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born facts&quot; proved him to be wrong. Now you all know that he wa 

 right; and that all the stubborn facts amounted to, was mismanage 

 ment. Yet they had settled the point in popular belief. 



We must change all that. If the labor, pains, and expense be 

 stowed by scattered individuals on limited experiments leading to unsafe 

 and contradictory conclusions, were combined so as to be judiciously 

 directed to well defined objects, a vnst amount of important knowledge 

 would be elicited. 



Experimenting is a science and art a most difficult one to carrv out 

 correctly in all cases. It is no disparagement to our farmers to say, 

 that in a great number of rases, they are unable to say exactly where 

 the shoe pinches, and what experiments should be made ; above all, un 

 able to judge of all the precautions required to carry them to a success 

 ful issue. 



Much of the reproach that has been cast upon science as disagreeing 

 with the results of practice, is owing simply to this want of proper 

 qualifications on the part of experimenters, supposed to be, and esteem 

 ing themselves &quot; highly scientific men,&quot; yet lacking the comprehensive 

 and well digested knowledge, which alone insures correct results, and 

 above all, correct conclusions. 



THE GEOLOGICAL AND AGRICULTURAL SURVEY. 



A most important step toward this object was the Geological and 

 Agricultural Survey of the State. Its objects are, to acquire, through 

 compttent observers, a knowledge of all the natural facts concerning 

 the agricultural and industrial resources of the State; and also to 

 gather for the general benefit all the experience already acquired by 

 farmers concerning the peculiarities and character of soils. These 

 carefully collated and compared with the results of scientific investiga 

 tion of the soils, will in many cases at once lead to the most important 

 practical conclusions. 



Here is a most important function to be fulfilled by our agricultural 

 societies, lodges of Patrons of Husbandry, etc. Experiments are 

 rarely lucrative: individuals cannot afford them. Societies can, for the 

 common benefit. 



EXPERIMENTAL FARMS. 



* Fellow-citizens I would have, with this view, not one experimental 

 farm at Oxford or Jackson, but at least half a dozen of them scattered 

 over the State, in the chief agricultural divisions ; as many as possible 

 one to each agricultural society ! 



