No. 2. 



" The Science of .Agriculture " — Cmvs. 



53 



For the Farmers' Cabinet. 

 "The Science of Agriculture." 



How strangely must this " figure of speech" 

 sound in the ears of many of our friemis who 

 believe that the less of science is mixed up 

 with agriculture, the better ! But with all 

 due deference to the prejudice of such per- 

 sons, I must be permitted to believe that the 

 more of true science is blended with any of 

 our pursuits in life, the more rational will be 

 the expectation of success in our undertak- 

 ings, and the greater will be the reward of 

 our labours in the end. It is indeed strange, 

 that in all other occupations, science should 

 be thought absolutely indispensable towards 

 a successful prosecution of our affairs, while 

 we find it deprecated on all sides the moment 

 a man attempts to call for its aid in the pur- 

 suits of agriculture! But, is it possible to be- 

 lieve that such a state of things can exist 

 much longer? If it is, then the education 

 which it is become fashionable to extend to 

 all in the same ratio, must be unsuitable to 

 the youth who is destined to follow husbandry 

 as the means of living, for much labour has 

 been bestowed, to convince him of the neces- 

 sity of thought, examination and comparison, 

 in every event of life, and he will have espe- 

 cially X.0 forget the lessons which he has been 

 taught in philosophy, chemistry, and the arts 

 generally, before he can sit down to practise 

 the only art which is to sustain and support 

 all other arts and sciences in the world ! 



I find in the Tenn. Sentinel a short article 

 on this subject that is worth preserving in 

 the Cabinet, and therefore copy it for your 

 acceptance. 



"The time is not distant, when the farm- 

 er's son will be the man amongst the well- 

 educated of his day; for already has the spirit 

 gone abroad, and the feelings of all are be- 

 ginning to bo enlisted in this honourable 

 cause. No longer is the profession viewed 

 as fit only for the poor and ignorant, but it 

 claims that rank to which it is so justly enti- 

 tled. Men of learning and talents have turned 

 their attention to its investigation, without 

 the least compunction of conscience, for hav- 

 ing acted below their dignity : they have learnt 

 that the occupation of the farmer — hum- 

 ble as it may hitherto have been considered 

 — can call into action most of the powers of 

 the mind, whatever may be the amount of his 

 knowledge, and if useful, it can be brought to 

 bear either directly or indirectly: and hence 

 the erroneous opinion, that farmers need not 

 he educated, is fast passing away; and ere 

 long, popular sentiment will consign it to the 

 shades of oblivion. No occupation is better 

 calculated to call forth the learning of the 

 man of science, and none, in which a man 

 can engage with more honour, or to which 



more honour should be attached. We be- 

 lieve, that in time, instead of leaving the poor 

 and the ignorant to fill the profession of agri- 

 culture, we shall see young men turning from 

 practical institutions of learning, to that of 

 the Plough, fired with a laudable spirit to 

 gain honour and create wealth from their oc- 

 cupation. When such a state of things shall 

 take place, agriculture will be added as an- 

 other of the ' learned professions,' considered 

 as honourable as any of them, and prove as 

 profitable. Hills, that are now barren and 

 neglected wastes, will be brought into active 

 and profitable cultivation, waving with beau- 

 tiful harvests and set thickly with the heavy- 

 eared corn : then gladdening smiles of plenty 

 will cheer our domestic circles, and the boun- 

 ties of Providence be enjoyed with overflow- 

 ing and grateful hearts." Zils. 



Cows. 



The management of cows, so as to keep 

 them healthy and ensure a constant supply 

 of pure milk, is not generally understood in 

 cities, and if understood, is not practised. 

 Strolling through Orange, near Grand street, 

 says the Editor of the New York Star, our 

 olfactory nerves were refreshed with the de- 

 lightful odour of cows, something like new- 

 mown hay, which perfumed the air, and that, 

 too, in a part of the city not remarkable for 

 its cleanliness. On pushing open the door of 

 a wooden stable or pen, we found thirty fine 

 cows each in a stall, and kept in the most 

 wholesome manner. They were attended by 

 grooms like horses, curried and kept clean 

 daily, fed with warm swill three times in 

 twenty-four hours, besides meal and hay. 

 The swill is emptied into a vat and pumped 

 into their troughs, and the free use of water 

 coursing constantly through the stable, keeps 

 the place sweet and clean. The consequence 

 of this treatment is, that their hides are smooth 

 and glossy, the animals lively, and their ud- 

 ders distended with milk, which is served to 

 city customers. We think this mode prefer- 

 able to turning cows loose on the common to 

 pick up the stunted shrubbery, or walk the 

 streets gathering the offals of the city. 



The breath of these cows is considered 

 good for consumptive persons; and although 

 the stable has not an inviting exterior, yet 

 the condition of the tenants is really admira- 

 ble, and we should prefer milk from animals 

 kept so carefully. 



I FULLY concur in the right and expedi- 

 ence of taking the lives of animals, but hold 

 it to be gross inhumanity to inflict tortures 

 upon them; I cannot therefore look upon the 

 exposure to a lingering death by famine, 

 storm and cold, but as a flagrant breach of 

 humanity and justice. — John Lawrence. 



