142 



A Discourse on Apiculture. 



Vol. XII. 



that first and noblest, and most indispensa- 

 ble of secular employments? Surely it 

 ought not to be thus with agriculture — when 

 all the kindred sciences are going ahead 

 with rail- road velocity. The several depart- 

 ments of knowledge are auxiliary to each 

 other. They reciprocate lights, by which 

 their obscurest truths are illustrated. They 

 should, therefore, all proceed with equal 

 step. It is not necessary, neither would ii 

 be expedient, for the practical farmer to 

 spend his time in studying the unimportant 

 species of the vegetable creation, nor in 

 tracing the distinctive features of all the va- 

 rious tribes — "from the cedar tree that is in 

 Lebanon, even unto the hyssop that spring- 

 eth out of the wall." But, as his business 

 is especially with the more interesting kinds 

 — with the culture of useful plants, and 

 the extirpation of pernicious weeds, — I hold 

 it to be his duty to acquire a knowledge of 

 these; and such a knowledge, too, as shall 

 be adequate, both to the proper management 

 of them, and to the delineation, when called 

 for, of their true botanical character. This 

 would be a limited task, and an easy attain- 

 ment, quite within the reach of every ordi- 

 nary capacity. Some three or four hundred 

 species, comprise all the more important 

 plants usually observable on our farms — whe- 

 ther in the forest, the fields, or the kitchen- 

 garden; and it must be an obtuse intellect, 

 indeed, which cannot learn to know and dis- 

 tinguish that number of vegetable forms. 

 The juvenile pupils of some of our female 

 seminaries are, every year, demonstrating 

 the facility with which the task may be per- 

 formed.* 



I shall not detain you with observations 

 concerning the importance of zoological in- 

 formation : for that is a kind of knowledge 

 so intimately connected with our prosperity 

 and comfort, that we cannot well avoid the 

 acquisition of a reasonable share, — at least, 

 with reference to the larger animals which 

 arc domesticated, or indispensable on the 

 farm. Our daily habits and associations 

 force the attainment on us all. The rudest 



■*It may, perhaps, be admissible to mention, here, 

 that I have recently compiled a sort of Farmer's Flora, 

 —or a descriptive enumeration of those Plants which 

 are most interesting to the American Agriculturist — 

 and of which it is scarcely reputable to be ignorant. 

 It was prepared in the hope of thereby promoting a 

 kind of knowledge which I have long thought desira- 

 ble,— and is designed more especially for the use of our 

 enterprising young farmers. I would beg leave to add, 

 however, that I have not the slightest personal, or pe 

 cuniary interest, in the success of the work ;— for I 

 made a present of the manuscript to the first Printer I 

 found, who had the courage to risk the publication. 



bumpkin that ever heedlessly trampled upon 

 flowers, or worked among weeds, without 

 being able to distinguish one from another, 

 is nevertheless compelled to become ac- 

 quainted, in some degree, with both the val- 

 uable and the mischievous animals, — fowls, 

 as well as quadrupeds: indeed, it is wonder- 

 ful to observe how well, and thoroughly, such 

 untutored persons do often learn the distin- 

 guishing traits, the dispositions, and the cha- 

 racteristic peculiarities, of animated nature. 

 Still, there is a scientific aspect, of which 

 every department of Natural History is sus- 

 ceptible, — under which it assumes a method- 

 ical perspicuity, an illustrative arrangement, 

 which is exceedingly gratifying, as well a3 

 instructive, and merits the attention of all 

 inquiring minds. There is, moreover, a 

 branch of Zoology, embracing myriads of 

 liny creatures, and many of them of the 

 most destructive character to the hopes of 

 the farmPr, which is yet imperfectly under- 

 stood, and demands the closest scrutiny of 

 every one concerned in the products of tke 

 vegetable kingdom. I refer, of course, to 

 the multitudinous insect tribes; some of 

 which are occasionally so injurious as to 

 spread dismay throughout whole nations, — 

 and, at the same time, of habits so obscure 

 as to require the most patient observation, 

 and the utmost sagacity, to ascertain their 

 true history. Even these minute researches, 

 too generally neglected or despised, are de- 

 manded by the best interests of agriculture; 

 and to be successful, they must be conducted 

 on scientific principles. A little mental dis- 

 cipline, however — backed by perseverance — 

 will soon enable the curious observer of na- 

 ture to make valuable contributions to the 

 common stock of information. I would, 

 therefore, have every American farmer, who 

 can appreciate the responsibilities of his po- 

 sition, to cultivate his intellect with the 

 same care and assiduity that be does his 

 acres. Let him habituate himself to note 

 the facts, to observe the phenomena, and to 

 investigate the theory of the processes, which 

 are continually taking place around him : 

 and let no one delude himself into the be- 

 lief, nor seek to excuse his deficiencies by 

 the stale and hacknoyed plea, that he has 

 not time for such pursuits. Why, those very 

 pursuits are part and parcel — and a very im- 

 portant part, too — of his own appropriate bu- 

 siness. It is precisely for such business that 

 his time is allotted to him. At this day, 

 and in this land, it will not do, to urge the 

 want, either of time or opportunity, for the 

 due performance of our parts in life. Most 

 people contrive to find time for what they 

 really wish to do; and if driven to the ne- 

 cessity, are apt to take it, at any rate, for 



