MARSHALL P. WILDER'S ADDRESS. 581 



for joy ! How have its blessings clustered around the social 

 fireside, making the domestic altar vocal with praise and 

 thanksgiving ! 



Well did the muse of our lamented Fessenden sing : 



" Hail Agriculture ! Heaven ordained, 



Of every art the source, 

 Which man has polished, life sustained. 



Since time commenced his course. 

 Where waves thy wonder-working wand. 



What splendid scenes disclose ! 

 The blasted heath, the arid strand. 



Out-bloom the gorgeous rose !" 



Agriculture, as an art, relates to the successful cultivation of 

 the soil, to such care of the field and herd, as will enable the 

 husbandman to realize the largest and most perfect products 

 with the least labor and expense. The science of agriculture 

 treats of the rationale of these processes, and of the principles 

 which govern practice. In different localities and climates, 

 the art may vary, but science is the same here and everywhere, 

 to-day Sind. forever, immutable like its Wise Author. Art may 

 mistake, and give a particular soil the crop which its constitu- 

 ents disqualify it to produce. But science never errs, for she 

 understands the constituents of both, and therefore can decide 

 upon the adaptation of one to the other. 



The difference between them appears from the course that 

 each would pursue in the examination of the soil. 



Art regards its external appearance, and discovers its adapta- 

 tion to a given crop, often by doubtful experiment, by tradition- 

 ary knowledge, or by mere conjecture. Science adopts a 

 different course. She takes a portion of that soil, and puts it 

 in her crucible, and by analysis ascertains its constituents. 

 She learns also the constituents of the desired crops and of 

 manures, and by a comparison of these results decides at once 

 upon their mutual adaptation, or what changes must be made 

 to produce fertility. 



Let us illustrate the importance of scientific knowledge to 

 cultivation. A farmer in New Hampshire had heard of the 

 value of peat as a manure. He applied a large quantity fresh 



