Semi-weekly south Kentuckian. [volume] (Hopkinsville, Ky.) 1883-1889, 1888-01-31

'N'"PNN' pNicuCt HOluS OUT 10 MN HOJ
only map or chart or plan of tho
ways he is travelling, but compass to
point ont the safe direction and
methods of reaching it, and n clear.
bright light which makes the devious
ways plain and clear.
So that in truth it is science
which is simple, and practice
which i' intricate. and practice
only becomes plain when it is explain
cd by science. This fact makes it nee
essary that agricultural work should
be divided between the farmers and
the scientific students, and renders the
latter indispensable 10 tho success Of
tho former One class works in the
field and barn; the other in the labora-
tory the experimental plots, and the
agricultural college, ald the editors
OF agricultural journals, who are, OIL
should bc practical farmers and scien-
liilc students, gather together the re-
suits Of all these studies, with tho
fruits Of their own experience, and
present them from timo TO timo to
their readers. who arc doing their part
on the farm and in the garden and
orchard.
Science Is thus only the actual
knowledge of the laws by which farm
work is TO be performed in the best
manner 1t explains the nature of
soils. how the different kinds of it
have been formed, and of what elc-
ments they consist; tho nature of
plants, how they grow and of what ele-
ments they are composed. 1t is readi-
ly seen, MS we stop here to consider by
the way, what an important part of
the farm work falls upon the scientific
student and experimental Investigator
IN comparing the soil with its prod
ucts, and discovering exactly what the
crops take from the soil. what there is
in tho soil, and what is deficient 10
supply the needs Of The crops.
We see right here. then, the opening
iof tho whole subject of manures tc
crow crow; ~o Jgpply The term of plantfood,
Just as much asfdeerlained by
the same ways MS animals do. For
the soil does not contain precisely tn
elements of plant food required by the
crops, it is the business Of the farmc
to supply the deficiency. and If the sol
does contain thom. It is his business &
so cultivate and work the soil rs 4
make the plant food existing in itmos
available for the crops. Hence, w
see that science teaches us how tn,
land should be plowed and harrowe,
10 fit II IN tho best manner for III
crops; how it should be helped b,
manurcs or fertilizc when it is de
ficient, aud how by doing this thu
farmer may largely increase his crop'
and the profit from his labor.
Then n side path strikes of here an(
leads from the field to the barn ant
stable and the manure heap. anC
when The scientific student throws
light upon this side path he finds il
leads still to the grand objective poin
of all farm work-good crops and the
largest recomponse for the farmer:
labor For he shows us how we may
feed and caro- for our animals so as to
secure their most rapid and profitable
Growth and leave behind them tho
largest supply Of the richest manure
for the crops. He teaches us of what
animals consist and of what their food
consists, and how, by using the most
appropriate food, the farmer may lay
on less stock tho most flesh and fat, oT
procure the most milk and butter, and
at the Same time get from this animal
food rich supply Of plant food for hii
crops He thus shows us how the feed
ing of animals is closely intertwined
with tho feeding of crops, and illus
tratcs in the clearest manner the sXiom
of the old Roman philosopher who said
two thousand years ago "ihc feeding
of cattle is the most important part OF
agriculture.
Thus it is easily perceived that the
science of agriculture is really a more
simple matter than the practice of it,
because it is the key to the latter md
explains overy difficulty which would
arise TO the farmer who works in tho
dark. and without tho light and help
of it. II may present some difficulties
by reason of tho use of unfamiliar
terms which represent certain sub
stances and processes. But the farmer
who makes the least attempt to study
the science of his art and follow tho
lessons given week by week will read
lily make himself familiar with these
terms and adopt them as household
words. Then the torn nitrogen will
be as plainly understood as potash or
lime when 1t is referred to as plant
food, and its nature and functions in
plant growth will bc clearly realized
by sufficient study of some simple ar
ticle or book which the farmer can
read, and when the simplicity of the