The Republican journal. [volume] (Belfast, Me.) 1829-current, 1877-03-22
Farm, Garden and Household.
Science on the Farm.

ne mere mention Ol tlp WOtu science
ol scientist appears to be obnoxious to
many OF our farmers, who denounce scen-
itc agriculture as 4 yeritable cheat and
q. snare. 0f course, il is not to be denied
that there has been, and is at the present
day. an immense amount of charlatanry
among the Sell-styled scientific agriculture
sis. hut the same is true of all other pro
fes~ion> or branches of science and art.
D. hc medical profession, important rs it is
ln the welfare OF mankind, is overburden-
rd wiih quackerv. but that does not in
1'N.datc the CLAIMS Of the skiltul physician
..t surgeon tu honorable recognition by
lnr immunity III" greatest obstacle 10
l.r advance 1t true science in all the
.-.rA-j Professions, is the cIowding OF
rsujma.e channels with charlatans who
-laWd IT, ittle lear OF punishment il dis
covered. ~ that The unleaIned or even I'M
nrc..e frequently a--ume titles To which
they have lao right
EHt HE farmer IN u majority OF instan-
.a'- mas misunderstood the meaning OF the
'e.m science and scientific agriculture, be-
ewing Il L. pe something far beyond the
apprehension ut persons who have not
"rru specially trained in school or college
NaN. genuine science AT best is merely
u mmou sense and observation combined,
ali a. preparatory studies are little more
-Iau good Tools W tA which 4 man works
nd problems u aitcr wears OF course a
mechanic cannot do a. good work with a
lew Y. poor tools As he can with plenty OF
Ilc very best, but he may still be scientific;
t.- same IS true with the farmer, and the
-tter his preparatory education the more
4p.I viii be hi progress; but because he
.4uuot go As deep in his Investigations as
me others, II does not follow that no in
-~iiLation should be made.
Ihr lica seems To have got abroad that
rnec ia farming means chiefly the anal
-S-t soils and the food of animals; this
uur iT If certainly IS ono, originated
n.m tnc Investigations and writings of
-a,.I mel. a- E1U>Sengault, I.lebig, John
-.. tj HpWemp0rancous authors whose
.Io 4Hal- trre mainly in that direction,
4u HaIr- "a many instances carried lar
I'd What was necessary tor practical
Ut.tN 1t = MT, however, necessary tor
I'd Wt- On hr i thorough chemist, geologist,
tan-,t or Il specialist in any one branch
-c4guce. to hr 4 scientific farmer. Good
agh.ug is a scientific operation, pro-
nIug haIh mechanical and chemical re-
.t- there being an abundant Opportuni-
&, lor tAo display of a high order Of srien-
rc intelligence in the simple act OF turn
y =ycr the soil 10 ascertain lust how
Irrp 1u plough in order To produce the
l-t.-f1 ..K-at.y- iitlara,,+ Of lo,,,t
u.rc- "a great amount ul study, and
many carefully conducted experiments.
hcu tIIo ploughing previous TO putting in
a crop Is often followed by the Stirring OF
tAe S,,il among the plants, and The trequen-
depth, and best time toy performing
1H operation, call inr some very close
,.ucn.Ation~ ami Investigations which are
undoubtedly oi 4 scientific order
ln the feeding and care of animals scien- |
-.ti6 Investigations are constantly required
and although 4 farmer may not be able to
7ninct various analysis IN chemical
laboratory and determine The composition !
III timothy cr clover hay, and learn |
which a. Ihe Iicar-t food tor His stock he |
.,n readily obtain the knowledge sought |
F experiments ~ feeding the two kinds /
rpdately, and motng The effect upon the |
.n.mas l.nt il i scarcely necessary in
.eSc day ot cheap books and periodicals |
Hi tarmcl tu spend much time in prar-
II experiments OF this Kind for the value
IYod ot nearly cIe} known plant was
.tp 7ucc 7rert3incd. and a man would .
n tar lnuA-h }0 spend his time IN re-
.pe lmon where u0 new dis
y~rlo- ARE ...eir to he made lhe great .
.l' ul tu'. j3N d. not new discoveries in
ruce pertaining ~ agriculture, bat the
-Hcr, tdIu-ion and application nf what
uFfadG known 10 comparatively StilaH
Wubrr hrtr Is not the least need OF
new forage plants or grain, but those
ar auc51y posses should become better
GOWN among The tillcrS OF the soil, and
bis cau only bc brought about by u more
Urlul p-rueal Of books and periodicals
'-Evted to natural sciences.
,rrv farmer should know enough OF
..Al4 d. enable him to distinguish the
.inm4uiv cultivated grasses and other
plants from those growing wild in his I'M
-.t waited lands When he has learned
'uI- muah. he viii know the noXious
,,ecie- from the useful, aud enough OF
heir natural habits to enable him to more
r.dilv destroy the one and encourage the
.r1wth ot the other than if he remained
iot8l ignorance oi botanical science.
l.r same is also true of entomology, i0r
requires nn great amount ot study To
-aln tile difference between the common |
.4atAs aad butterflies, or to distinguish /
1Ae bugs from beetles and vet this know- |
edge would frequently be Of great assist |
lnrc o. The farmer I'M enabling him to |
aulW Ai- friends from his foes among IN /
-..rt- Ven what W0uid generally be /