454 State Board ok Agriculture, &c. 



WANT OF THOUGHTFUL, OBSERVANT HABn'8. 



The same natural changes are as constantly occurring 

 before the eyes of the most stupid farmer as the most learned 

 naturalist. The one, in his stolid apathy, heeds them not, 

 while the other is an interested observer, and intelligently 

 watches for their occurrence. Every farmer with right hab- 

 its of thought and observation may be a naturalist, and while 

 acquiring a fund of interesting knowledge, also add materi- 

 ally to his prospects of success. He should be as interested 

 an observer of natural laws as is the astronomer, the chem- 

 ist, &c. They usually apply themselves to the study of pure 

 science; the farmer should to that of applied science. The 

 pursuit of one is no more noble in itself than the other ; 

 each present their appropriate problems for solution, and 

 those, too, which the best intellects have not yet been able 

 to solve. The intelligent pursuit of agriculture implies the 

 constant study of the great book of nature, which an Infinite 

 hand has spread out before us, on every page of which we 

 behold the impress of its Author. 



WHAT WE CANNOT UNDERSTAND. 



Wc cannot understand many of the plienonicna which we 

 observe in the pursuit of our calling. It is not for us to 

 comprehend that mysterious power which directs the growth 

 of animal and vegetable life, which directs the giant oak and 

 the tiny flower to assume their respective sizes and forms, 

 when nurtured by the same soil. We cannot comprehend 

 that power which gives to the oak its characteristics, or 

 arranges with more than painter's skill that beauty of design, 

 that variety of tints and perfection of coloring which every 



