HINDRANCES AND HELPS. 235 



great advantage of analyzing all the different pears, 

 and the different soils under culture, so that they 

 might be minutely adjusted each to each. Of course 

 the worthy old gentleman never did such a thing ; 

 and (being a shrewd man) never means tx Yet it 

 seemed not a very bad thing to say. The lesser 

 poinologists all wagged their heads approvingly, but 

 without any serious thought of following the advice ; 

 the embryo chemists fairly gushed over in approval ; 

 and the only doubt expressed, was in the faces of cer 

 tain earnest, honest, old farmers, who had already 

 paid their twenty-five dollars for a soil analysis, to 

 the eminent Professor Mapes, and of one or two 

 scientific adepts, who, I thought, gave a twirl to their 

 tongues in the left cheek, rather evasively. In 

 general, I find that the most modest opinions in regard 

 to the agricultural aids of applied science, come from 

 the men of most distinguished scientific attainment ; 

 and the exaggerated promises and suggestions flow 

 from those who are slightly indoctrinated, and who 

 make up by uproar of words, and aggregation of pre 

 tentious claims, for the quiet confidence and far-sight 

 ed moderation of real science. Even so we find a 

 General in command looking from end to end of the 

 field modest in his promises, doubtful by reason of 

 his knowledge ; while some blatant Colonel, puffy 

 with regimental valor, and knowing the positions only 



