1856.] Dedication of Polytechnic Hall — Address. 545 



suited to particular crops, and to determine when they contain ele- 

 ments that unfit them for his purpose. First, then, we have here the 

 nature, elements, properties and origin of soil, and in addition to all 

 this, its proper preparation by plowing, trenching, subsoiling, drain- 

 ing and the testing of diiferent modes of culture, etc. 



Next, as to botany, which may be called the natural science of the 

 agriculturist. Instead of ending, as now with a few, classifications 

 and hard names, that might be regarded as the mere scafi'olding to 

 the erection of an edifice of beautiful architectural proportions, he 

 chould carry this science into his forests, and fields, and make it the 

 medium of his investigations of the characteristics and properties of 

 plants, and study every tree, shrub and flower, so lavishly spread 

 around him, painting his fields and woods with their thousand hues, 

 and making this outward world a scene of grandeur and beauty. He 

 should know how the seed germinates, the tender leaf unfolds itself, 

 and in what order the several parts of the flower are developed — how 

 the blossom is rendered fruitful — what will injure, and what will im- 

 prove each plant — how plants may be improved by ingrafting, by 

 innoculation, by crossing — how new varieties may be obtained and 

 old ones made better; and this knowledge, as pertaining not only 

 to his fruits, but his grains, grasses and vegetables. And immedi- 

 ately connected with this wide field of scientific research, and indeed 

 forming a part of it, is vegetable physiology. He should know all 

 about the amatomy of plants — the cell, tissues, organs of nutrition, 

 of respiration, reproduction — the offices of the roots, stem, leaves, 

 bark, etc., etc. '^ 



The geography of plants, distribution of species, peculiar products, 

 Milk, Juices, Wood, Bass, Cotton, Starch, Sugar, Oils, Wax, Resins, 

 etc. Circulation of sap, — old theories, Darwin ; New theories, 

 Schleider — Plant Geograph}^, distribution of species, geological for- 

 mations, meteorology, climate, acclimation, range of species, zones of 

 flora, etc. 



Propagation of plants, — seeds, buds, germs, leaves, layers, cut- 

 tings, etc. 



Culture, — its objects, drill-husbandry, surface-stirring, deep til- 

 lage, corn crop, root crop, Terra Culture^ mulching, surface roots, 

 their uses, etc., etc. 



Also pot culture, drainage of pots — the vine border, houses for 

 forcing, propagating, hotbeds, etc., etc. 

 35 



