VOL. XIX. NO. 4:j. 



AND HORTICULTURAL REGISTER, 



339 



the present exercise of this, the most airreeable 

 piirt of my official duty, is to Isnow, whether to con- 

 sider M. Liebij's inquiries as most important in ii 

 chemical or in a physi<ilogical light; however that 

 may be, ho has a double claim on the scientilic 

 world, enhanced by the practical and useful ends 

 to which he lias turned his discoveries." 



"It is the best book," writes Mr. Nuttall, " ever 

 published on Vegetable Chemistry as applied to 

 Agriculture, and calculated undoubtedly to pro- 

 duce a new era in the science." 



Extract from a letter from Rev. II. Colmnn, 

 Commissioner for the Agricultural Survey of Mas- 

 sachusetts, dated February 15ih, 1841 ; — 



"It is the most valuable contribution to Agricul- 

 tural science, which has come within my knowl- 

 edge. It takes new views on many subjects, 

 which have been long discussed without any pro- 

 gress towards determinate conclusions ; and reveals 

 principles, which are of the highest importance. 

 Some of these principles require farther elucidation 

 and proof; but, in general, they are so well estab- 

 lished by facts within my own observation, that in | 

 my opinion the truth, if not already reached, is not 

 far distant." 



From Silliman's Journal, January, 1841 : — 

 " It is not too nmch to say, that the publication 

 of Professor Liebig's Organic Chemistry of Agri- 

 culture, constitutes an era of great importance in 

 the history of Agricultural science. Its acceptance 

 as a standard is unavoidable, for, following closely 

 in the straight path of inductive philosophy, the con- 

 clusions which are drawn from its data are incontro- 

 vertible." — "To some, the style of this work may 

 seem somewhat obscure; but it will be found, on a 

 re-perusal, that great condensation, brevity, and 

 terseness, have been mistaken for obscurity."— 

 " We can truly say, that we have never risen from 

 the perusal of a book with a more thorough con- 

 viction of the profound knowledge, extensive read- 

 ing, and practical research of its author, and of the 

 invincible power and importance of its reasonings 

 and conclusions, than we have gained from the i 

 present volume." j 



In the notice from which the foregoing is ex- ' 



tracted, the learned editors enumeraie anions the i 



^ i 



most important chapters, those on manure, the , 



composition of animal manure, the essential ele- ; 

 ments of manure, bone manure, the supply of nitro- 

 gen by animal matter, mode of applying urine, 

 value of human excrements, &c. 



The Second Part of the work is a masterpiece 

 of condensed reasoning on chemical transforma- 

 tions, fermentation, decay, and putrefaction, and on 

 contagion, poisons, and miasms. 



DISCOURSE, 

 On the objects and importance of the JVational In- 

 stitution for the Promotion of Science, established 

 at Washington, 1840, delivered at the first Anni- 

 versary. By Joel R. Poinsett, Secretary of 

 War and Senior Director of the Institution. 

 Washington: 1841. 



This discourse states the spheres and objects of 

 several of the sciences, and their connection with 

 the useful arts. \V e read it with much satisfac- 

 tion, deeming it worthy of an occasion which re- 

 quired the services of a discriminating and well 

 furnished mind. The following passages we offer 

 to our readers. 



" This Institution has allotted one entire division 



to Agriculture. This must be considered the most 

 important, as it is the most necessary of tho useful 

 arts, as well as the most essential to our existence 

 in a stale of civilization. The lumter or the shcp- 

 lierd can do no more than supply himself and his 

 children with food. Such a people have no surplus 

 for those who follow other pursuits ; whereas in an 

 agricultural community a portion nfthe people only 

 are engaged in raising grain and cattle to supply 

 the remainder with food, who, in their turn, are 

 employed in the useful or fine arts, or in the pur- 

 suits of literature and science ; and it may be safe- 

 ly asserted that the degree of civilization in any 

 country will be in propor ion to tlie perfection of 

 its agriculture. Cicero says, "there is no better 

 pursuit in life, none more full of enjoyment, or 

 more worthy a freem.in," and surely there is none 

 which contributes more krgely to the wealth and 

 independence of a country. Like all tlie useful 

 arts, it is dependent upon science for its perfection. 

 Sir Humphrey Davy's work upon agricultural 

 chemistry shows its intimate connection with tliat 

 science, and we have already remarked the appli- 

 cation of geology to its uses. One of the greatest 

 improvements of farming in modern times, so fruit- 

 ful in improvements of every kind, is the free use 

 of mineral manures. Lime, in some form or other, 

 must enter into the composition of every soil, to 

 render it fertile ; and where the chemist fails to 

 detect it in the land, he supplies it artificially. A 

 knowledge of the analysis of soils is therefo.-e ne- 

 cessary to every good farii er. The use of mine- 

 ral manures is beginning to be well understood, 

 and to be generally practiced in our country ; but 

 there are two things that appear either not to be 

 fully comprehended, or not to be sufficiently brought 

 into successful operation ; the one is to make a 

 given quantity of land yield for a series of years, 

 the maximum amount of produce it is capable of 

 by high culture and a judicious rotation of crops, 

 and the other is the art of irrigation. The great 

 economy of making a small portion of land j-ield 

 as much as a large one, must be too obvious to re- 

 quire explanation, and the manner of effecting this 

 important object is to be learned by the applica- 

 tion of scientific principles to husbandry. The 

 wonderfully fertilizinfj effect of water has been un- 

 derstood for ages, and the art of irripaticm has been 

 practised from time immemorial. The scriptures 

 are filled with beautiful poetical allusions to this 

 art, which proves its antiquity, and it is still prac- 

 tised in every part of Asia, throughout the south of 

 Europe, and in that portion of America settled by 

 the Spaniards. In those countries are seen exten- 

 sive works of irrigation, and where the depth of 

 the hank of the river and the low level will not al- 

 low canals being taken out for the purpose, the 

 Persian wheel, an instrument of great power and 

 antiquity, is used. Often, indeed, water is drawn 

 by this means from deep wells, to irrigate the 

 fields, while in our finely watered country this 

 great advantage is neglected. I have traversed, in 

 a period of drought, the rich and fertile valleys of 

 Virginia, and seen the corn and grass perishing 

 for want of moisture, while a bountiful stream ran 

 gurgling along the side of the hill, wanting only 

 to be tapped to restore the withering plants and 

 scorched grass to new life and vigor. In the 

 South, irrigation is practised in the cultivation of 

 rice, but only in the low country, by means of the 

 ebb and flow of the tide, and for that plant alone. 

 With this exception, there, as elsewhere through- 

 out our country, the farmers do not avail them- 



selves of the great natural advantages they eujoy 

 in having the means of irrigation within their 

 reach, but trust altogether to the uncertain seasons. 

 As a thorough knowledge of this art would more 

 than double our agricultural products with the 

 same labor, this Institution will confer a benefit on 

 their fellow citizens, by instructing them in the 

 best methods of watering and draining their fields. 

 In the south of Europe, canals of irrigation have 

 been constructed by the ablest engineers of the 

 age, and I cannot but think that our own civil en- 

 gineers would find their account in becoming ac- 

 quainted with this art, while at the same time they 

 miffht render an invaluable service to their coun- 

 try^ 



"Entomology, which teaches the nature and hab- 

 its of insects, is an important branch of natural his. 

 tory to the planter and farmer. It will enable him 

 to protect his fruit trees, his grain and cotton fields, 

 from their ravages ; and an acquaintance with or- 

 nithology will aid him to distinguish what birds 

 serve as aiuiliaries for this purpose. 



" It will be the duty of this Institution, likewise, 

 to use its best endeavors to introduce into our 

 country new varieties of whidesome, nutritious, and 

 pleasant articles of food. With our extended com- 

 merce, this duty may be readily performed ; and 

 here let me remark, that agriculture has attained a 

 high degree of perfection only among great com- 

 mercial nations. The two arts depend mutually 

 upon each other, and tlie cultivation of the one 

 leads to the extension and advancement of the 



other." 



« # » 4 * 



" My colleagues have already exhibited so much 

 zeal and industry, that they require no exhortation 

 from me to persevere in their efforts to promote the 

 objects of our Institution, and in their contributions 

 to the union and progress of the arts and sciences. 

 Constituted as this Society is, few of its members 

 can bestow their whole time to the purposes of the 

 Institution; but all may devote some portion of 

 it to this object. The mind requires relaxation 

 from the labors of a trade, or profession, or the 

 cares of state ; but, like the soil we cultivate, it 

 need not be left for that period to grow up in nox- 

 ious weeds. Relaxation from intense application 

 to our important duties may be found in the pur- 

 suits of literature and science. It is an error to 

 suppose that letters cannot be cultivated without 

 neglecting the fulfilment ofthe obligations we owe 

 to our families or to our country. On the contrary, 

 the man who devotes his leisure to the acquisition 

 of knowledge will invigorate his mind, and better 

 fit himself to fulfil his more important duties, than 

 if he had passed those moments in frivolous amuse- 

 ments ; and the pursuit itself, by leading us to an 

 intimate acquaintance with the works of nature, 

 cannot fail to elevate our minds to the contempla- 

 tion of that Being who 'in wisdom has made them 

 all,' and to inspire us with devout gratitude to 

 Him who has endued us with intelligence to com- 

 prehend his marvellous works." 



It has been said, that men carry on a kind of 

 coasting trade with religion. In the voyage of life, 

 they profe5s to be in search of heaven, but take 

 care not to venture so far into their approximations 

 to it, as entirely to lose sight of the earth ; and 

 should their frail vessel be in danger of shipwreck, 

 they will gladly throw their darling vices overboard, 

 as other mariners their treasures, only to fish them 

 up again when the storm is over, — Lacon. 



