AGRICULTURAL SCIENCE. 43 



AGRICULTURE IN ITS RELATIONS TO THE 

 SCIENCES. 



From an Address before the Worcester South Agricultural Society, Sept 30, 1857. 



BT GEO. M. PRESTON. 



Science is the mother of art. Upon the principles of the 

 former, are based the rules of the latter. The one exhibits 

 wisdom, the other skill. In nature we see them both combined. 

 The tree exhibits in its growth and decay, some of the most 

 interesting elements of science. But it has also form and 

 symmetry, and its leaves possess beauty of shape and color, 

 which display an art which must be divine. The tiniest flower 

 combines in its construction, wisdom and skill, harmonizing 

 with each other, as pleasingly as does its beautiful shape, with 

 its varied hues and rich fragrance. He who takes upon him- 

 self the work of aiding the earth in nurturing her growing 

 fruits, must know the science which she exhibits, and must 

 practice the art necessary to increase her productiveness and 

 beauty, as well as to derive from such knowledge and labor, the 

 greatest material advantage. He who can skilfully turn the 

 soil, give to it its required fertilizing aliment, properly sow the 

 seed and nurture well its tender growth, may be proud of the 

 knowledge and ingenuity which he thus exhibits, and should be 

 abundantly rewarded with the enjoyment of the fruits of his toil. 



We find in some communities, a prejudice operating against 

 ' the application of science to the cultivation of the soil. This 

 will be removed, I think, when this application is more perfectly 

 understood by the common mass. A similar prejudice is felt 

 by the laboring class, against the thinking portion of the com- 

 munity. Both of these prejudices will be overcome, when men 

 of thought and scientific research, and laboring men, more 

 nearly sympathize with each other. 



