The Newtown bee., 1897-04-02
Local Affairs.
Scientific Farming. ''
O. o. ". TO H. W. W. AND G. W. B.

oA my youIb, "Hen Ill tue WOIk wa
 done by hand, and day of labor wa
 "from sun to sum-" I was very anxiou.
 then to get away from the farm; I sigt
 now and wish had one to go back to.
 There is in one of Moliere's plays al
 amusing character who expresses great
 surprise on being told that he had been
 speaking prose for more than 40 years.
 Now, of course in so far as G. ". B has
 been successful as farmer, there is no doubt that he has been doing "stientific farming" for more than 40 years. Farm ing is really successful only so far as it is scientific. The man who took S7OO or $500 from one acre of ground in farm produce must have been scientific farm CT whether he was conscious of it or not.
 What is science? It is knowledge and understanding of the laws of nature. Science is based upon facts proved by ex- perience. Scientific farming is the ap- plication of known and verified princ:- pies to the cultivation and management of farm.
 Let us be more particular and quote from the great Century dictionary: ''2. Knowledge gained by systematic obser- vatioD, experiment and reasoning :: knowledge co-ordinated, arranged, and systematized." A. Art derived from precepts or based on principles; skill re- sulting from training; special, excep- tional, or preeminent skill" Science is the knowledge of facts and the princi- ples embodied in them; and art is the skill with which the principles of science are applied to produce results; in raising potatoes or in the building of ships or in making cotton cloth.
 Again, from the Century dictionary: 1.-The theory of agriculture is a science comprehending in it's scope the nature and properties Of soils, the different sorts of plants and seeds fitted for them, the composition and qualities of manures, and the rotation of crops, and involving a knowledge of chemistry, geology and kindred sciences. Practical agriculture, | or husbandry. is an art comprehending | all the labors of the field and of the farm yard, such as preparing the land for the | reception of the seed or plants, sowing and planting, rearing and gathering the crops, care of fruit trees and domestic animals, disposition of products, etc.,
 used the words in their general sense as including everything that enters into the problem of successful agriculture Climate, soils, fertilizing, irrig gation, the use of machinery, the storage and pres ervation of crops until wanted for use, or while waiting for the demands of the market; and even the disposition of pro- ducts so as to insure a reasonable proft. Cooperation in buying and selling, and the making of good roads to shorten the distance to markets should be included, |
 Science means knowledge, skill, econ- omy, success and happiness. It is op- posed to that which is merely traditional, | heresay, hapha gard, and in part at least, failure. Science is really good com mon sense working hand in hand with nature. You don't plant beans in bog, nor raise corn in the shade. There are wheat lands, potato soils, grass grounds and time and place for all that grows. It is not scientific to set apple trees and never prune, cultivate nor fertilize them and still expect fine fruit. It is little use to grow and gather large crop of ap- pies and dump them into bin to rot be- cause they will not sell at once. G. W. B. knows how to preserve them until they are wanted at good price, and so far at least, he is scientific" CThis is heresay."
 It is not scientific to farm work by hand so that corn and potatoes cost more than they will bring. The cost of pro- duction must be reduced by the use of | machinery until it will pay to raise them for market.
 Yes, the farmer needs lots of faith. and | a love of nature. with 8 hearty good will to work. He must learn to toe the mark | and be cheerful. Some farmers grumble loud enough to stunt the growth of cab bage. Tramps and details can wait. TO. o. Wright.
 Mrs Andrew Falls. who dislocated her shoulder recently, is able to be about | again.
 Mrs Horace BarDum is entertaining relatives from Pennsylvania