SCIENCE AND PRACTICE. 229 



tant a decision without full and fair debate. As farmers, we 

 have a most direct and practical way in making and shaping 

 our demands upon science. These demands may be exacting, 

 or, perhaps, a little provoking to the toilers in the laboratory, 

 but, after all, they do not seem to involve anything very unrea- 

 sonable. The resources of science appear to be adequate to 

 meet any demands, or sufficient for any emergency. 



If we place in the hands of the chemist a mineral substance, 

 with the view of ascertaining its exact composition or industrial 

 value, we think we have a right to obtain explicit answers to 

 our inquiries, and, indeed, we know the chemist is able and 

 expects to answer them. And also, if we submit specimens of 

 our soils, plants, roots, seeds, &c, we know if we are in the 

 hands of a true man of science we shall receive exact, reliable 

 responses to all our inquiries. As regards the soils, we receive 

 written statements giving the amount of passive or mechanical 

 agents, the sand, clay and gravel ; also, the organic and mineral 

 constituents, humus, nitrates, ammoniacal salts, the potassa, 

 soda, lime, &c., &c. These, in quantity, are all stated with 

 marvellous precision, and while, perhaps, amazed at the skill of 

 the manipulator, we are not inclined to question his results. 

 The seeds of the maize plants, the roots and the grasses, come 

 back to us separated into their ultimate or proximate constit- 

 uents, and the materials which enter into their structure are 

 exactly stated. 



These palpable results are well calculated to inspire hope and 

 confidence, and lead us to ask, " Why cannot the exercise of 

 the same scientific skill afford precise directions how to dress 

 and fertilize our fields that we may obtain the maximum or 

 highest results of our labors?" Why cannot the chemist 

 inform us how much wheat, corn or barley any soil will pro- 

 duce, and, also, the kind and how much fertilizing material is 

 needed to the acre ? 



What is known, or presumed to have been accomplished in 

 this direction, leads many soil-cultivators to conclude that these 

 desirable ends have not been reached, and much doubt is 

 expressed as regards their attainment in the future. A consid- 

 erable amount of ridicule has been cast upon chemistry as 

 applied to agriculture, and, generally, its teachings have not 

 been carefully and intelligently studied and carried into prac- 



