The true northerner. [volume] (Paw Paw, Mich.) 1855-1920, 1881-02-11
THE RELATIONS OF CHEMISTRY TO AG-
RICULTURE.


ciety, for the race began as tiilers OF the soi.-
Agriculture s not only the oldest but the
most important OF human industries. Aside
from the triiing contributions from hunting
and fishing, the food and clothing OF the race
10 primarily produced from the cultivation OF
the SOIL "The other pursuits Of life, like 20
many tributary streams aud rivulets, are con-
tinually mesndering until they terminate in the
all-absorbing ocean OF agriculture, which is the
soul OF all other branches of industry invented
In modern ages Without 1t none other can
stand. 1t is that art on which thousand mill
ions OF men are dependent for their very life
in the prosecution OF which nine tentns OF the
fixed capital OF civilized nations are embarked,
and upon which more than two hundred mill
IONS OF human beings expend their daily toll
the parent and forerunner of all other arts. In
every cline, then, and at every epoch, the in
vestigation Of the principles on which the ra
tlonal practice of their art is founded ought to
have commanded the attention Of the greatest
minds; to no other subject could they have
been more benefcially directed.
Every human calling-every industry of what
ever name-is vitally interested IN the success
of agriculture The best endeavors OF every
man should he offered to advance this frst and
most permanent of the worlds industries.
Although the art OF agriculture was among
the earliest cultivrted, yet the science OF agri-
culture is only OF modern development. While
many OF the processes of modern agriculture
are identical with those OF the earliest ages, yet
IL
to determine the reasons for their various pro-
cesses, but we're content to accept tho facts OF
their art as ultimate facts and sought for moth
ing more; the great laws which underlie and ex-
plain the facts involved in the art OF agriculture
they did not seek to find. While the art existed
IN we'll advanced state, the science had no ex-
istence.
Scientific agriculture requires all the other
sciences as foundation, for 1t e1acts tribute
from them all; hence its development must
come later in order OF time Yet, many OF the
natural sciences are only Of modern develop
msnt. Take the most pervading and far-reach-
ing OF all the natural sciences-chemistry which
is yet in its infancy, the central fact out OF
which the science was first developed was the
discovery OF oxygen; yet Joseph Prestey only
discovered oxygen in 1774. Young as it is, how
ever, chemistry has already become the most
complete and exact of the natural sciences. It's
influence on human society is no less remarka-
placed Its stamp OH the directing genius Of ev-
cry modern industry. II smelts ores, extracts
metals, refines steel, forms glass, soap and pot
terry, makes bread, refnes sugar, tans leather,
dyes cloth, brews beer, distlls spirits, makes
paints, refnes oils, bleaches, washes, purifes
ther, is not a morsel we eat, garment we
wear nor room we inhabit that is not formed
or modified by the supple fingers Of chemistry.
1t gives laws to comm cree, controls trade, su-
pervises the transmission Of intelligence and
determines the means of travel. 1t moulds hu-
man destiny and gives shape to modern civilIza-
ton. 1t has revolutionized war and dictated
terms OF peace. II was the cultivation Of this
science which has made Germany the first power
in Europe. 1t was the rifed cannon OF Krupp
that won the victories or Graveotte and Sedan.
1t was the Bessemer steel that made these guns
possible guns of so long range that French
officer complained, with bitter oath, that he
had been whipped SIX times in battle yet had
never once seen his enemy.
What chemistry has already accomplished is
only dim foreshadowing of what it will yet do.
Take the single fact that in the near future
chemistry will give us cast steel cheaper than
wrought iron, for cast steel is the brother Of
cast iron, while wrought iron is only his cousin,
think what a revolution is involved for every
manufacture and human calling in that one
possibility.
For the farmer chemistry has done much, in
directly, in the improved machinery and in the
increased facilities for transportation it has
made possible. But for farming directly it has
done less than for any other industry, and there
are many reasons for this. In the first place
chemistry has been engrossed IN developing the
facts and the principles Of this vast science. In
the second place, the applications OF this sci
ence to mining and metalurgy, to bleaching
I dyeing aud cahco-priuting, the manufacture OF
acids and alkalies, &C., &c. have been more
simple and easy than its application to agricul-
ture, and chemists have receivrd q more appre-
ciative welcome from these classes than from
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have shown a keen anxiety to avail themselves
OF every hint which science throws out for their
guidance, too many farmers have been doubt
ing and captlous about the teachings OF science
or have put an extingusher on the whole mat
ter by calling it "book farming" as if every
fact or principle when once placed in print
ceased to he of any value whatever.
Then again, the application OF chemistry to
agriculture involve questions Of very complex
nature and hard to be solved The chemist has
to deal with soil not only very complex but
very varying in constitution; the seasons are
changeable, and the products of vegetable
growth are themselves very complex,
The farmer needs to understand chemistry
Every grain Of soil is definite chemical
substance, and all its changes are governed by
chemical laws. The chief products OF vegeta-
BILE growth are chemical substances and their
formation is in accordance with chemical laws.
Every process OF growth from the termination
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