440 MASSACHUSETTS AGRICULTURE. 



SCIENCE IN AGRICULTURE. 



From an Address before the Worcester West Society, Sep- 

 tetnber 30, 1853. 



BY PHOFESSOR 'WILLIAM C. FOWLER. 



In agriculture, as in manufactures and commerce, science, 

 united with practical skill, and common sense and energy of 

 character, is necessary in order to give the most successful 

 direction to labor and capital. 



Mr. President, and gentlemen of the Society — Do you not, 

 upon the bare statement of this proposition, assent to its truth ? 

 We are told, upon high authority, that the knowledge and power 

 of man are coincident ; that while ignorant of causes he can 

 produce no effects ; that he can conquer nature only by submis- 

 sion to her laws ; that what in speculation stands for the cause, 

 or rather the principle, is what in practice stands for the rule. 

 Upon these axioms rests the proposition. And if any one 

 ventures the denial of this proposition, let him take upon him- 

 self the burden of proving that knowledge is not power over 

 nature in agriculture, while it is in every thing else. 



But, leaving this general statement, let us come home to 

 men's business and bosoms, in a brief analysis of the proposi- 

 tion. Here is a young man with a strong arm, a clear head, 

 and a stout heart, eager to enter into a partnership with 

 nature, in order, by her aid, to obtain certain agricultural pro- 

 ducts. For this purpose he wishes to select a portion of the 

 earth's surface on which he can labor. But it is not every part 

 of the earth's surface that will make a good farm. There is a 

 great variety of soil in the primary, the secondary, the tertiary, 

 the diluvial, and the alluvial formations on the crust of our 

 globe, as revealed by geological research. Now, unless he 

 understands the nature of these formations, and the nature of 

 the soil connected with them, will he not, before he makes his 

 selection, find it for his advantage to study the science of 

 geology in its practical bearing upon agriculture ? 



From his farm, judiciously selected, he wishes to raise certain 

 vegetable products, as wheat, or Indian corn, which, with the 

 least outlay of capital and labor, will yield the largest returns 



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