EXTRACTS — FOREIGN AND DOMESTIC. 353 



the objects of the American Agricultural Association ; these are 

 objects this society propose to pursue, with reference to the 

 present state of scientific knowledge and actual condition of the 

 world. Among the remarkable characteristics of the age in which 

 we live, there are two prominent ones ; first, the great develop- 

 ments in natural science — and, secondly, the application of tliese 

 new discoveries to the practical business of life, and the great in^ 

 lerests of society. Scientific knowledge is not now what it once 

 was. It is no longer confined within the magic and mystic circle 

 within which it was deemed forbidden for all but the initiated to 

 enter. It no longer dwells within the college or the schools, 

 but it has come forth among the people, mingles in the affairs of 

 the world, and directs its practical operations. Principles are no 

 longer valued merely because they are ingenious, or adapted to 

 lend brilliancy to some theory, but they are valued as of practical 

 utility, and as they subserve the great interests of mankinil. Ours 

 is eminently a utilitarian age. Now, what the American Agricul- 

 tural Society proposes, is, to follow this manifest spirit of the age^ 

 and introduce into agriculture, as far as is practicable and may be 

 useful, the discoveries and improvements of modern science. In- 

 deed, we hold the opinion that no system of agriculture can be 

 iconsidered as enlightened but in proportion as it may prove useful. 

 'What, for example,- would you think of a physician — I do not 

 |now speak of those geniuses who accomplish wonders by the force 

 iof instinct, who are not only equal with, but in advance of science 

 — but I speak of those learned gentlemen who really cure disease. 

 What would you think of the learned doctor who would prescribe 

 for a disease without any knowledge of its character, its symptoms 

 — or, without any acquaintance with the materia medica, from 

 which he professes to derive his remedy ? So it is with agricul- 

 ture ; without a knowledge of the elements of active agents in pro- 

 iuction — the qualities of the soil — ^and whether that soil contained 

 ill the properties necessary for that production ■ if not, what ma- 

 lures and composts are suitable for invigorating it, or restoring 

 he different agents — without this knowledge, no system of agricul- 

 ure can be enlightened or perfectly successful. In illustration, 

 et me sup[)ose a case : — A practical farmer wishes to produce a 

 Jertain crop from a particular field under cultivation. Now, if he 

 knows what agints are necessary for the production of such a crop, 

 ind also that his field is deficient in any of those agents, he ought 

 supply them, and thus render the power of his soil complete. 

 But without this knowledge, the usual error is to manure general- 

 y, by which, if the farmer has supplied the deficient agency, he 

 nay have added others in which the soil abounded. In this case 

 le will obtain his crop, but it generally happens that those neces- 

 ary agtnts are not supplied — in which cr.se, he will not only have 

 ailed in his crop, but be subjected to additional expense. Now 



