Green-Mountain freeman. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1844-1884, 1877-07-25
D." Exact Science.''

that we know we can always produce the
same results under the same class of cir
cumstances, and we cannot have the same
exact results if we vary the circumstances. "
In another article he goes on to illustrate
and elucidate his science in the matter of
shearug sheep. 1t takes certain amount
of heat to evaporate certain amount OF
water, and in the animal it takes certain
amount of food to produce that heat. The
fleece of a sheep unshorn will carry more
water than a shorn one; therefore, if your
sheep are 10 be ont in cold storm they
should be shorn; and if man is out in
such a storm and is wet through, if he
cannot get any clothing for a change, he
should take off his great coat.
This exact science may be new to some
of our readers, as it was to US, and like us,
they may wonder why the barriers of sci
ence should he fixed at the great coat
The under coat was water soaked rs well
also the vest, and the shirt and pants like
wise. Why does exact science spare the
coat and vest, at least? A man would
have to possess n strong and abiding faitl
in science to make him strip off his clothes
in a cold storm to keep him from getting
chilled; and then the plain common SENSE
of the community would set him down a'
crazy ora fool.
Passing without notice the idea which
he advances by inference, of science which
is inaccurate and inexact we will quote ;
paragraph showing how perfect and ex
act and complete the science of agriculture
is, and how easily an exact science ma!
be discovered and formulated, so to speak
This is from another correspondent in con
troversy with Mr. Whitaker:
Agriculture is an exact science, exac
meaning perfect or complete. but on
knowledge of it is far from perfect"
Certainly. In favor of the war, but op
posed TO its prosecution.
In accordance with an assertion like this
science should be defined as an ignoranc
of laws, principles and relations:
Science is knowing, of course, but W
think that mistake, such as DR.. Cress
has made, is not true science. We hav
the greatest respect for true science, bu
none for mistakes. Just such blundeI
and mistakes rs this are what have mad
the common farmers of New England S
suspicious of anything called scientific"
The common" farmers of New Eng
land are not suspicious of anything Gale
scientific. They have the utmost conf
dence in and respect for the multiplicatio
table, and accept it unquestioned. Bt
when absurd theories are advanced, an
pressed upon the attention of farmers 8
scientific, or practices equally SO are d,
Tended on the same grounds, the farmer
are suspicious, and justly SO, and the GOO
sound common sense of the communit
shows itself
If farming is an "exact SCIENCE" i
Mr.. Whitaker tell US how much corn "
shall raise this year. We will venture |
would first want to know how much WI
planted, and on what kind of land, no
much manure we put on, ETC., and The
might say we should or ought TO raise
much; but it would be entirely uncerta
whether we raised that or less or NOR
But if we required of the science of mat
ematics the area Of our corn. field, it wou
ask no questions, but give US the resu
which would be a scientific one, a "know
edge certain and evident in itself, or
the principles from which it is deduced,
with which it is certainly connected"
If farming is science, so is blacksmit
ing, and cobbling and infinitely more
is carpentry.
But to give clearer idea of Mr.. VIII
takers exact science we give another c
tract from his article:
"There are so many things connect
with agriculture that has never be
dreamt of in our philosophy, that we mu
not be surprised when we find men Ii
N. R. H., etc.
In accordance with this, science must
defined, not as the knowledge of the I
cessity and reason of law;" or,
knowledge of reasons and their conc
sions," but, as laws and conclusions, t
necessity of and reasons for which we 4
largely Ignorant of.
If farming is science, what science
it? Some might say, chemistry |
farming is, as yet, ten times over more
debted to mechanic arts titan to chemist
for benefits received.
TO illustrate how well farming confor
to the definition given to science as
knowledge Of many, methodcally
gested and arranged so as to become
tanable by one" take, for instance, dai
ing; There is not single point in
process, from the time milk is drawn fir,
the COW Save and except certain deg
of cleanliness) till the product is finish
and sold, at which the most opposite p
cesses are not in common use, some sea
ing the milk as soon as drawn from
COW, some putting it in ice-water, and
on through every stage. The same
nearly true of all the other branches
farming; of deep and shallow plowi
the amount Of seed used, of hoeing mi
or little, ETC., etc, through the whole ca
logue.
Farming is not a science and never
be science. That sciences may be
piled to it is true, and he who appl
them best or most in accordance with
entifc laws, will be the best farmer,
to make complete whole, a "comr
ment Of cognitions" of that of which
large number of the component fact
are, and must be, unknown quantit
seems to us impossible.
The fiat English turnip may be prof
bly, sown as late as the goth or 25th
July, and may be put in where early p
have been sown or, as in our case, VIII
the melons have failed to take the SD
allowed for them, put in few turnips.