388 STATE BOAKD OF AGRICULTURE. 



mer times, that would eat their way through the corn crib and squeal for 

 more? Why, the observation and application of the principles of natural 

 science has made the difference. 



This it is that has given us our improved breeds of cattle, horses, and 

 sheep; our improved vegetables and fruit; our improved implements of hus- 

 bandry by which we can accomplish more than four times the labor we 

 formerly could. Why, the man who has nothing but a sneer for what he 

 terms book farming, and who claims that science has nothing to do with farm- 

 ing or farming with science, does not know what he is talking about, and to 

 him the occupation will always be one of drudgery and poorly requited toil. 

 Now suppose we were to turn over to a race of savages, all our improved 

 cereals, and vegetables, and fruits, and sheep, and cattle ; let them have the 

 same soil that we have, would not all the advance that has been made soon 

 disappear ; some varieties would die out and others revert to their wild condi- 

 tion. In other words, those fruits of the earth, and domestic animals, which 

 it is the object of agriculture to produce and approximate toward their most 

 perfect forms, can only be improved by men who are themselves in an advanced 

 state of cultivation. The idea that any ignorant dolt can make a successful 

 farmer never had an existence except in the brainless head of such a dolt. 

 That man will attain the best results, all other things being equal, who 

 best understands the principles of his occupation, who studies and reduces to 

 practice the most advanced ideas on the subject, so far as his soil and circum- 

 stances will permit. Just as the laws that govern and influence navigation 

 must be understood by the mariner, so must the laws that relate to the wants 

 and susceptibilities of the soil be understood by the farmer. As well might 

 the former commit himself and his vessel on the pathless ocean without com- 

 pass or chart and say, I am going to be practical and feel my way instead of 

 trusting to book-learning, as for the farmer in his calling to ignore the princi- 

 ples that relate to the fertility of his soil and the improvement of his products. 

 We admit that theory alone is as dead and useless as faith without works. We 

 must have practice. But this is not more true in regard to farming than in 

 regard to other pursuits. What is the practice of law or medicine or 

 mechanics but the application of the principles, as laid down in the books, to 

 the details of the business. The lawyer who is ignorant of books, and who has 

 no well defined principles to apply, is not the man to whom you would commit 

 your case. The farmer sustains the same relation to his farm that the lawyer 

 does to his client, or we might better say, that the physician does to his 

 patient, regulating his food, directing his exercise, and so restoring his 

 impaired vitality; therefore, a knowledge of the principles of agriculture, and 

 a skilful application of those principles to his individual circumstances, is 

 demanded of him who would be a successful farmer. 



Time will not permit me to point out the almost endless variety of instances 

 in which it might be shown that skill in the application of the principles that 

 relate to farming is constantly demanded, and is of the very first importance. 

 There are peculiarities of soil and climate of which he must be a close observer 

 with a view to adapt his fertilizers and methods of tillage to meet their require- 

 ments. Each locality has its peculiar relations to market, that might be 

 profitably considered with reference to a rotation of crops, or with reference to 

 special crops, A systematic arrangement and proper division of work will 

 materially affect the results accomplished within a given time. Like the 

 painter, who, on being asked what he mixed his paints with, answered 

 *' brains," so the farmer will find as much need of brains in the pursuit of 



