PRACTICAL HINTS ON FARMING. 29 



PKACTICAL HI:N^TS OX FAEMING. 



From an Address before the Deerfield Valley Agricultural Society. 



BY RICHARD LATHERS. 



Agriculture embraces a knowledge of all couditions of 

 vegetable life ; the origin and growth of plants, and the 

 source from whence they derive their nourishment ; the 

 constituent elements of the soil, and the chemical changes 

 necessary to fertility. From this knowledge fixed rules 

 are derived for the practice of the art. Careful and exact 

 observation of the science, and the industrious application 

 of the art, constitute the highest type of farming, and 

 will insure the greatest amount of success. Many instances 

 can be adduced where active industry has produced satisfact- 

 ory crops and profitable farming without special knowledge 

 of science ; but it will be found, with rare exceptions, that 

 such success resulted from partial application of the teachings 

 of science, and that greater success would have followed a 

 more exact conformity. 



The so-called "book farmer" fails by not conforming to 

 the practice which scientific firming requires in bestowing 

 the necessary labor and proper economy in the management 

 of his farm. The successful farmer must not only plant and 

 fertilize on scientific principles, but he must plough and hoe 

 on practical principles. The neglect of either of these condi- 

 tions, by either class of farmers, will end in partial or total 

 failure. The successful mariner must not only be practically 

 a good sailor, and capable of performing every duty in sailing 

 his ship, but he must also be a skilful and scientific navigator 

 for conducting her safely and speedily to her port of destina- 

 tion. Voyages have been and may be accomplished without 



