SIMPLICITY OF AGRICULTUKAL SCIENCE. 9 



a farmer of that day, nor a chemist, knew that bones 

 furnished phosphoric acid to plants; or that guano provided 

 in its ammonia the materials from which their gluten and 

 other nitrogenous substances were derived. Indeed the 

 renowned father of agricultural science: Liebig when he 

 propounded his mineral theory, which was that the ashes 

 of plants contained everything which they drew from the 

 soil, and that if the mineral substances contained in the 

 ashes, were supplied in sufficient quantity to the crops, 

 there would be scarcely a limit to the product, excepting 

 the space in which they were contained knew nothing 

 about the invaluable nitrogen which we now know to be 

 wholly indispensable to plant growth. But light has grad- 

 ually dawned upon us, and by slow and sometimes faltering 

 progress, there has been built up a system of agricultural 

 science which explains the laws of plant growth and affords 

 the most important information to the cultivator of the 

 soil. 



Science is based upon fact. Philosophy is based upon 

 speculation. Science is the outgrowth of philosophy, be- 

 cause before we can reach a true knowledge of any fact we 

 must approach the study of it by a well devised theory, 

 changed as may be necessary, and tested patiently and 

 slowly until the knowledge sought is found. This know- 

 ledge, when verified by practice, sufficiently proved and 

 classified, becomes science. Science then is nothing for the 

 farmer to fear, or cast doubt and suspicion upon. Theory 

 as has been said, has no part or lot in it; it is a summary 

 of known facts, and is therefore of the most valuable use 

 to the farmer as it gives him a sound basis upon w T hich to 

 build up such conclusions in regard to his practice as will 

 enable him to meet the various difficulties which are al- 

 ways arising in his work. 



Nor need the farmer be afraid of science because of any 

 difficulty in comprehending it. Truth is very simple, and 

 is so plain that he who runs may read. And there is noth- 

 ing in agricultural science, and nothing will be offered in 

 the pages to follow T , that would give any difficulty to any 



