302 MASSACHUSETTS AGRICULTURE. 



ties, seizes them in its tiny embrace, and with one strong effort 

 effects their separation, sending the disunited atoms of oxygen 

 away into space, and appropriating the carbon to itself, to aid 

 in its extension and growth. When the charcoal is burnt away 

 there remains a small quantity of ashes, the mineral food of the 

 apple derived from the earth. I venture to adopt this method 

 to illustrate some of the marvellous changes incident to the 

 growth and destruction of all vegetable organism. Clicmistry 

 has taught us fully respecting these transmutations and the 

 whole philosophy of plant growth ; but I must pass to consider 

 further the practical and useful information which it has afforded 

 the agriculturist. By the accurate and wonderful process of 

 analysis of vegetable structures and soils, it has at once pointed 

 out the true course for the farmer to pursue in order to attain 

 the highest success in his vocation. It first pointed out the ma- 

 terials he needed, and then new sources of supply for the same. 

 It has taught the farmer economy in the preservation of his 

 fertilizers ; it has informed him how to apply them to the soil to 

 the best advantage. 



Guided by its teaching, there is not, there cannot be, any 

 more uncertainty as it respects results, provided those meteoro- 

 logical agencies which are beyond the control of man are favor- 

 able, than in the prosecution of any mechanical branch of in- 

 dustry. Unfavorable seasons, as it respects drought, blight, 

 tfec, may be even rendered more favorable by systematic, scien- 

 tific husbandry. Without its aid all is involved in doubt and 

 uncertainty. The successful farmer is unable to explain the 

 reasons of his success ; the unsuccessful one is ignorant of the 

 causes of his failure. How can any one of you, gentlemen, 

 Ijc certain that you are correct in applying any single kind of 

 manure to a soil, without you first know whether there is a defi- 

 ciency of that ingredient in the same ? If you learn from the 

 result of crops that there is a want of some kind, how can you 

 be sure to meet it Avithout applying all varieties of manure ? 

 In doing this you would certainly be acting on a level with the 

 famous herb doctor, who, ignorant of the nature of disease, and 

 ignorant of the medicinal virtues of the various roots and herbs 

 he prescribed, came to the conclusion that to hit his cases posi- 

 tively, his only course was to steep a mass of all kinds together, 

 and pour the decoction down the throats of his patients. 



