ACTION OF ELEMENTS OF SOIL. 



CHAPTER V. 



OF THE MUTUAL ACTION OF THE OR- 

 GANIC AND INORGANIC ELEMENTS 

 OF SOIL. 



128. In agriculture, little and seemingly unim- 

 portant discoveries are valuable. Nothing is to be- 

 despised, which may lead to a rational and true the- 

 ory of agriculture ; this only can lead to successful 

 practice. Practice, founded on sound principles, 

 can be taught only by a knowledge of the manner 

 how, the elements of soil affect each other, and veg- 

 etation. This knowledge cannot be obtained with- 

 out the application of theoretical opinions. The 

 opinions of merely scientific men, may be wholly 

 theoretical ; but what is science ? 



It is, says Davy, "refined common sense, the 

 substitution of rational practice, for unsound preju- 

 dice." 



In no department of human industry, is there so 

 great a demand for the union of theory and prac- 

 tice, as in agriculture. The book farmer and the 

 practical farmer, must now shake hands. They have 



