316 [Assembly 



the flail, or the foot of the muzzled ox and horse to tread out grain j 

 and this, or a separate fanning mill, now cleans it at less expense, 

 and at all times, with artificial wind, though in the stillest calms of 

 nature. The invention of the horse rake lias, probably, saved millions. 

 Water comes in hydrants for our cattle no less than families, rather 

 than being laboriously visited or brought by hand from remote springs. 

 Thus, and by drawing it from the well by belter machinery, the 

 science of hydrauHcs has done much to improve husbandry and pro- 

 mote health, as well as household conveniences; and, in several of 

 our large cities, as is witnessed near us in the Croton nectar, has 

 showered ils blessings on all classes with a profusion, and on a scale 

 of grandeur hardly exceeded by the giant acqueducts of antiquity. 



Chemistry, too, has analyzed the air, the ocean and the earth, and 



poured forth all her skill to aid mankind in growing materials for food 

 and clothing, and to supply not only the necessities of life, but its 

 comforts anil luxuries. New manures, in gypsum and salt, and new 

 soils by the mixture of deficient ingredients, are among its proudest 

 trophies. 



Before chemistry itself was improved and applied to test the true 

 ingredients of soils, tlic discrimination between them was well known 

 to be useful, but could be taught, as two thousand years ago, only by 

 distinctions so general and unsatisfactory, as heavy or light, black or 

 red, and wet or dry. 



The suitableness of particular crops to particular soils has also re- 

 ceived some of the attention it so richly deserves, as has that rotation 

 of crops, which will not feed only on one earth, one alkali or acid ; 

 but some of them thrive on what is left by others, and what is supplied 

 by the bountiful and renovating dressings, which science as well as 

 experience direct. The habits and the physiology of plants has become 

 much better known by the fascinating study of botany, so as to assist 

 not only in their culture, but in the useful application of them for food, 

 both to mari and domestic animals. Better seeds, likewise, are thus 

 able to be selected for plantirg as well as food. Besides this, natural 

 history has contributed liberally to enlarge the knowledge of fattening 

 animals, of the proper nutrition and treatment to increase the power 



