34 QUARTERLY JOURNAL. 



ours is the same, but our farmers would find themselves greatly 

 astray if they were to follow those systems out in their practice. 



It is therefore the duty of the scientific men of this country to 

 lay their hands to this enterprise, and to direct their etf'orts to the 

 improvement of American agriculture. While they hold back, the 

 farmer will wander but half enlightened. As we have said before, 

 both must go together. The methods by which they are to ad- 

 vance the science of farming are too well understood to require 

 any thing more than mere mention, at this time. The analysis of 

 soils, and especially of the ashes of our various cultivated plants, 

 must lay the foundation. The latter we regard as the most im- 

 portant, because of the impossibility of determining the value of 

 the soil on a farm, by examination of one or even many specimens. 

 If portions of the soil from different parts are mixed, the indications 

 derived from analysis will of course not be definite with reference 

 to any one part nor the whole farm, from the known varieties of 

 soil which often occur in close proximity to each other. For the 

 same reason the analysis of one specimen is not to be relied upon, 

 in forming an opinion of what may be needed to improve the whole. 

 The analysis of plants, determining their exact constituents, is 

 calculated to lead to correct conclusions as to what is necessary to 

 perfect their organization, and is attended, in the end, with vastly 

 less labor. 



The subject of manures, in respect to their relative value — the 

 subject of adulterations — fixing the quantity to be applied, and the 

 period to apply them — the relative value of different kinds of food 

 for stock, and its applications to the rearing and fattening of ani- 

 mals and to the business of the dairy, and many other subjects of 

 this kind demand the labor and investigation of the chemist. The 

 vast field of vegetable and animal physiology, as yet scarcely en- 

 tered upon, offers great inducements for research. The improve- 

 ment of breeds of cattle suited to our various climates is a subject 

 of great importance in this country at the present day. Indeed, 

 the whole world of science in its application to various branches 

 of husbandry, lies open to the scientific man, and the w^ants of this 

 country call for his aid. 



IV. The introduction of new articles of culture is a subject 

 worthy of attention by the American farmer. He is not restricted 

 by climate to the cultivation of a limited variety of products. Our 



