The Florida agriculturist. [volume] (DeLand, Fla.) 1878-1911, 1885-02-11
828
Relations Between Animal and Veg
etable Life.

science to be true, may be to farmers
generally, depends of course on the an
pllcation made of such facts. MANY
men are seemingly appalled, when this
MoIu science is used in connection
Win agriculture. 1t is a bugbear from
when some turn either with timidity or
rdlcule. But the word implies nothing
partments OF human knowledge it should
be courted rather, than Stunned. Sci
ence is ascertalned truth. Webster de-
lines lt--"That which is known. y
When an aggregation of common facts
prove beyond controversy that any given
thlng is true, 1T is an ascertained truth.
Ihls is science pure and simple. Theory
and assumptions based on unreliable
data are not science, and here is wherein
many fail to draw proper distinction.
The safe rule to follow is to ''prove all
things and hold fast to that which is
good" Some things-many things in
deed-have been demonstrated by sci
ence pertaining to agriculture, which
may not appear of practical advantage,
yet are OF much valve. The laws which
govern throughout. nature are scientific
facts. In the cultivation of the soil, the
rearing OF stock, the harvesting and
preservation OF crops, the management
OF rural industries of every kind, brings
those engaged in them face to face with
nature and her laws at all times. Who
Is bold enough to say that knowledge
OF these laws is not an advantage in
this great pursuit, and especially those
that affect his crops, his animals or the
outcome of his operations in the quality
of his farm products, his stock, and in
the returns from their sale? There is
hardly department of scientific inquiry
in air, earth OF sea that does not affect
agricultural pursuits. The winds blow
ing from the sea upon land, or from arid
plains or regions of snow and ice, bring
either good or i'll to him. With the aid
afforded by meteorological science it
often occurs that disaster may be avoid
ed or mitigated by timely information of
approaching disaster; and scientific
knowledge in other directions furnishes,
sometimes, safe line of retreat when
untoward seasons or accidents shorten
particular crops. Chemical combina-
tons and changes are constantly going
on in the growth of plants. The soil is
natures grand alembic for the wonderful
transformations that take place in the
growth of plants, and plants and their
fruits are the food OF animals. Is it not
us0ful to know something of these things
.pabre than to simply recognize the fact
that they are so? No intelligent man
will question the proposition that the
more one knows of any business in which
he is engaged the greater are his chances
OF success in it.
The part that vegetation plays in the
life and development of animals is little
understood by men aside from the fact
that it supplies food by which animal
ifo Sc, s.,
more than that; it fulfills an important
function during the period of growth in
decomposing carbonic acid gas or bi-ox-
ide of carbon. In the early stages of the
life of the earth-after it had cooled down
sufficiently for vegetation to spring up
and grow-vegetable growths were pro-
fuse and enormous the conditions to
produce these results were constant. The
vegetable Insurance of those epochs di-
nlinished the oxygen and carbon until
the atmospheric envelop about the earth
could promote the growth of both the
vegetable and animal Kingdoms Now,
both are necessary to each other. Plant
life would cease if animals did not supply
carbonic acid gas, and animals would
die if vegetables did not absorb or de-
compose the bi-oXide of carbon and con-
tribute its oxygen for food to animals.
tree, the rust of iron absorb carbonic
acid gas and vegetation is giving back
oxygen to the atmosphere, thus keeping
up the equilibrium. Science teaches that
if the weight of the air be reduced by the
removal OF any considerable quantity of
nitrogen, there would be an excess OF
watery vapor, water would boil at low
er temperature, and vegetation would
part with its water more rapidly than it
does now. The atmospheric air is me-
chanical miXturc-so scientists tell us
in which the gasses are not combined,
but move more freely into one another;
but the other compounds of nitrogen and
oxygen are combinations. Not to pursue
this line of thought further, let it suffice
that every article of food taken by ami
mails represents scientific problem or
fact in nutritive value. Its assimilation
and effect are important considerations.
The quality and cost of food and its prof
liable effect constitute the chief factor in
rearing animals for profit Animals may
lin Prof. Jordon's worlds be considered
much like machines. The food we give
may be likened to raw materials from
which manufactured products are to be
turned out. Food is made up of.ingredi-
ents. English hay contains a large
quantity of starch and sugar, substances
which 90 to keep the animal warm, but
which do not support life, do not give
strength, nor produce growth, milk or
fat The strength and growth of animals
come from ingredients found in food
which correspond with the white of an
egg. Oils in food make heat and fat but
do not give muscle or milk, while bones
come from mineral matter in the food.
Cows in milk, horses at work, and grow
ing animals require due proportion of
\ fesh-forming material, as early cut hay
4 and corn meal, or bran, or cotton seed
u ...o,l ~, fnnI ntni,n L. nnot,ni,,i