SCIENCES APPLICABLE TO FARMING. 47 



SCIENCES APPLICABLE TO FARMING. 



From an Address before the Hampshire Agricultural Society, Oct. 10, 1856. 



BY EDWARD HITCHCOCK. 



There are three sciences in particular, from which it has 

 been supposed agriculture might derive important benefit, viz. : 

 Botany, Geology and Chemistry. 



It is obvious now, that these branches open before the scien- 

 tific man a wide and most interesting field. And within a few 

 years past, most diligently has it been explored. Some of the 

 ablest chemists, geologists and botanists of Europe and America, 

 have been most actively and successfully employed in these 

 researches. 



As a consequence, the science of agriculture has advanced 

 most rapidly. Even a review of its progress is more than I can 

 attempt on this occasion. But I ask your patience while I 

 briefly notice the most important points that have been gained, 

 and the present aspect and prospects of agricultural science. 



Whoever examines the internal structure of plants, even 

 cursorily, will be struck with its analogy to that of animals. 

 He will find in l)oth, organs for the reception of food, for its 

 digestion and assimilation, as well as a system of circulation 

 and reproduction. The plant, indeed, has its peculiarities of 

 organization, as for instance, that no nervous system has been 

 discovered in it ; and yet it seems possessed of irritaliility, if 

 not sensibility. Under the microscope, however, it is a wonder- 

 ful structure ; and notwithstanding all the difficulties of the 

 investigation, the patience of physiological botanists has dis- 

 closed an organization in plants almost as wonderful as that of 

 animals. 



To the chemist it has long been manifest, that the true way 

 to ascertain what food is needed by plants, is to analyze their 

 whole substance, to see what ingredients they contain. For the 

 notion prevalent not long since, that vegetables have the power 



