THE FARMER'S MAGAZINE. 



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tion which has of late j'ears been thrown upon farming. 

 Review for a moment the history of ajjjriculture for tlie last 

 twenty years. Mark the progressive improvements which 

 have become more numerous and more important every 

 year, and you will not fail to be convinced that the tide of 

 progress is rolling onwards with an increasing power, and 

 that our future advances will be even greater than the past- 

 You may rely upon it that the practice of agriculture is 

 destioed at no distant period to be one of the most interest- 

 ing branches of national industry, and in its prosecution the 

 highest ability will be demanded. For this reason it be- 

 comes of the deepest importance that those engaged in the 

 practice of agriculture should be men of intelligence, having 

 a clear knowledge of the processes of nature with which 

 they are so constantly brought in contact, for then they will 

 be prepared to record their results with accuracy, and to 

 deduce therefrom correct opinions, which will lead them 

 forward to a perfect knowledge of the true principles upon 

 which their practice is based. I consider that no course is 

 more calculated to promote the welfare and future progress 

 of agricultural practice than a general diffusion of a know- 

 edge of the sciences connected with agriculture ; not that 

 this, as I said before, is to make men farmers, but it is a 

 most important preparation for enabling them to learn the 

 practice. To those who are engaged in these duties much 

 knowledge will be valuable, but to those who may be enter- 

 ing upon this occupation in life it is positively essential- 

 Our endeavour should be to increase the number of those 

 agriculturists who combine in themselves that knowledge 

 which has hitherto been generally divided between two 

 classes ; I refer to the classes distinguished as men of 

 science and men of experience. By combining these cha- 

 racters in each individual, all opposition will be dissipated; 

 for by his knowledge of practice his opinions will be subdued, 

 and moderated by the guidance of science ; whilst his ac- 

 quaintance with science will enable him to take advantage 

 of improvements as they are introduced, to show discretion 

 in selecting such as are suitable to his farm, and are not 

 simply alterations but really improvements ; and it will also 

 prepare him for co-operating in the general advance of the 

 practice. 



To the lover of nature these studies are the source of 

 much mental delight; and I trust the day is not far distant 

 when pecuniary advantage will not be the only inducement 

 to these studies. On every hand the agriculturist is sur- 

 rounded by those beauties of nature which elevate the mind, 

 whilst they render it more humble, and encourage those 

 feelings of love and gratitude towards the Author of all 

 good, which manifest themselves in works of love to those 

 around us. Permit me to specify one of those agencies with 

 which we are daily brought in contact, and yet we scarcely 

 regard it. Observe the influence of light upon the produc- 

 tive character of our crops. You are well aware of the fact 

 that vegetable growth is dependent upon its presence; but 

 we are too apt to look upon light as constant in its charac- 

 ter; but it is not so, for from day to day progressive changes 

 are observable in the character of light, which operpte most 

 powerfully upon vegetation. I may remind you of the fact 

 that three rays, possessing distinct characters and influences, 

 as well as differing in their colour, combine to form 

 colourless light. We have the red ray, the blue raj', and 

 the yellow ray, each characterised by distinct powers, per" 

 forming different duties, but combining to form oneperfectand 

 colourless ray — apt illustration of that Triune Creator who is 

 so often symbolized by light ! But we have this remarkable 

 act to add— that although light is always perfect, yet it varies 



in its character. In the spring mouths we have tha blue ray 

 predominating ; this is termed the magnetic ray, and from its 

 possessing this peculiar character we find light at this period 

 especially endowed with an invigorating energy, which raises 

 vegetation from the torpor of its winter sleep , excites and stimu- 

 lates its organs again to discharge their functions, and fully 

 to awake to the performunce of the pojcers of vitality. But as 

 spring passes into summer, so another influence becomes ne- 

 cessary ; for as the energies of the plant have thus been stimu- 

 lated into action, so now does it become necessary for the 

 supplies of nourishment to be of such a character that the 

 plant can assimilate them and build them up into its growth. 

 The chemical changes which take place in the sap of plants, 

 and render it suitable for vegetable nutrition, are to a very great 

 extent produced by the yellow ray of light — in fact, in its ab- 

 sence healthy growth is impossible. This yellow ray is found 

 to gain the ascendancy as the summer advances, and by its 

 agency the plant, which has been stimulated to vigorous action, 

 now receives the additional supplies of duly matured nourish- 

 ment for its rapid development. As the summer advances, and 

 additional heat is needed for perfecting the earlier growth and 

 ripening the seed, so the red or heat-giving ray preponderates 

 over the others, and thus we have the development of the 

 plant completed under its influence by the perfect formation of 

 its seed, fitted either as food for man or beast, or else adapted 

 for the perpetuation of the species. In this manner we have a 

 successive variation io the character of light, each stage espe- 

 cially adapted for the requirements of that period of growth ; 

 but when this growth is completed, and vegetation is about to 

 enter upon its winter of slumber and inaction, then we find 

 the rays balancing each other, and neither of them prepon- 

 derating. Although each of these rays in succession gains the 

 ascendancy and preponderates over the others, still all of them 

 continue to co-operate throughout the year ; but during the 

 returning seasons of summer and winter, seed time aud bar- 

 vest, vegetation thus derives especial assistance from these 

 peculiar powers of light, and it gives another illustration of the 

 harmony existing in every department of Nature's works, and 

 proves that all her laws may be traced to the action of the 

 mind. Nor must this interesting provision of Nature be looked 

 upon as a solitary example. The student of her laws finds 

 evidences of design throughout that temple which has been 

 raised by the grand Architect of the Universe; and wherever 

 he searches he finds a mine of wealth encouraging him on- 

 wards as a zealous inquirer after truth. I do not hesitate to 

 say that no body of men have richer opportunities for mental 

 gratification, and without interfering with their duties, than 

 those whose position in life places them amidst rural scenes; 

 I refer especially to our country gentlemen and agriculturists : 

 and shall it be that any will willingly wander through the 

 lovely labyrinths of Nature with eyes closed to the beauties 

 which are around them? It cannot be that the persons who 

 constitute these important classes can ever be content merely 

 to fulfil the duties which devolve upon them in their respective 

 stations, and pass through life insensible to those mental enjoy- 

 ments with which a beneficent Creator has strewed their paths. 

 In our universities facilities are offered for gaining know- 

 ledge of this description; but how very small the proportion 

 of those who can take advantage of these opportunities 1 The 

 Council of Queen's College, under a conviction of the great 

 importance of promoting the study of the sciences in their ap- 

 plication to the arts of li''e, have recently taken a most impor- 

 tant step by establishing a special department for these sub- 

 jects, in order that persons resident in the Midland Counties 

 may have opportunities of acquiring a thorough insight into 

 the principles which control the arts of life. 



