44 BOARD OF AGRICULTURE. 



The spontaneous productions of the earth would support only a comparative- 

 ly scanty number of inhabitants; but a skilful cultivation has not only multi- 

 plied the quantity of valuable grains, vegetables and fruits, but it has greatly 

 improved their quality. Withdravp that culture, and they will return to 

 their original state, or will cease to exist. 



It is not only necessary to stimulate the generous earth to yield more abun- 

 dantly, but to treat it in such a rational, intelligent manner that it may never 

 be impoverished. 



This implies a full and accurate knowledge of the aggregate experience of 

 the past, of all the observations and discoveries of the present that relate to 

 agricultural operations, with the power to make such judicious practical use 

 of this information, that it shall conduce to the most successful and beneficial 

 results. 



If it is desired, for instance, to raise any particular plant in a certain soil, 

 with the least expenditure of labor and the smallest risk of failure, the farmer 

 should ascertain by his own investigations, or the experiments of others, the 

 composition of the plant, what ingredients or nourishment it requires, whether 

 the soil contains these elementary substances, for it deficient what manures 

 will supply them, and also what to return to the soil to repair the waste after 

 the crop has been removed. He should make himself ftimiliar with the insects 

 and diseases which attack vegetation, and the appropriate remedies. When 

 he has learned these facts, he has obtained some scientific knowledge of the 

 principles of agriculture, and can apply them to a practical purpose. If he 

 would excel in raising stock, he should find out the nature, habits and merits 

 of the different breeds, the most economical and best food for each species of 

 animal, what nutriment is most suitable to promote speed, or ability to work, 

 and what will best contribute to the formation of fat. With this, he should 

 acquire some knowledge of the laws of health and life, their modification in 

 disease and the necessary treatment, and thus become prepared to practice 

 veterinary medicine and surgery. 



If he would obtain the largest possible amount of valuable crops, with the 

 least exhaustion of soil, he will attain his object by an intelligent rotation of 

 crops, varying each kind according to the different food it selects from the 

 earth or atmosphere, and planting with special reference to extirpating weeds, 

 and improving the mechanical condition of the soil. 



Assuming that this kind of knovpledge would be of great public utility, the 

 question naturally arises, how can we best advance agricultural education in 

 the community? It is generally agreed that childhood and youth is tlie most 

 favorable period in life to attain knowledge. The mind is then in a plastic 

 forming state, and impressions made upon it endure longer tiian inscriptions 

 on the monumental granite. Children first notice natural objects. They are 

 inquisitive in respect to them, and advantage ought to be taken of tins char- 

 acteristic to teach them at least the rudiments of an agricultural education, 

 as soon as they are capable of comprehending them, for a majority must even- 

 tually cultivate the soil. Tell them that the stems of grass, grain and corn 

 contain a substance that once constituted tlio flinty rock, and that this gives 

 them strength to stand firm when tlie wind exercises violently the tlender 

 plant, and they are more interested and benefited, than if they were to learn 

 the names of all the towns and rivers in Siberia. 



The study of natural sciences should be introduced into all our schools and 

 prosecuted by all the pupils who have made sufficient preliminary attainments. 

 They ought to learn enough of botany to understand the process of growth 

 from germination to maturity of all cultivated plants, grains and vegetables, 

 with the use of every part as accurately as the different portions of tlieir own 

 bodies. They ought to study chemistry, until they know the nature and 

 properties of all the elementary substances which enter into the composition 

 of plants and animals ; and all the gases essential to tiieir health and life, and 

 just what food the wheat or the potato eats, so that they may feed them with 



