58 T KAX S ACT I N S. 



my, can only be obtained by careful observation and experience in 

 the great laboratory in whicb Nature works — and works to some 

 useful purpose — where her exjjeriments are synthetical, rather than 

 analytical — where she produces something when supplied with the 

 right elements, that gladdens and enriches him who engages in part- 

 nership with her. He who, by observation and experience, has 

 learned how to raise the maximum number of bushels of wheat, or 

 corn, or any other grain upon an acre — and can so employ his knowl- 

 edge as to produce the given result, whenever he has the opportunity, 

 knows what is of infinitely greater value to the world when imparted, 

 than to be able to analyze a berry of wheat, and tell the staring 

 crowd of what chemical elements it is composed. As an aid, every 

 intelligent man welcomes chemistry, but let no one be misled by her 

 claims as set forth by some theoretical pretender, who is ignorant of 

 the very first rudiments of good farming. Nature abounds in mys- 

 teries which no science can ever fathom — yet, forget not that science 

 will aid you in experimenting in the art of plant culture. What the 

 farmer needs to know beyond a wherefore, is, how to furnish manures 

 containing just those elements which the seeds, planted or sown, 

 after germination, shall need to nourish and supply them until ma- 

 tured and ready for the harvest. This knowledge can be gained by 

 experiment. So, again, when the crop is harvested, how he shall 

 feed it — ^if to be given to brute animals, so as to derive the greatest 

 possible profit from such an expenditure — for both the plants and ani- 

 mals, thrive best, when supplied ^vith such nutrition as is best adapted 

 to their own peculiar wants. Nature, both in animals and plants, 

 discovers wonderful powers of adaptation to circumstances. A plant 

 grown in pursuit of proper nutrition, under difficulties, will be but a 

 poor specimen from Nature's work-shop. Hence, it is reasonable to 

 infer that all medium crops, as well as those below this standard, are 

 specimens of this kind of production. The proposition then, that 

 medium farming does not pay, will need no argument to establish its 

 truth. No man can long aff'ord to be a medium farmer. No man 

 would long be contented with 3 per cent, interest on stocks, or m.on- 

 ey loaned, when he could just as well have 6 per cent, and a better 

 security. Good agricultural economy is that which ends in maximum 

 harvests, from minimum expenditures, and nothing short. It boasts 

 not of its great number of acres under cultivation, but of the quan- 

 tity produced per acre. Quantity and quality relative to the area, 

 are its pride, rather than the great number of acres tilled. No man 

 can afford to raise f.eventy-five bushe^.s of carrots per acre,when the same 



