SCIENCE IN AGRICULTURE. 441 



of profit. Now this can be done only by bringing into opera- 

 tion certain laws of vegetable physiology established by nature, 

 which take the necessary elements from the soil, from the air, 

 from the water, and put them into organic vegetable forms. Now 

 unless he is sure that he understands these laws, will he not 

 find it for his advantage to study the science of botany in its 

 relations to agriculture ? 



From these vegetable ^products, he wishes to obtain certain 

 animal products, whether cattle or swine. To this end he must 

 apply certain laws of animal physiology, established by nature, 

 by means of which, elements in vegetable forms may, by the 

 process of digestion and assimilation, enter into the composi- 

 tion of animal forms. Now unless he is sure that he thoroughly 

 understands these laws in their application, would he not find 

 it for his advantage to study the science of zoology in its prac- 

 tical bearings on agriculture ? 



The products of the soil depend, for their amount and quality, 

 upon the use of manures, whether vegetable, animal, or saline, 

 to supply those elements in which the soil is deficient. It is 

 not every kind of manure that will suit every variety of soil ; 

 but only that kind of manure will suit a given soil, which con- 

 tains those elements in which the soil is deficient. Evidently, 

 then, in order to manure land judiciously, the composition, both 

 of the soil and of the manure, must be known. In order to 

 this, the laws of analysis and of synthesis, or of decomposition 

 and composition, must be employed. Now, unless the young 

 cultivator thoroughly understands these laws, in reference to 

 the soil itself and the manure to be used, would it not be for 

 his advantage to study the science of chemistry in its applica- 

 tion to agriculture ? 



The products of the soil depend, for their amount and quality, 

 on certain appliances of tools and instruments of husbandry. 

 But the value and efficiency of these tools and instruments, as 

 the plough, for instance, must depend on their conformity to 

 certain laws of mechanical philosophy. Now unless he is sure 

 that he understands these laws in reference to these tools, 

 would it not be for his advantage to study mechanical science 

 in its application to agriculture ? 



The products of the soil depend, for their amount and quality, 

 56* 



