354 Transactions of the American Institute. 



vegetable growth. For instance, as to the why and the wherefore of 

 the action of gypsum ; so that we may apply this substance with 

 some absolute certainty of the result ; the extent to which clover is 

 superior to other plants as a green manure, and the chemical reason 

 of its superiority ; the periods of growth at which different plants are 

 stimulated the most by various manures ; the degree to which the 

 constituents of plants are made to vary by differences in soil ; the 

 fixation of the fertilizing portions of liquid manures. These, and 

 many other illustrations of like character, might be adduced to indi- 

 cate the direction in which agricultural chemistry will find its greatest 

 field for usefulness.'' 



It would be pleasant, Mr. Chairman, could we for a moment close 

 our eyes and see in the dreamland of the chemist the day that for the 

 farmer is yet to be ; a day when no tiller of the soil shall be so ill- 

 advised as to mix lime with a manure heap, and drive its ammonia 

 to the winds, or plow three inches deep when six inches of fertile 

 mold lies below the path of the share — when men shall act in accord- 

 ance with the basic truth, that agriculture is the noble mother of arts, 

 founded upon and only developed to its utmost by the aid of the 

 whole range of physical sciences. In that day the chemist and his 

 work, sometimes derided as frivolous, sometimes avoided as dreamy, 

 will not fail of the honor as the high priest in the temple of Nature, 

 admitted to her hallowed mysteries, only that he bring out thence 

 sacred truths, elder truths, universal and lasting wisdom, wherewith 

 to bless the races of mankind. 



Dr. J. V. C. Smith. — In moving a vote of thanks, and requesting 

 of Prof. Whitney a copy of his admirable paper for publication in 

 our reports, I beg leave to add that such productions show the 

 advance we are making in true and scientific agriculture on this con- 

 tinent. Mr. Whitney's essay will be read, I am sure, quite widely 

 in this country, and it will not fail to command some interest abroad. 

 I am proud to be a member of an organization that from time to time 

 can put forth such productions and do so much to stir thouglit and 

 draw attention to tlie most valuable principles of physical science. 



Mr. P. T. Quinn. — In seconding the motion of Dr. Smith, which 

 I do from a warm appreciation of the paper, I would add a word 

 npon the estimation in which such discourses are now held as com- 

 pared with the prevalent opinion of them a generation ago. In the 

 early part of the century, one could count on the tips of liis fingers 

 all the book-farmers in America. They were looked at with distrust 



