THEORIES CONCERNING SOIL FERTILITY 



303 



life became dear; the public granaries became ill stored; manufactures lan- 

 guished; commerce drooped; a numerous army soon consumed the scanty 

 harvest; and, in a short time, Industry fell a sacrifice to the ill-judged policy of 

 the minister. 



"From that period to the present, the French nation have constantly been 

 availing themselves of their mistake. Under the genial influence of the King, 

 Societies are erected in every province. Men of the first distinction do not dis- 

 dain the cultivation of their own lands. M. de Chateauvieux and Duhamel are 

 the greatest ornaments of their country. Let us imitate the virtues of that fash- 

 ionable nation. . . ." 



"The art of husbandry boasts an origin coeval with the human race. Its 

 age, however, seems to have contributed but little towards its advancement, 

 being at present extended but a few degrees beyond its primitive institution. 

 Until the philosopher condescends to direct the plow, Husbandry must remain 

 in a torpid state. . . . 



" I take it upon me to say, that, to be a good husbandman, it is necessary to 

 be a good chymist. Chymistry will teach him the best way to prepare nourish- 

 ment for his respective crops, and, in the most wonderful manner will expose 

 the hidden things of nature to his view. The principles of Agriculture depend 

 greatly upon chymistry; and without principles, what is art, and what is 

 science ? 



" Directed by instinct, the animal seeks its own proper food ; but the vegetable, 

 not being possessed of the power of motion, must be satisfied with the nourish- 

 ment we give it. To direct this upon rational principles, is the business of the 

 ' philosopher. The practical farmer will suffer himself to be instructed as soon 

 as he perceives the practice correspond with the theory laid down to him. Let 

 us expect no more of him. Men of limited education commit great errors when 

 they attempt to reason upon science. In husbandry, effects are constantly 

 applied to improper causes. Hence proceed the errors of our common farmers. 

 To overcome these is the peculiar province of the philosopher; who, in his turn, 

 must support his reasoning by facts and experiments. 



"I lay it down as a fundamental maxim, that all plants receive their principal 

 nourishment from oily particles incorporated with water, by means of an alka- 

 line salt or absorbent earth. ... It may be asked, whence do natural soils 

 receive their oily particles? I answer, the air supplies them. During the 

 summer months, the atmosphere is full of putrid exhalations arising from the 

 steam of dunghills, the perspiration of animals and smoke. Every shower 

 brings down these oleaginous particles for the nourishment of plants." 



" The ingenious Mr. Tull, and others, have contended for earth's being the 

 food of plants. If so, all soils equally tilled would prove equally prolific. 

 Water is thought, by some, to be the food of vegetables, when in reality it is only 

 the vehicle of nourishment." 



After pointing out the great value of oil meals, rape cake, etc. 

 (and later of fish scrap), for soil improvement, and after noting 



