APPENDIX. 131 



refuse bone black, which they wished to purcliase for agricultural use 

 iu France. 



Is it not a shameful fact, that the French farmers are so much our 

 superiors that they can afford to send here for manure, and then raise 

 wheat, beans, corn, and other vegetables cheap enough to supply a 

 large share to our market? Such you will notice by the importations 

 last year is the fact. 



If our farmers knew more respecting the chemical nature and meth- 

 ods of amending their soils then we might indeed look to our own 

 fields for bread, but alas ! there is a great deal of empyricism in agricul- 

 ture, and it is no wonder that farmers distrust what they call " book 

 learning " when they obtain so very little practical information from 

 it. The fault is on both sides, first, because the books we have at 

 present are very inaccurate ; secondly, because the farmers generally 

 do not know how to apply the information contained in books, since 

 they do not know the composition of the soils in question. 



If the Agricultural Survey is supported as it ought to be, and a 

 degree of liberality is extended towards it, such as its importance mer- 

 its, then we should soon be able to say with truth that Agriculture is a 

 Science. 



In order that we should come to this result we have to learn 1st, the 

 geological origin, 2d, geological distribution, 3d, chemical composi- 

 tion, 4th, capabilities of soils. These three topics I shall endeavor to 

 discuss in my Geological Report to the Legislatures of the two States 

 of Massachusetts and Maine. We must not expect to make a perfect 

 work at once ; several years of assiduous labor must be devoted to each 

 of the questions before us, before a good book on Agriculture can be 

 produced. All the old works are too inaccurate to be relied upon. 

 The light of modern science is required. 



There are I believe several other questions proposed for discussion ; 

 but time will not allow me at present to enter upon them. 



I will therefore now conclude this letter by offering you my best 

 wishes for your success in the Agricultural Survey of our State; and 

 shall be most happy, when my present labors are completed, to cooperate 

 actively in your important avocations. 



Most respectfully. 



Your ob't servant, 



CHARLES T. JACKSON." 



