184 WEST OXFORD SOCIETY. 



we shall find a singular exemplification of the truth here advanced. 

 Palestine, at that period capable of supporting an immense popula- 

 tion, is now mostly a desert land. Josephus speaks of the popula- 

 tion around the little lake of Gennesaret as if it was almost liter- 

 ally covered with people. iS^'ow it supports but a miserable few. 



But it is from the science of chemistry that we are to look for the 

 greatest results. Not that this science will ever unfohl any thing 

 that will make the farmer suddenly rich. Its influence will be 

 slowly and silently felt. Chemistry unfolds everything material in 

 nature. Did you ever, gentlemen, see a man from a foreign land, 

 or even from a different State, or occupation, settle down to be a 

 farmer ? Did you not sec how many mistakes he made in his calcu- 

 lations ? How unlike in a thousand little things to the experience 

 and practices of his neighbors. Well, it was because he did not 

 know any better. Now, gentlemen, wc must all place ourselves in 

 the attitude of learners in this great world of ours, and the same 

 principle will apply to you as to the navigator; it is not necessary 

 for you to be theoretical chemists, but you must, every one of you, 

 he a practical chemist, to be a successful farmer at the present day. 



Let me enumerate some of the questions that chemistry will solve. 

 It will tell you why, and when to put ashes around your corn. It 

 will tell you under what circumstances plaster may be used, and the 

 reason why. It will tell you the composition and defects of all your 

 soils. It will tell you the composition of all your manures. It will 

 tell you the names of a dozen difierent kinds of manures of the 

 greatest value, that were never dreamed of before chemistry investi- 

 gated them. It will teach you better than to use muck on your 

 lands in its raw state, and it will tell you on what lands you should 

 not use it at all, for I believe here is something yet to be learned by 

 the farmers of Maine. It will tell you the kind of manure best 

 adapted to a particular kind of crop. It will tell you how to make 

 manures as well as to preserve from waste those which are made. It 

 will tell you the effect of manures in top-dressing, and when to use 

 them in that way. It will tell you Avhen to plow and manure deep. 

 It will tell you how to make use of the atmosphere, of light, heat 

 and moisture in their applications. You may reply that we know 

 these things already. If so, you are intelligent and correct farmers. 

 But let me tell you, that the more you know of general principles, 



