CLOVER AS A PREPARATORY CROP FOR WHEAT. 459 



far more commou occurrence than may be known to those who are 

 either naturally unobservant or unacquainted with many of the 

 details of farming operations. Indeed, an interesting and instruc- 

 tive treatise might be written on the apparent anomalies in agri- 

 culture, and a collection of trustworthy facts of the kind alluded 

 to would afford valuable hints to intelligent farmers, and suggest 

 matter for inquiry to chemists and others engaged in scientific 

 pursuits. 



To me it seems inconsistent with the exercise of common sense, 

 and opposed alike to the whole tenor of a well-regulated mind and 

 the progress of scientific agriculture, to discuss agricultural mat- 

 ters in the dogmatic spirit too often so painfully obsei'vable when 

 people meet together for the discussion of subjects relating to 

 farm practice ; but still more painful is the spirit which pervades 

 the writings of certain scientific men who are bold enough from 

 isolated, or even a number of analogous facts, to frame general 

 and invariable laws, in accordance with which they proiDOse to 

 regulate the profession of agriculture. That there are certain 

 fixed laws which determine the growth of the meanest herb and 

 the mightiest forest tree, no one can gainsay, but it may well be 

 doubted whether our corn or forage crops would remain as flour- 

 ishing as they at present are, if, in reference to some pretty theory, 

 the farmers of England suddenly threw aside their past experi- 

 ence, and endeavored to grow corn in accordance with a mathe- 

 matical formula which men may fancy they have discovered, and 

 by which they may suppose the development of our corn crops to 

 be' governed. Even great men, by taking too general, or as it is 

 often erringly terrned, a comprehensive view of agricultural mat- 

 ters, sometimes totally misrepj-esent the very law they are endeav- 

 oring to establish. , 



The patient investigation of many of the details, with which 

 those only are perfectly familiar whose daily occupation is in the 

 field or in the feeding-stall, is, however, often rewarded by suc- 

 cess. Mysteries which puzzle the minds of intelligent farmers 

 are cleared up, the influences which modify a general rule or prac- 

 tice in farming operations are clearly recognized, and by degrees 

 principles are established, which, assigning the benefits or disad- 

 vantages of a certain course of proceeding to their real cause, 

 must ever tend to confirm the experienced in good practice, and 

 afford valuable hints in guiding those inexperienced in farm man- 

 agement. 



