THE NEW INSPIRATION. 373 



experiment stations : "In the language of the market," reads 

 the notice, "if you do not see what you want, ask for it. If 

 you fail to grasp the meaning of a word, a phrase or a propo- 

 sition : if any matter in this bulletin is not clear, or if you wish 

 any advice touching any phase of fertilization, or of agricul- 

 ture in general, write to the Experiment Station." And this 

 is the spirit of the Department of Agriculture, throughout. 



Agriculture, however, is not an exact science and it never 

 will be. It is not a calling that can be reduced to a series of 

 well defined rules and precepts. Happily, as has been said 

 "there is one vocation in which men engage which can 

 never be bounded by methods or precedents one occupation 

 which is as elastic and untrammeled and unconventional as the 

 blowing of the winds, the falling of the rain or the singing of 

 the birds. The occupation is a business and an art founded 

 upon the interplay of many sciences of which chemistry, 

 botany, physiology, physics and climatology are chief; and 

 these, and all the business methods are co-ordinated by good 

 judgment and skilful management." 



The new lights from science, instead of detracting from the 

 romance and mystery that inhere in the constitution of nature, 

 and these have always given an element of delight and inspi- 

 ration to the calling of agriculture, simply give to the farmer 

 that degree of authority and control which make for his high- 

 est profit and pleasure. They suggest philosophy to him and 

 render it possible for him so to plan his work that he can af- 

 ford occasionally to "sit on the fence and enjoy the fun of see- 

 ing things grow." His hours of labor are interspersed with 

 hours of rest and his barns are filled with plenty. The peace 

 of a well provided home is his and his heart rests in the 

 fidelity of his family. Every season brings its trials and its 

 tasks, but also its delights. When the winter storm howls 

 without, his abode may be as warm and bright and as well pro- 



