Staunton spectator. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 1849-1896, 1896-03-11
The Mathematics of Farming.
THOMAS WHITEHEAD,

THOMAS WHITEHEAD.
Mathematics is called a certain
science. As far as acreage, measure
ment of fields and plots; labor, it's dur
alton and power; the seasons of crops,
and the thousand and one things that
arise in the years work of farmer, he
has much need of simple certain math-
ematics. But it is mainly in the effort
to use science in regard to his environ
ments, and skill and knowledge in the
doctrine or principle of probabilities,
that he needs all the ''book learning"
book farming, that he can get from
every source. His living depends on
the soil, the climate and the fertilizers,
and his knowledge of these depends on
his own OR other peoples experience
under like circumstances and surround
ings. and his and theirs depend on the
mathematical principle of probabili
ties. Now, when a seed is put into the
soil, you plant it with faith in the
probabilities. If the soil be rich, if the
climate and rainfall are of average in
/ temperature and volume, if the fertiI
/ iZer applied be such as is suited to the
soil, the plant and the climate. and
the cultivation such as is suited to the
plant, you believe and act on the be-
lief that you will make full crop, and
your faith is based on what you know
or have heard or read of number of
like cases in a number of years as the
average or mathematical probability
of the yield. Men invest money every
day in other pursuits on this principle
Life, fire and marine insurance is bas-
ed on it, and margin over the aver
age makes it safe and profitable. De-
partments of agriculture and expert
ment stations are established by gov
ernments to furnish the great ajority
of the population, the farmers, the
facts, figures and probabilities on the
three important environments, which
surround every farmer and planter, to
assist him in the preparation, cultiva
ton and harvesting of crops, and to
aid him in avoiding the unforeseen
and accidental devlations from the
average that might be detrimental, las
frosts and storms" To this end, soils
are analysed, and not only the quaint
ty OF mineral elements necessary to
crop production ascertained, but the
construction of the soils with reference
to their capacity to collect and retain
moisture, and their consequent TEN,
perature. So, also, the laboratory of
these departments is for the purpose
OF defining the quantity and quality
Of the mineral elements necessary to
the production of the different plants
and the accuracy of their combina-
ton.
The Weather Service, in it's record
backward for many years, gives relia-
BILE average, and its forecasts are rea-
sonable probabilities of what will come.
The speed of winds. storms and rains
based on years of experience, with
notification from distant points, give
reasonable probability that they will
reach certain points in their direction
by certain hour. The speed of the
wind can be- accurately ascertaihed.
The distance is certain. Past calcula-
lions in years of experience render the
forecast of a cold wave, a frost, or
storm, fully as reliable as the average
duration of life, or the number of con
flagrations and shipwrecks. NoaU
most governments are endeavoring to
give to their agriculturists all the IN
formation possible applicable to the
production of crops. This is wise, be
cause the cultivation of the soil is nee
essary to the existence of governments
Free cities" as nations are thing of
the past. Cities are based on the
country. Commerce and manufac-
lures are results of and adjuncts to
agriculture. Over production for the
world is humbug. Transportation
by water and land with steam prevents
Just such farming as we read of in the |
Bible: A country that cannot produce
abundance of bread and meat is poorly |
prepared for war. Every wise nation
secures basis of supplies, and the |
greater the production in the heart of |
the country the greater its strength. |
Frederick the Great fixed the limit of |
his resistance to his enemies on the
duration 'of rye bread and gun
powder"
The better Informed and more intel |
ligent the agricultural population. the |
greater the product of crops both per
acre and per inhabitant. There is |
good money in the work and statistics, |!
the publications of the experiment |
stations, the farmers institutes, the
fertilizer analyses, the weather bureau
and the soil analyses for the intelli,
gent, practical farmer, if he will only
spend some little time in their investi
cation and study. A full knowledge
OF the production of crops in Virginia
for the last one hundred years and of
the prices at which they sold, and the
cost per acre, and per hand, if accom-.
panied with the cost of the articles
necessary to the farmer and which he
was compelled to purchase, showing
the average of the whole on each side,
and the monthly averages in the years,
would allay much of the agricultural
1isconGent in the State. In fact, a
table applicable to the last thirty years
lnder the changed conditions OF labor
IVY l.. |
1nder the application of averages,
ilsslpate many of the clouds that low
n over the agricultural sky. Infor
nation and knowledge dealing with
acts, relying on experience, and trust
ng in Providence are absolutely essen
ial to farming.
Thousands of dollars were lost-sunk
n worthless fertilizers between 1865
nd 1877, simply from want of chemical :
knowledge and public information.
thousands have been lost in tobacco,
ru1t and young animals that a perfect =
Weather Service would have saved. '
here is clear money in what to plant =
nd aOhen to plant it,, and more in
1here to plant it, and most in hoao to
liant, fertilize and cultivate it. Prog
ess in agriculture and the care and
osterlng of States has put this infor J
latlon, to great extent, in the reach Z
all, and daily more practical infor a
lation is being collected and dissent
ated by the bulletins of departments.
he agricultural and even the political
ress. The farmer neglects or refuses E
} inform himself, and blames the gov
'nment for his want of wealth. When
rices are low in the public markets
Use men in agriculture and manufac Q
lrlng examine and see if the cost of fl
reduction cannot be reduced, or K
neither one line should not be aban.
,ned and a new one substituted, or ly
l enlarged diversifcation curtailine az
along the line. Making cotton and B
lying corn, making tobacco and buy A
e meat, was considered bad policy in S.
10 good old days befo' de war" The fl
must look after their si
IN calling and its interests through fir
cry avenue accessible in the fields, CO
the markets, in the public assem- in
les, in the courts, in the legislatures, fir
e schools and colleges When this tie
eat body moves earnestly, intelli in
ntly and harmoniously on these be