8 



school. This mistaken sentiment has kept the average of our 

 crops far below the capacity of the soil to produce. To-day 

 even, the proper manner of ploughing depends so much upon 

 the nature of the soil, the circumstances of its moisture and dry- 

 ness, that it is a subject of discussion. How and in what manner 

 to apply manures to secure the largest return, is still a subject 

 of experiment and uncertainty. How many farmers are there 

 who can by any knowledge they have obtained by merely 

 planting and reaping their lands, give any accurate statement 

 of the capacity of those lands to produce ? How many know 

 the nature of the soil of their farms, what ingredients it abounds 

 with, and what it lacks for the successful cultivation of either 

 the cereal or root crops ; to what extent rotation in cultivation is 

 necessary ; what crops should follow in rotation ; what particu- 

 lar benefit, if any is obtained, by allowing lands to lie fallow ; 

 what is the best and most economical method of keeping pas- 

 ture lands in good condition ; when is the most favorable time 

 for harvesting grain ; what the most economical manner of 

 feeding out hay and other food to cattle. All these are sub- 

 jects of the highest importance, and should be thoroughly un- 

 derstood by all who own or cultivate the land. Yet upon 

 every one of these subjects there remains a great amount of 

 knowledge to be obtained by study, deep thought, research and 

 experience, before they can be properly understood, and most 

 profitably carried into practice. In fact, agriculture must be 

 felt and understood to be a science ennobling in its study, and 

 as honorable in its practice as it is beneficial to the human race 

 in its results, before it can assume its proper place and sphere. 

 So long as it is regarded as a mere industry to be learned and 

 fully understood by a routine of physical labor, its study will 

 be neglected, its highest attainments remain undeveloped, and 

 its greatest treasures continue buried in the earth. But if we 

 raise it to its true dignity, to that of an art and a science, 

 our highest mental faculties become interested and invigorated 

 in its study ; and we ourselves become ennobled in its practice. 

 And why may it not be recognized as a science ? Certainly the 



