352 



interference with or obstruction to each other, flourish and per- 

 fect themselves equally well in the same soil and in the same 

 atmosphere, and each of them shall abstract from the same soil 

 or the same manure or the same air that, and that only, which 

 it requires ; and appropriate it and so much of it, and no more 

 than it needs, to its own specific nutriment and use, and distrib- 

 ute it according to its nature in exact proportions to its stem, its 

 roots, its leaves, its flowers, to its coloring, its tasfe, its odor, 

 its fruit. Now at what a distance, for any thing that we can 

 see, do human sagacity and science remain from any solution 

 of this inscrutable mystery. I do not say these things in dis- 

 paragement of science or in discouragement of inquiry. Far 

 otherwise ; but rather to stimulate inquiry by showing what a 

 boundless field is open to our curiosity, and how little we have 

 accomplished, and how little ground there is for pride and dog- 

 matism in what we have already done. Inquiry is the only road 

 ta knowledge; and as food for the body, so is knowledge the 

 only proper aliment for the mind, alike indispensable to its 

 health and vigor and power. No great advance has ever been 

 made in human knowledge, but by united and concentrated ef- 

 forts. We should all do what we can. Whoever contributes 

 but a single accurately observed and well authenticated fact in 

 nature to the general stock performs a valuable and an essential 

 part in the erection of the glorious fabric of useful knowledge. 

 The prosecution of inquiries into natural science, in the inter- 

 est which it creates brings with it its own reward. The far- 

 ther we advance, the more this interest is quickened, until at 

 last in our converse with nature, ' God's earliest revelation of 

 himself,' we are never less alone than when alone ; dumb na- 

 ture every where is eloquent, and the whole creation becomes 

 instinct with life and beauty. Science has already conferred 

 immense benefits upon agriculture, but what she has done is 

 nothing compared to what she has in store for us. 



I cannot (juit this great subject of manures, the very sinews 

 of husbandry, without adverting to one or two facts, which 

 certainly are not creditable to the farmers of Massachusetts. 



