THE FARMER'S MAGAZINE. 



515 



limited, an! they can be easily recollected. But when the 

 number of facta accumulates to an extraordinary extent, none 

 but those blessed with an exceedingly good memory can gain 

 practical information. We want, then, some grand principles 

 which shall enable us to recollect facts. Neither chemistry 

 nor any other branch of science ought to be the direct guide 

 to the agriculturist. It should never put itself in the posiitioa 

 of telling a practical man what he haa to do ; but it ought to 

 explain the experience of farmers and facilitate the under- 

 standing of practical matters to the rising generation ; for 

 there would be no progress whatever possible if each genera- 

 tion had always to learn again the same practical matters, a 

 knowledge of which their forefathers had gained. They 

 require to have some grand principle, to lay hold at once of 

 those nuniero'u practical facts, and then they are in a position 

 to e-Ktend previous experience. Ileuce, I believe, at the 

 present time especially, science is eminently c.^lculited to be 

 of great utility to the rising generation. The most successful 

 farmers in all ages have always been men in aJvauce of their 

 times. Our most excellent farmers of the present time hive 

 been distinguished in their manhood for something for which 

 they were ridiculed at one period of their life. When they 

 had to contend against popular prejudices, chemistry as a 

 science was altogether unknown, la all probability if che- 

 mical science had been applied to agriculture aa it has since 

 been, they would have been " meddling" with it, as the 

 phrase goes ; but they " meddled " with some new plough or 

 some new implement for which they were ridiculed, and at 

 first it would seem properly, because they failed in their 

 attempts : but they were men of character, perseverance, and 

 intelligence ; they did not abaudon a new process because it 

 was ridiculed, they did not caat aside a new instrument 

 because it did not at once work well ; they put their shoulders 

 to the work, applied their intelligence, brought out the new 

 implement, or, by making use of their previous experience, 

 introduced a new process, which was gradually accepted, since 

 it was found to answer in a great many instances, and the cir- 

 cumstances under which it would be useful to the (armsr were 

 clearly recognised. Chemical science in its relation to agri- 

 culture had to pass throujjh all the different stiges which a 

 new-born babe or child has to pass through during the first 

 years of existence. We have seen the joy with which the new 

 light of chemistry in its relation to agriculture, as it has been 

 called, hai been greeted. Those who have welcomed it with 

 the greatest joy have, it cannot be denied, too much petted, 

 so to say, those scientific men who applied themselves to the 

 investigation of chemical subjects in relation to agriculture : 

 and it has very soon appeared that, like petted children, 

 many of the pro''e3sors of chemical science over-estimated their 

 own powers, and instead of explaining the experience of 

 practical men, they set themselves up as guides to the farmers; 

 in short, they over-estimated the powers of the new science, 

 and, in couseq\!ence, stumbl-d. It cannot be surprising that 

 practical men should have laughed, at various times, at the 

 extravagant expectations which were held out by scientific men 

 themselves. It was very soon found out that, as yet, chemical 

 science had nothing but promises to offer. It was then that 

 chemistry had to pass through many troubles ; it received a 

 rough handling ; and it is surprising that amidst the petting 

 on the one hand, an 1 the rough handling oa the other, it did 

 not die a natural death. But it is fortunate that, at all times, 

 there are intelligent and libural-mindeJ men who, though 

 they may regret the extravagances of the young, yet recog- 

 nise the talent that may be but a spark, but which requires 

 only to be directed in the proper channel to become mighty 

 means for practicftl and social good. It reflects great credit 



on that immortal man Mr, Pusey (o have foreseen, with all 

 his practical tact and clear intelligence, the important advan- 

 tages which chemistry is capable of 8ecdriu^< at one time or 

 the other, and who was fortunate enough to secure the services 

 of my predecessor in office. The servicaa rendered by Pro- 

 fessor Way to this Society, and to agricultural society at 

 large, are too well known to require comment from me on 

 this occasion. Hij works will be read and appreciated by 

 successive generations; they have a permajeut] value, and 

 belong to the choicest contributions of your Journal. lu 

 alluding to your Journal, my Lord, excuse my making one 

 remark, which may, perhaps, appear out of place. I was sur- 

 prised the other day to hear that the Journal was ia danger of 

 losing its standing as the first leading agricultural publication 

 of the day ; that the former volumes were much more prac- 

 tical than those issued in later years. I was surprised to hear 

 these remarks, because I have heard remarks in the opposite 

 direction from many agriculturists with whom I have con- 

 versed. There will always be differences of opinion; but it is 

 worthy of remark that the most talented, rising young farmers 

 generally speak very favourably of the contributions to the 

 later volumes of the Royal Agricultural Society's Journal; 

 whilst observations of an opposite tendency are chiefly made 

 by men who were of full age, if I maj' use the expression, when 

 chemistry, as a science, was altogether unknown. Be this as 

 it may. it is clear that a different mode of thought and ex- 

 pression pervades the productions emanating from the younger 

 agricultural writers, which proves, I think, that the rising 

 intelligent farmer is no longer satisfied with having simple 

 direction in practical matters— is not simply satisfied with 

 being told " You must do this or that," unless he is told at 

 the same time the reason for this recommendation. And I 

 believe that it is equally true that frequently no satisfactory 

 explanation can be given of practical farming matters without 

 usmg scientific language, however simple it may be. And, 

 lastly, I would observe, with respect to this subject, that 

 many of the most valuable contributions will remain a dead 

 letter to those who have not studied the rudiments of science. 

 In short, a knowledge of the rudiments of science, more espe- 

 cially of chemistry, is necessary to all who would successfully 

 compete with the future rising generation ; and if they neglect 

 the opportunities which are now afforded to them in acquiring 

 chemical knowledge, and a general knowledge of the prin- 

 ciples of science, they must be content to forego the enjoy- 

 ments and benefits which are peculiar to a highly-civilised 

 country like England, and must be content to try their 

 hands in clearing an habitable spot in the back-woods of 

 Canada or North America, or to live, or rather vegetate, in 

 one of our colonies. Agricultural chemistry in its application 

 to farming is altogether a new science •, and hitherto it has 

 been, like every new knowledge, too vague and too general in 

 its doctrines as well as in its researches. What is required at 

 the present time is experiments made for a special purpose 

 researches carried on in the field as well as in the laboratory. 

 We have need of the joint labours of practical men and men 

 of science. There are multitudes of subjects which can only be 

 properly investigated if the man of science heartily joins with 

 the practical man, working cheerfully together each in his own 

 department. Nearer approach between agriculture and science, 

 iu short, is what is required at the present time. A genera' 

 knowledge of the principles of farming, however useful to the 

 practical farmer, never will help him to grow a large crop of 

 turnips : ha must have special traiuinj in practical rasttera in 

 order to be a successful farmer. So it is with chemicil know- 

 ledge. Men may have excellent general chemical knowledge, 

 but if they have not special chemical knowledge in rcla- 



