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THE FARMER'S MAGAZINE. 



it be valued. Experience, therefore, is based upon 

 truth, and cannot be despised with impunity. Few, if 

 any, have arrived at that stage at which they can gather 

 experience in its purest form ; for, with all our care, 

 error will creep in : and thus experience, whilst it con- 

 tains much that is true and valuable, is always more or 

 less intermixed with error, according to the discrimina- 

 tion of the observer in tracing results to their proper 

 causes. If by the fan of knowledge you can winnow 

 away the chaff of error, you may thus separate the 

 kernel of truth in a purer form ; but be guarded lest, in 

 your zeal to separate them, you lose the precious corn 

 of truth. It has been done before : let " Cau- 

 tion ! " therefore, be your watchword, when you deal 

 with local customs. It will always be my endeavour to 

 advocate the importance of paying respect to old- 

 established local customs. They are, I believe, inva- 

 riably based upon truth, and cannot be set aside without 

 disappointment and loss. 



If the experience derived from practice is thus valu- 

 able, it may be asked, What need has the agriculturist 

 for any other guide ? If practice alone can teach him, 

 wherefore should science be brought to his aid ? I 

 reply, To enable him to separate truth from error ; and 

 from his own experience, as well as that of others, to 

 draw those principles v; hich are applicable to his own 

 case, and by the aid of which the productiveness of the 

 land may be economically increased. In ancient times, 

 the voyager toiled along the line of shore, and feared to 

 lose sight of the land ; but the magnetic needle subse- 

 quently taught him how to gain the same points by a 

 more direct course. So, in like manner, the needle of 

 scientific knowledge will be our guide when we lose 

 sight of our landmarks ; but, till we more fully under- 

 stand the principles with which we have to deal, we 

 must be exceedingly cautious how we venture far away 

 from the directions of experience. Still, with the true 

 spirit of progress, we must endeavour to use the instruc- 

 tion of science with judgment, without abusing it by 

 indiscretion. 



Contradiction cannot exist between the principles 

 which science dictates, and the experience which is de- 

 rived from practice. They are the same in their origin 

 as well as in their character. The laws of nature are 

 fixed and definite ; and a knowledge of these laws con- 

 stitutes what we term science : but we have already seen 

 that experience must be traced to the operation of the 

 same laws ; consequently, as these laws are definite in 

 their action, there cannot be any variation between the 

 principles of science and the practice of the art. But, 

 whilst the laws of nature are definite, it must also be 

 remembered that they modify each other ; and the re- 

 sults, consequently, vary according to the several 

 agencies which are called into operation. Thus, as we 

 enter the palace of Nature, the mind at first becomes 

 confused by the apparent contrariety of action observ- 

 able. Like as the untutored eye watches with surprise 

 and wonder the rapidity and diversity of action pre- 

 sented by the machinery of a factory, unable to detect 

 the elementary movements which are here combined and 

 accelerated ; so also, in the laboratory of Nature, its 



operations appear to the superficial observer to consist 

 of an indefinite number of conflicting agencies acting 

 without system or law ; but knowledge dispels this 

 opinion, for the study of the sciences reveals to us the 

 principles which govern all creation ; and thus we are 

 enabled to trace the laws which control all physical 

 changes, and reduce to systematic regularity those 

 ever-recurring changes which are presented in flature. 



In too many cases the suggestions of scientific men 

 have failed from their not giving due consideration to 

 the modifications which thus arise in practice ; whereas, 

 experience (which is derived from Nature's instruction) 

 gives us results which are worthy of the strictest confi- 

 dence. Facts thus gathered are of the greatest import- 

 ance, and it is by a careful record and examination of 

 facts that we offer to the scientific mind the best ground- 

 work from which to establish correct theories. 



Here let me draw your attention to the important 

 difference which exists between Science and Theory. 

 These terms are often considered synonymous, but this is 

 very far from being correct. By the term "science" we 

 understand a knowledge of the laws of nature ; and I have 

 already shown that science cannot contradict facts. But if 

 with an imperfect knowledge of science you deduce from 

 these facts certain opinions, and thereby establish a 

 theory, such opinions will be more or less correct ac- 

 cording to your knowledge and judgment ; consequently 

 the theory would be more or less erroneous as you may 

 have regarded the several agencies which influenced the 

 result. The principles of science and the facts of expe- 

 rience remain equally true and valuable, notwithstanding 

 that an incorrect theory may have been formed. But in 

 proportion as we become more fully acquainted with the 

 laws and operations of Nature, so shall we be more 

 competent to combine our opinions and form correct 

 theories. The difference, however, must always be 

 clearly borne in mind. We may with confidence rely 

 upon the record which Nature gives us in facts, and also 

 upon the principles of science ; but when we attempt to 

 form theories upon them, we must remember that they 

 are but individual opinions, and, however probable, 

 cannot be relied upon as certain. 



It is one of the difficulties with which all branches of 

 science have to contend, that those who are the pioneers 

 of discovery are too apt to form favourite theories, rather 

 than content themselves by being cautious observers of 

 facts and principles. There is scarcely a single excep- 

 tion in the whole range of scientific studies; for the early 

 students have almost invariably formed theories, often- 

 times of the wildest and most visionary character, which 

 have misled them and rendered their labours compara- 

 tively useless. It has been the same with those who 

 have devoted their attention to the science of agriculture. 

 Many of these zealous men have thus proclaimed 

 theories which practice has disproved, and thereby much 

 discredit has fallen upon the cause they were most 

 anxious to have promoted. I am happy to say that 

 greater caution is now observable, and the most ener- 

 getic promoters of the science are now co-operating in 

 the investigation of the functions of Nature rather 

 than propounding new and favourite theories. But 



