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sciefice tells hii), that these, and a hundred other similar observ- 

 ances, are n-)t only useless, but often defeat his experisnents. 

 In every other art we regard the most scientific artisan, as most 

 likely, other things being equal, to make improvements. Why 

 should it be different — it is not different— in agriculture ? In short, 

 physical science is nothing but the result of the most accurate 

 and enlightened experience. 



If I mistake not, it is one important object of agricultural soci- 

 eties to give a right direction to the efforts of the experimenter, 

 by fupidshing him with correct scientific principles. Permit 

 me, therefore, gentlemen, to spend a few moments in the exhibi- 

 tion of those principles that lie at the foundation of agriculture ; 

 and in their application to practical husbandry. In doing this, I 

 shall avoid as much as possible the use of technical phraseology. 

 There are three sciences. Chemistry, Botany, and Geology,with 

 which the theory of agriculture is most intimately connected. 

 Chemistry teaches us what is the comp'^sition of plants, of the soil 

 in which they grow, and of the atmosphere that surrounds them; 

 and of consequence, shows us what is their proper food, and the 

 best manner of applying it. Botany dissects the vegetable king- 

 dom, and discloses those curious vessels by which the food of 

 plants is taken up and converted into the numerous distinct prin- 

 ciples and parts which they cont;iin. Geology instructs us in the 

 general nature of the soi's in which vegetables flourish, and 

 enables us to predict what varieties of soil will be most fa- 

 vourable to particular plants. 



The iirst point that should engage the attention of the enlight- 

 ened agriculturist, is to ascertain the nature and situation of those 

 minute vessels by vv'hioh {dnnts absorb water from the soil and 

 the atmosphere, and by which these principles are modified and 

 circulated to every [>art of the vegetable, and are converted into 

 the plant itself So minute are these vessels, that even microscop- 

 ic observation has not been able to detect all their intricacies. 

 But their general structure and arrangement have been ascertain- 

 ed. And it is found that they bear a most striking analogy to 

 those vessels of animals by which nutriment is conveyed, in ceas 

 less circ'ilalion. to every part of the system. In every plant we 

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