242 SELECTIONS FROM ADDRESSES. 



lead them to reconsider the question calmly, with minds as far 

 as possible divested of mere theoretical considerations, I shall 

 be satisfied. 



I have already, perhaps, wearied my audience, and yet my 

 task is very imperfectly accomplished, for I have noticed but a 

 small part of the interesting topics connected with my subject. 

 The varieties of chemical composition in the soil would alone 

 occupy another hour. Enough has been said to show, that the 

 field is of immense extent, and also that the applications of sci- 

 ence are directly practical. I am sure, that not a point has 

 been touched, with regard to which the intelligent, practical 

 man will not say, that more light is needed. 



And still, these were only parts of the great agricultural tract 

 which 1 attempted to occupy. The quickly passing moments 

 warn me that I must resign the rest to other hands, and to un- 

 satisfied hearers. 



And now, it is quite probable, that there are those among my 

 hearers, who do not understand many of the subjects upon 

 which I have spoken. Still, I cannot see how they can well be 

 presented in a plainer form ; there is but one remedy — the farm- 

 ers must inform themselves as to these things, or, if they do not 

 feel like entering far into new paths, let them give their sons 

 the opportunity. But many will say, this is book-farming, and 

 what if it is ? is a man any worse because his knowledge is in- 

 creased ] 



Cannot every farmer see, that he would work to better ad- 

 vantage, if he knew exactly, what his soil and his plants need- 

 ed, in the manner indicated by the foregoing tables ? Would 

 this knowledge spoil a practical farmer ? surely not — it would 

 enable him to go on improving from year to year, uniting more 

 and more, scientific discoveries with practical skill. 



It is this union of science with practice, that I desire to advo- 

 cate. In place of each decrying the other, there should be a 

 combination of effort toward a great common end. 



To this, we are surely coming; for public attention is turned 

 in the proper direction, and thousands of experiments in the 

 fields of enterprising men have proved, that science may greatly 

 benefit practical agriculture. The advances that have been 



