No. 129.] 233 



The finer kinds of iron which are smelted bj means of charcoal 

 fuel from the best kinds of iron ore should not be confounded in 

 our markets with the coarser varieties, but should be reserved, 

 as in Europe, for particular purposes. 



We have much to learn in the science and econoray of the 

 furnace before we can produce iron at sufficiently low cost to 

 dispense with tariff laws. If half the time and money that is 

 expended in political electioneering, had been devoted to the im- 

 provement of the art of the iron smelter, we should long since 

 have produced this indispensable metal at a lower cost than it can 

 be obtained for from Europe. 



Of the art of mining, our people know but little; and notwith- 

 standing the multitude of absurd speculations Ih the formation 

 of stock companies for working mines, we have but very few 

 successful operations in progress. 



Few are aware that a mine must first be constructed before it 

 can be advantageously wrought, and that a considerable amount 

 of money must be expended in making the requisite preparations, 

 before profitable returns can be expected from even the richest 

 mines. Hence, through want of knowledge, and unreasonable 

 impatience, a good mine, instead of being won, is lost, with all 

 the capital expended in attempts to open it. 



Thus far our successful mining has been the Avork of Cornish 

 operators; and I regret to say that there are but few that have 

 given profitable returns, owing to the want of scientific skill and 

 economical management. 



Let us now turn our attention to the most important of all arts 

 — to Agriculture. In this we ought to take the highest rank ; 

 but unfortunately the art requiring the best efforts of science for 

 its improvement has too generally spurned the aid of those who 

 were most desirous and most able to advance its interests. But 

 the farmer is now awakening, and begins to see and believe that 

 the skill of an agricultural chemist is of some value in the man- 

 agement of the soil. He finds that by his old method his soil that 

 once yielded him more than forty lushels of wheat to tlie acre, 

 no longer produces more than ta»!v4. 



