, ammonia in
air and water, analysis of soils, decay, fer.
mentation, special fertilizers, superhosphates
stable manure, night soil, wood ashes, pro-
duction of milk, butter making, wheat bran,
fodder-corn. These subjects are of vital i'm
portance to every cultiyator of the soil, and
an intelligent comprehension of them may be
obtained by any person with an ordinary ed
ucation, who will devote an hour a day to
the reading of the page or two in which each
topic is concisely treated.
An increased weight and breadth would be
given to the work and its circulation would
be extended if a few sectional discussions
and local specifics were eliminated, or else
balanced by corresponding suggestions appro-
pirate to other localities.
While, however, we add our scommenda-
ton to those already given it as text book
for the schools, we desire more especially to
call the attention of our readers to its value
as manual of information on scientific apri.
culture-alike adapted to the necessities and
capacities of every farmer.
Textbook Of Scientific Agriculture: By E. M,
Pendleton, M. D. $3.50 by mail, postpaid. A. s.
Barnes q Co. New York, 1876.
Nutrilive Value of Corn.
The prejudice existing against the use of
m aize as an article of human food arnnnn