188 Gov. Wright's Address. [Oct., 



ject. Hence, most usually, when the public mind has been awa- 

 kened to the subject, arbitrary, and in many cases visionary ex- 

 periments have been introduced, based upon no philosophical in- 

 vestigation of cause and effect, but upon some accidental trial, by 

 a single individual, of some novel mode of culture, which, under 

 the circumstances attending the experiment, has met with success- 

 This single experiment, without an enquiry into, or a knowledge 

 of the cause which, in the given case, has secured the successful 

 result, is at once recommended as an infallible rule of husbandry. 

 The publication and dissemination of detached experiments of 

 this character, for a long period, constituted the most material 

 additions to the stock of literary information connected with agri- 

 culture, supplied to our farmers; while many of the experiments 

 were too intricate and complicated to be reduced to practice with 

 any certainty of accuracy, and others were so expensive that the 

 most perfect success would not warrant the outlay. Unsuccessful 

 attempts to follow the directions given for making these experi- 

 ments, brought what came to be denominated " book-farming," 

 into great disrepute with the industrious, frugal and successful 

 farmers of the country, and excited a jealousy of, and a prejudice 

 against this description of information upon agricultural subjects, 

 which it has cost years of patient and unceasing effort, in any 

 measure to allay, and which are not yet removed. 



In the mean time geological research, heretofore principally 

 confined to investigations into the mineral kingdom proper, has 

 been extended to its legitimate office, and has brought within its 

 examinations the formation of the various soils, and their minute 

 constituent parts. Chemistry has commenced where geology 

 closed, and by a careful analysis of these constituents of the va- 

 rious soils, of the principal agricultural products, and of the usual 

 manures, is laboring to establish upon philosophical principles, 

 the true relations between the soil and the manure to be applied, 

 and between both and the crop to be planted and produced. It 

 is seeking out, with rapid success, the appropriate food of the va- 

 rious vegetables cultivated by the farmer, the soils and manures 

 in which the food for each is found, and the way in which it may 

 be most successfully administered. So with the food of the do- 

 mestic animals, and the most economical manner of feeding it. 



These investigations are the reverse of the former system of 

 arbitrary experiments. There a result was made to justify the 

 arbitrary means adopted to produce it. Here causes are ascertain- 

 ed, and, being so ascertained, are relied upon to produce their 

 natural effect, which effect is the result sought. 



The importance of this great subject is effectually arousing the 

 attention of the literary and scientific men of the country, and the 

 success already experienced is drawing to these researches, minds 



