The farmer and mechanic. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1877-1885, 1879-08-28

IOIcSL AICdS w IUCIcdScu
least with the increase of the area OF agri-
cultural cultivation. Trees are the doml-
mating members of the Vegetable kingdom:
They are necessary factors in the sum total
of those influences which constitute the
environment Of animal life. Trees by ao-
sorbing carboric acid gas and emitting
OXYGEN, act as agents in rendering the at
mosphere life-sustaining. By interposlng
their foliage between the sun and the esrth
they serve a useful purpose in shelterlng the
soil from the heat. and, as conductors OF
heat, in equalizing the temperature OF the
earth and the air. By covering the surface
Of the ground with a layer OF leaves ana
mold, they greatly assist in preventing the
escape of heat from the soil, this layer OF
dead matter being still more useful in Alb
sorbing the fructifying rains and allowing
the water to ~percolate steadily into the
thirsty earth. inste.d of sweeping over its
surface, disintegrating and washing 1t
away. As a mechanical shelter. trees play
an important part in protecting both the
ground and human habitations from cold
and destructive winds. By their power OF
absorption tie roots Of trees take up from
the soil and give off through their leaves
All amount of moisture which. deducting
theretrom the quantity absorbed In turn by
the leaves from the air. is sufficiently to
exercise an important influence in increas-
ing the general humidity of the atmos-
phere. As an agent in cooling the atmos-
phere about and above it, and thus %increas-
ing the frequency Of rains and the amount
Of precipitation of both rain and dew,
the forest subserves as a most beniicent
purpose.
By the protection afforded the soil against
the escape of moisture, it preserves and
tends to make regular and permanent the
natural springs which are necessary to the
maintenance of vegetable life. In protect
ing the surface of the ground from rapid
evaporation of the rains which fall upon it,
and providing a spongy covering which
rapidly absorbs and distributes these rains,
it prevents the disastrous foundations of
rivers which too often occur when the sur
face Of the ground offers no distractions to
the onward flow of the ~rivulets that sudden
ly feed the main stream with their accumu-
lated waters. The forest, too, guards the
sell against abrasion and displacement from
torrents and overfows, and thus again ex-
erts its conservative influence for mans
good. Moreover, we need trees for the de-
light they afford as at once the most males
tic, imposing and beautiful of natures veg
etable FORMS"
Besides this professional knowledge, the
farmer needs the same general culture as
men in other professions. The study of
languages, ancient and modern, is as es-
sential to the farmer as it is to the lawyer,
the physician, or the theologian. And yet,
while the farming class exceeds so 90 of
the population of this country, not 10 90 of
the students in our literary colleges and
universities, are looking to agriculture as a
profession.
There are in the United States 763 col
leges and universities. Of these
372 or so 90 are Literary or Scientific.
III or Is 90 are Theological.
"a or ~ 90 are Medical.
81 or II 90 are Commercial or Bust
ness.
40 or 5 90 are Law Schools.
"a or 4 90 are exclusively Scientific.
And only % or 3 90 are Agricultural and
Industrial or have Agricultural depart
ments.
This is surely a bad showing for a~gricul-
ture AS compared with other professions es-
pecially when we take into consideration
that agriculture is the business in which
more than one half Of our whole population
are exclusively engaged.
In the older and mure experienced ma
tons agriculture occupies a more prominent
place in popular estimation, and has much
more of the fostering care of government.
Tbe United States Commissioner of Agri-
culture, IN his last annual report. in speak
ing of the great difference in the policy of
our government, and the government of
other countries, says:
Occupying a country which possesses
every variety of soil and Climate, extending
from the Arctic North to the tropic South.
and in which agriculture is by far the great
er lnterest-that upon which all other in
dustries depend. A country one half of
the inhabitants of which are directly en-
gagged in agricultural pursuits, yet, says he,
our government is far behind all other
civilized nations in the announcement Il
gives to agricultural pursuits and prog.
ress." re
To what extent the prosperity of this
country is dependent upon agriculture, will
appear from the official statement that in
the year 1878, the entire aggregate value of
all our exports amounted in round mum.
bers to $40, 600, 600; and that of this vast
amount in~considerabls when compared with
our home consumption. Agriculture con-
trlOute0 S556 600 O00 laov;nr o.l- Aonx