1847] The Experimental Husbandman. 173 



low. The manners of men are too much changed, and our sen- 

 ses too refined, to receive the austerity so much esteemed by the 

 first Romans ; I only wish that the world may conclude with me, 

 that the study of Agriculture is not unworthy the greatest men, 

 leaving the most laborious part of that to professed farmers and 

 laborers ; for may not the learned at least contribute to their 

 work, in reflecting for them upon the uniformity of Nature in the 

 production of its works, and in assisting those workmen towards 

 perfecting an art, which is yet so little understood ; yes, certain- 

 ly; and such as can furnish just remarks, and such observations 

 as are useful to the public are praiseworthy. 



Farmers being only guided by experience, and seldom led to 

 reflect upon the principles of their art; the knowledge they have 

 is for the most part historical, and is wide from the course of 

 what they see; they sow grain in the earth, and when it is reap- 

 ed and carried away they know the ground must rest, or be 

 amended by some sort of manure. The seed grows, if the soil is 

 good; but how does it grow, and in what degree, or by what 

 means, is this vegetation produced? This would be too much to 

 ask of them, and the very question would be lost. They plant a 

 tree, as their fathers did before them; but might it not grow bet- 

 ter, if they were to follow some other method. Would not Na- 

 ture work with more facility in her operations, if by studying her 

 laws we were to take necessary preparations to ease her in her 

 works? But their studies are not of that extent. They act 

 agreeable to the practice they have seen, and the old beaten path 

 they have been bred up in, stands them in lieu of reason. 



On the other hand philosophers often want the experience of 

 the farmer; many of them form systems in the air, upon which 

 they build abundance of specious reasonings, but have nothing 

 solid in them, because they are not founded upon the true basis of 

 natural knowledge, which is experience; it is therefore no won- 

 der if many of those speculative system makers fall into mistakes. 

 We may compare them to enchanted castles founded upon magic, 

 which have nothing real in them, and vanish in smoke, in the 

 very instant when we should admire their beauties. 



But when we find a wise and laborious man, who joins reason 

 with experience, we cannot fail of some happy production from 

 him, both useful and in the road of truth, sooner than enjoy even 

 one of these agreeables, from one who has but one of these ex- 

 cellencies. 



To cure one of chewing Tobacco, it would only seem necessa- 

 ry for him to look a moment at the exspirted juice upon a clean 

 bed of snow. 



