211 



scornfully terms book-farming-; but the farmer need not fear to learn 

 his art from any source. If the chemist has analyzed the production of 

 the soil, and found, to an unqualified certainty, its component parts ; and 

 if natural philosophy teaches that these coniponent parts are taken from 

 the earth, the lesson is certainly taught that the earth becomes ex- 

 hausted by a continuous draft upon it, and eventually ceases to yield the 

 product. If he discusses the chemical properties of lime, and its effect 

 when brought in contact with the earth — when, therefore, it may be 

 profitably applied and how used — such discussion may be turned to a 

 most practical and profitable account by the farmer. If the entomolo- 

 gist has carefully studied the life and habits of the bugs, liies, and 

 worms which infest the earth and all its growing vegetables, plants, and 

 fruits, and teaches the nature and extent of their depredations, and 

 thereby, to some extent, puts it in the power of man to thwart their 

 operations; if he puts into our possession the facts with regard to the 

 character of birds which are insectiverous and which are not, which are 

 destructive and which are not, thus enabling us to guard against the 

 one and protect the other ; if the investigations of the botanist point out 

 the nutritious, fibrous, or medicinal character of a plant, and where it Avill 

 grow successfully and where it will not — what distinguishes one plant 

 from another; if the natural philosopher treats of the nature of the 

 earth itself, and how it is affected by light, and heat, and air, and how it 

 gives life to the germinating seed,, and strength and stature to the grow- 

 ing plant; if, in tine, it be the unchangeable laws of God which give 

 vitality to every living and growing thing upon the earth, is it not well 

 that thefiirmer should study to know what those laws are, and give them 

 their most potent influence to produce the best results from the work of 

 His hands ? 



DETEPJORATlOxN OF COTTON AND SUGAR-CANE. 



BY THE COMMISSIONER OF AGRICULTURE. 



By the extensive and intimate intercourse which this Department has 

 with the agriculturists of the country, it has been strongly impressed 

 with the idea that the products of grain, cotton, and sugar have much 

 depreciated in quantity, and, it has been alleged, in quality also ; that this 

 is a very unnatural and alarming result, of what is undoubtedly an im- 

 proved condition of agriculture, must strike the mind of the most casual 

 observer ; and it has induced the Department to inquire i)articularly , and 

 gather the facts, and elicit the opinions of cotton and sugar planters 

 and dealers on the subject, with the view of knowing whether it was 

 within the scope of authority of this Department to come to the rescue 

 or aid of interests so important. To effect this object, letters were di- 

 rected to many intelligent cotton and sugar planters in all the Southern 

 States tending to elicit answers to the following inquiries : 



1st. Have these products deteriorated in quality or quantity ? 



2d. And, if so, to what source do you attribute such deterioration ? 



3d. Can this Department do anything to remedy the evil '? 



These letters have been extensively responded to, and it is gratifying 

 to believe that much intelligent thought has been given to the consid- 



