Iron County register. [volume] (Ironton, Iron County, Mo.) 1867-1965, 1885-02-26
ON AGRICULTURE.
The Relations of Science and Practice in
the Calling.

| On AGRICULTURE.
The Relations of Science and Practice in
| the Calling.
Science has been considered by many
farmers as something that is apt to be
intrusive upon their business, to inter-
fere by trying to overthrow by theory
pure and simple, that which the accu-
mulated facts of years have proved to
be correct; and they have looked with
something somewhat akin to suspicion
upon any one who for moment as
sumes the position of an expositor OF
the laws of nature in relation to agri-
culture as a means for the better equip
ment of the farmer for his business.
Advisers, teachers and critics there
have been ad ibituna during the last
few years of agricultural loss. Every
one who knew live horse from
butter-firkin imagined himself capable
of imparting advice to the farmer
Each had remedy to be offered gratis;
/ but, had they been acquainted with the
real facts of the case, they would have
| given more mature consideration to
| their various recipes, and would not
have so rashly exposed their ignorance
of the matter. Science does not pre-
| tend to offer any Of those nostrums,
or, indeed, to deal with any questions
! that are without her pale; but she
deals with the practical everyday facts
of the farmer business experience, by
unravelling them. finding out the why
and the wherefore, and then placing
the results of those Investigations at
! the disposal of the learner. Science is
| the achg and aCheretore, practice Is the
! achen and hoac of agriculture. Ii we
| bear this wildly in mind, we need have
no fear of their clashing.
1t is utterly useless for a man to think
| of succeeding in farming with theoreti-
cal knowledge alone; we have seen that
tried and fail. Iwould far rather back
| the practical man without science than
| the scientific man without practice; but
the man who combines both would
| probably excel either. Practice alone
| can enable a man to become good
| Judge in buying line stock. The eye
and hand need training toSdetect that
peculiar touch of skin, form of carcass,
| and other points that denote breeding,
adaptability to fatten quickly. or, In
| breeding animals to see the points in
male and female that need correction,
and hence judicious crossing. But
science will enable man to 60 farther.
1t will suggest many hereditary pecu-
| larities, also the most suitable foods
for economical fattening. and the value
of the manure made from such feeding
materials. They need both to 60 hand
in hand for success.
Again, science may show us the
most suitable manures for different
crops, or suggest certain SOIL is bar
rem or whether the addition OF chalk
or lime would not be of benefit. But
practice must say when to chalk, and
how to get land in suitable condition
for seed-bed for whatever crops may
be intended to be sown; so that here,
again, each has its part in the success
full tillage and growth Of crops. 1t is
not chemistry alone that is useful.
Geology. for instance, explains much
| to us that otherwise would be most
mysterious; and knowledge of veter-
mary science is most useful to the farm
er. I do not mean that he can have all
the appliances or the correct knowl-
edge of the veterinary practitioner; but
he may know the cause and symptoms
of many diseases, which will lead him
to avoid treating or feeding his stock
in a manner which he otherwise would
not think about. He would know
somewhat about infection and conta-
gion in disease; and probably, by a
Slight knowledge of anatomy in such
cases as hoven. the life of a valuable
COW or OK may be saved, in the case Ga
the veterinary surgeon being a long
distance away. Or, again. the
SYMPTOMS of the disease OF
the animal may be, by a
knowledge of veterinary science, sent
to the veterinary surgeon; and he IS
then prepared with remedies on his ar
rival. And [ need hardly remind you
that in MANY cases delays are danger
ous.'' So that the farmer armed with
scientific knowledge of his business
must have the advantage over the one
who has not this knowledge. Science
in its relation to agriculture is really
the principles upon which. all the oper-
atoms of that pursuit are based. 1t is
an explanation of the laws of nature
which accompany all the many details ]
of farming operations; and a funda-
mental knowledge of these principles,
backed up afterward by experience, is
the best way of equipping young
farmer for his business.
Science has an important relation.
ship with agricultural practice in all its
details, from the mechanical science of
arranging whiffietrees so that each
horse pulls his share of weight on
gang of harrows, to the more compli-
Gated study of mixtures of food for fat
tening cattle or for mich cows. But it
is only by science and practice
working together that we may
expect good results. And this
combination will tend to make
farming more profitable, Indirectly; or,
to put it in another way. given man
with business tact, energy and per-
severance (without which he will not
succeed in anything,) and scientific
training grated on to practical ex-
perience. if that man does not succeed
in farming, don't know where to turn
for man that viii. But as, in all
farming operations, there must be an
outlay at first, so in the matter OF
scientific knowledge. 1t is not to be |
nicked ND in a moment There is no |
royal road to learning: it must be pur-
sued step by step, but the reward at the
end is sure. In conclusion. those VINO
claim science as friend and helper Will |
have no cause ever TO regret their |
choice. but will increasingly value It's
aid: while. on the other hand, they Will |
be able to continually supply valuable |
facts for science to solve, the two to- |
oether amassing store of information |
that will be of the greatest value to |
those who. in their turn. will have to |
tread the same path of agricultural in |
dustry.-Londop Agricultural Gazette.