St. Landry democrat. (Opelousas, La.) 1878-1894, 1884-08-30
Science in Farming.

It is an encouraging fact that there is
less disposition among practical farm
ers to sneer at scientific methods in ag-
riculture, than there has been in times
past, and apparent willingness among
them to accept the conclusions of SCI
entlfic research in regard to agricultural
matters As in various other spheres
of human thought and effort, an alb
surd idea has prevailed that the appli-
cation of scientific principles was in
some way inconsistent with common
| Sense" methods, that the former were
the outcome of theorists and Missionaries,
destined to heap upon those who
adopted them the humiliation of fail
Nre and the contempt of sober minded.
men.
There may have been some cause for
this feeling, in the foolish experiments
| and impracticable schemes of some who
essayed to teach the science of agricult-
ure; but to suppose that there is an
essential antagonism between scientific
truths and the principles of practical
| agriculture is as absurd az to suppose
that thing can be opposed to itself.
| True science relates to the causes of
things, to principles that are immut-
able, to truths that are always and
everywhere applicable. If the pro-
cesses OF nature. the termination and
growth of vegetation, the character of
soils, the distribution of plants, and in
Vulnerable other things that come under
the observation of the farmer, were the
result of chance, like the world of
Hafed's dream, then it might be allow
ed that knowledge Of science in the
abstract, being, in the nature of things,
incapable of application, weuld only be
vexation and WEAKNESS of spirit.
But since all these things are known to-
be controlled by fixed laws, seed-time
and harvest, and all the operations Of
nature, climatic influences and changes,
being Ia accordance with certain estab-
lished principles, it would seem to be a
proper and judicious thing to gain, as
far as possible, knowledge Of these
laws and principles.
The word science is derived from a
Latin verb meaning simply TO knosO,
and therefore to say that man has no
need of science in order to be a good
farmer is really to assert that he can
succeed just as well If he is without
knowledge. or, in other words, if he is
an idiot. But we are willing to take
the word science in its common ac-
ceptation, as meaning the highest form
Of knowledge on any given sub. It
can be~shoWn that the highest form Of
knowledge on the subject az agricult-
are has resulted in7 2mence advant-
ago to that industryeE o ~ fact, it is ow-
ing to the inventions & e improvements
suggested by sciGAtifd Nfudy that our
system of agriculture il COB far superior
10 that of some of the der civilized
portions of the globe. @Fe owe to it
the Introduction of laFprrSaving ma
chimes, many new and itbp7oved varie- 4
ties Of plants, and breeS3 G=-,animals, I
and various methods Of rffeemi6-
utilizing waste and bar6J frqg9ds.
As our civilization advance and the
popu alton of the country increases, di-
ninishing the average per capita acre
age, it will become more and more inn
.portant that the owners and tillers of |
the soil shall know how to maintain its
fertility and increase its productive
power to meet the increasing demands
hat will be made upon it-M 7. %
srger.