114 DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE GEORGIA. [400] 



CHAPTER IX. 



AGRICULTURAL EXPERIMENTS. 



In discussing this subject, the first question to be con- 

 sidered is, what is an agricultural experiment ? 



All of the operations of nature, whether in the vegeta- 

 ble, animal or mineral kingdoms, are controlled by fixed 

 laws, usually called natural laws, or the laws of nature. 



The object of science is to ascertain what these laws are, 

 and their relations to each other, or, in other words, to 

 learn from nature, by the interpretation of these laws, the 

 will and mode of thought of the Creator, as expressed in the 

 physical world. Natural science, therefore, bears the same 

 relation to the physical world, that theology does to the spir- 

 itual. One interprets God's will, expressed in His crea- 

 tions ; the ther, his will as unfolded in revelation. 



Agricultural experiments have for their object, therefore, 

 the interpretation of God's will in relation to plant life and 

 plant nutrition. 



Definitely stated then, an agricultural experiment may 

 be defined as a question asked nature in such form and 

 under such surrounding circumstances, natural or artificial, 

 as to render possible a correct interpretation of the answer 

 from the results expressed in vegetable growth. 



The usual obj. ct of agricultural experiments is the de 

 termination of truth for the benefit of those practically en- 

 gaged in agriculture. 



The first requisite for success is, that the experimenter 

 srnll have a clear and definite idea of the question to be 

 asked. 



Without this, it is not probable that the proper precau- 

 tions will be taken to procure the necessary surroundings 

 to secure accurate results, such as are susceptible of cor- 

 rect interpretation. 



li the question is clearly understood, and the accom- 



