SECRETARY'S REPORT. 259 



led to more discoveries than science, yet there can be no doubt that 

 such discoveries would have been long anticipated, had science 

 been consulted ; and that many of the most valuable improvements 

 in modern agriculture have either been exclusively suggested or 

 materially assisted by physiological science." 



The other branch of Physiology, viz., that relating to animals, 

 perhaps connected somewhat with Zoology, (for what we speak of as 

 distinct branches of science are frequently so related to, or blended 

 with one another, that it is impossible clearly to define their dividing 

 lines,) will do for the farmer in the case of his flocks and herds, just 

 what vegetable physiology has been shown to be able to do in the 

 case of plants and crops ; guides him to economical practice and ena- 

 bles him to avoid expensive errors. 



Veterinary Science, which regards the diseases of domestic 

 animals, is near of kin to animal physiology, and is of the very first 

 importance wherever healthy action gives place to disease. 



I might go on to mention other branches of science which it con- 

 cerns the farmer to know, as, for instance, that of Entomology, 

 the branch of natural history which treats of insects, and so may 

 give us a clue to the ways and means of controlling the ravages of 

 such as are noxious. These at times, are of the most serious char- 

 acter. To name but one : the apparently insignificant creature 

 called the midge, has destroyed wheat enough in the United States, 

 in years past, to endow perpetually, an institution of learning in 

 every State of the Union, which should be to the agricultui'ist what 

 West Point is for the soldier — or perhaps several such — for its 

 ravages have destroyed property to the amount of scores, if not of 

 hundreds of millions of dollars. To man, at the Creation, was given 

 dominion over "every living creature that moveth upon the face of the 

 earth." Man has more signally failed to assert that dominion over 

 the insect tribes, than over any other, and he will never approach 

 success in asserting it, until thoroughly conversant with their natu- 

 ral history and habits. But enough has already been brought to 

 view, to show that the complete mastery of all the principles by 

 which agricultural practice should be guided and directed, is a most 

 herculean task, and fitter for the work of a life-time, than for a few 

 brief years of preparation for active employment upon a farm ; and 

 the question naturally arises, cannot a man be a good farmer, with- 

 out such extensive knowledge 1 If he cannot, agriculture would 



