FeatherstonhaitgWs Geological Report. 



part of the beach at Long Branch, in New Jersey, suddenly 

 bearing a luxuriant crop of clover. This I learned had been 

 produced by carting the common gravel upon it from the ad 

 jacent sea-shore. This gravel, which had a very unpromising 

 appearance to the naked eye, upon being examined with a 

 pocket microscope, was found to contain great quantities of 

 comminuted sea-shells and marine animal matter, constituting 

 it a valuable manure. There are those who object to this 

 manner of considering the subject, that it is an attempt to 

 draw farmers off from practical operations to considerations of 

 a more theoretical nature, believing that even an elementary 

 acquaintance with chemistry and geology is not fitted for a 

 class, the majority of which is unstudied. But a long and in 

 timate acquaintance with such men, acquired by a residence 

 amongst them, has convinced me that the objection is not well 

 founded. Divest these sciences of the prejudice which at 

 taches to their names, impart their principles (which after all 

 are the principles which govern nature) to men of good sense, 

 in a plain and regular way, consistent with their own habits 

 of thinking and acting, and they will understand them per 

 fectly well, and put them to the best use. Who can hold a 

 conversation with an intelligent man of this kind, without be 

 ing affected by his situation, standing upon the threshold of 

 knowledge, whilst to him it is all darkness and confusion. A 

 clear-headed practical farmer may be made, however unlet 

 tered, to comprehend enough of these branches to convince 

 him of the unerring truth of the principles which govern his 

 vocation. At every step he takes his condition will become 

 more elevated. Men may ridicule the idea of imbuing the 

 minds of plain farmers with a philosophical turn, yet if it is 

 to be done, it would unquestionably lead to very beneficial re 

 sults, and the sum of human happiness, in every direction, 

 be thereby greatly increased. 



Entertaining these opinions, I have been greatly encouraged 

 to adopt the course I have pursued, by the advice of gentle- 



