THE FARMER AND THE MAN. 25 



above the simple practice of it as an art, to the study of it as a 

 scicDce. I know the sneering contempt sometimes cast upon 

 scientific agriculture, book-farming, and all that. But I do not 

 think you are here to-day to sympathize with that sneer. For 

 you understand that science is, so to speak, but the reason of 

 things. I hold, and you will agree with me in this, that the 

 farmer should have a reason for the methods he pursues and 

 be able distinctly and clearly to justify them thereby, as much 

 as a mathematician should be able to show the explanation of 

 the problem he solves. The difference between a practical and 

 a scientific or thinking farmer is precisely the same as the dif- 

 ference between a school boy who " does his sum" after a 

 certain way because the rule says so, and the scholar who not 

 only knows Iwiv it is to be done, but can tell you luhy it is 

 so done. The composition and capacity of soils, the constitu- 

 ents and demands of plants, the habits of bird and insect, the 

 action of the elements, the qualities and treatment of the vari- 

 ous kinds of stock, the best implements, methods, arrangements 

 for planting, cultivating, harvesting, and preserving — these and 

 numerous other points, which you can at once supply, open 

 themselves to him who would be a successful farmer. The 

 moment he undertakes to play a part worthy of his vocation, 

 do all these subjects present themselves for him to inquire into, 

 and from which he may gain knowledge, to guide him in his 

 labor, and multiply and elevate its results. For such inquiry 

 he must use all proffered helps, let him accept the services of 

 every guide that is ready to clear the way before him. For 

 him learned men, skilled in all the sciences have written ; 

 geologists, chemists, botanists, entomologists. For him men 

 of means and leisure have experimented, and proclaimed the 

 result of their experiments. Let him take the information thus 

 given out, and with careful discrimination and wise judgment, 

 apply it to his own purposes. 



I have said so mucli of thought in your avocation that I can 

 give but a word of thought beyond it. No man should ever 

 allow himself to be shut up in his calling. No matter what his 

 calling may be, it is too narrow for him to be confined in it. A 

 world of other interests and other men are all about him. He 

 should keep abreast of that world as it marclics on. Its suc- 

 cessive steps of progress in material ability and enjoyment, in 



4 



