1854.] 



NATURAL HISTORY AND AGRICULTURE. 



207 



■which is the same as the Circular or Spherical Form ; for this latter 

 is more perfect than the other in this respect, that its circumference 

 is, as it were a perpetual plane, or infinite angle, because totally void 

 of planes and angles ; on which account also it is the measure of aU 

 angular forms, for we measure angles and planes by sections and 

 sines of a circle : from those considerations we see, that mto this lat- 

 ter form something infinite or perpetual has insinuated itself, which 

 does not exist in the former, viz : the circular orb, whose end and be- 

 ginning cannot be marked. In the circular spherical form, again, we 

 are enabled to contemplate a certain superior form, which may be 

 called the perpetually circular, or simply the Spiral Form ; for to 

 this form is added, still further, somewhat perpetual or infinite, which 

 is not in the former, viz : that its diameters are not bounded or ter- 

 minate in a certain centre, neither are they simple lines, but they 

 terminate in a certain circumference of a circle or superficies of a 

 sphere, which serves it instead of a centre, and that its diameters are 

 bent into a species of a certain curve, by which means this form is 

 the measure of a circular form or forms, as the circular is the measure 

 of the angular. In this spiral form we are enabled to view a still su- 

 perior kind of form, which may be called the perpetually spiral or 

 Vortical Form, in which again somewhat perpetual or infinite is found 

 which was not in the former ; for the former had reference to a circle 

 as to a kind of infinite centre, and from this, by its diameters, to a 

 fixed centre as to its limit or boundary ; but the latter has reference 

 to a spiral form as a centre, by lines perpetually circular ; this form 

 manifests itself especially in magnetics and is the measure of the spiral 

 form for the reason above mentioned concerning inferior forms. In 

 this, lastly, may be viewed the highest form of nature, or the perpetu- 

 ally vortical form which, is the same with the Celestial form, in which 

 almost all boundaries are, as it were, erased, as so many imperfec- 

 tions, and still more perpetuities or infinities are put on ; wherefore 

 this form is the measure of the vortical form consequently the exem- 

 plar or idea of all inferior forms, from which the inferior descend and 

 derive birth as from their beginning, or from the form of forms. That 

 this is the case with the formations of things will be demonstrated, 

 God willing, in the doctrine of forms, and the doctrine of order and of 

 degrees adjoined to it. From this form those of faculties and 

 virtues result, by virtue whereof one thing regards another as 

 itself, nor is there anything but what consults the general security 

 and concord, for in that form there is not given any fixed centre, 

 but as many centres are there as points, so that all its determin- 

 ations, taken together, exist from mere centres or representations 

 of a centre, by which means nothing can be respected as proper to 

 it, unless it be of such a quality that from what is general, or 

 from all the centres, which taken together produce what is general, 

 it may flow in into itself as a similar centre, and may reflow 

 through an orb for the benefit of all, or into what is general. 



Natural History in its Relation to Agriculture. 



Abstract of a Lecture delivered before the Toronto Mechanics' Institute by 

 Professor Sincks. 



I proceed to point out some more immediate special applications of 

 the knowledge of natural history to the business of the farmer. Many 

 of the diseases to which cultivated plants and domestic animals are 

 subject, and which sometimes occasion very extensive mischief, de- 

 pend on the presence of parasitical plants or animals often exceedingly 

 minute. The first step towards remedying the evil is to understand its 

 real cause, and it must be evident that the more that is known of the 

 structure, nutrition, and reproduction of the parasites, the more suc- 

 cessfully can we attempt to limit their ravages. The ergot, must, rust, 

 and mould, on the grain producing plants, are minute and very curious 

 fungi whilst serious injuries are caused by plant lice, a tribe of 

 insects of very remarkable characters, which under the names of 

 black fly, green fly, and American blight, given to the different species 

 are well known by their occurrence on wheat, beans, hops, and apple 

 trees, as well as on roses, and other plants. No one of this tribe, in- 

 deed, is altogether injurious ; writers have attributed some species to 

 the potato blight, but tho' it is well known that the potato, like many 

 other plants, is occasionally infested by aphides, which are either a 

 cause or a symptom of weakness and bad health ; it has been abund- 

 antly proved that the aphides are present without causing the disease, 

 and' the disease exists without the presence of aphides; the species, too, 

 which has been accused of causing the disease, and has in consequence 



been extensively distributed under Mr. Smee's direction as a micro- 

 scopic object, turns out to be a common species occurring on many 

 plants, and never before suspected of peculiarly malignant influences. 

 Much better founded is the supposition that an internal fungus is the 

 immediate causes of the potato disease, but until we can determine 

 whether it really produces the decay or only arises out of it, and 

 what are the causes, atmospheric or otherwise, of its prevalence in 

 particular seasons, we cannot acknowledge the resources of science 

 to have been exhausted in vain against this mysterious plague. It de- 

 serves consideration, whether all the remedies that have been em- 

 ployed with most appearance of success may not have their efficacy 

 accounted for by their destroying the vitality of the spores of the fun- 

 gus in the sets, whilst the presence of the spores from other sources 

 would explain their occasional failure. On the whole, I cannot but think 

 the fungoid theory the most rational. We have seen at least that the 

 aphis theory is entirely without foundation ; that of the wearing put 

 of the varieties, is disproved by the notorious fact that all varieties, 

 new or old, are about equally liable to the disease, none more so than 

 seedlings, and even seedlings raised from seed brought from the na- 

 tive country of the potato. The theory which attributes the^ disease 

 to superfluous moisture occurring in particular seasons is disproved 

 by its recurrence with very great variety in the character of the sea- 

 sons, and in all sorts of situations, whilst the theory of the depend- 

 ence of the plague on the peculiar atmospheric states, electrical or 

 otherwise, is too vague to be listened to in the absence of specific 

 facts, and is only an indirect acknowledgment of entire ignorance 

 on the subject. I need not now refer more particularly to the injuries 

 suffered by domestic animals from the attacks of various insects, but 

 none, I am sure can possess even a slight acquaintance with the peculiar 

 instincts of certain insect tribes, and the manner in which some of 

 them accomplish such extensive mischief, without perceiving how 

 usefully the knowledge of their nature connects itself with the business 

 of the farmer. Then there is the whole subject of our relations with 

 the wild birds and animals of our country. Probably most country 

 people are indiscriminate destroyers of all the wild creatures that fall 

 in their way, whilst a few influenced by feelings of kindness, or a re- 

 gard to beauty, are indulgent to all excepting a few of the most obvi- 

 ously and extensively injurious. A little knowledge of Natural 

 History would assist us in judging what creatures are really our ene- 

 mies, and which we should protect as friends and allies, and would at 

 the same time enable us to carry on the war most snccessively where 

 it is necessary from a just regard to our interests. If we recall to 

 mind the silly prejudice to which the harmless and even useful 

 hedgehog is as commonly sacrificed in England, or consider the gene- 

 ral disposition to destroy birds without much distinction of kinds, we see 

 how beneficial a little knowledge of natural science would be to the dwel- 

 ler in the country. It would thus be decided that the larger and more 

 powerful birds of prey are enemies,because our domestic animals would 

 be among the chief objects of their attack ; but the owl tribe, feeding 

 chiefly on small quadrupeds, aid us in our necessary warfare against 

 mice and rats without doing any material damage. The numerous 

 insectivorous birds are all eminently useful, as are those which feed 

 on small seeds, but a few of the frugiverous tribes feeding much on 

 our favorite fruits can only hope for partial indulgence on account of 

 their beauty or their song. In the case of the omnivorous birds which 

 live during a large part of the year on grubs, caterpillars, and other 

 insect prey which they hunt with admirable skill, but which also attack 

 at certain seasons grain and roots, we are obliged to strike a balance 

 between the benefit and injury we receive in which a sense of the hap- 

 piness of the creatures and admiration for their beauty, and their wonder- 

 ful instinct, must be allowed some weight in their favor. Such creatures 

 may reasonably have their increase somewhat limited, but if we had 

 the power utterly to destroy them we should soon feel the evil we 

 should thus have brought upon ourselves. We have read of instances 

 in which the extermination of the common European sparrow has been 

 attended with disastrous consequences to the farmer ; and al- 

 though the rook is loudly condemned by some, the sight of numbers of 

 them following the plough, picking up grubs, worms, and insects, 

 should cause the considerate farmer to relent, even though indignant 

 at thefts among his potato set and his ripening grain. Mere illustra- 

 tions taken from familiar objects in England will show the importance 

 of similar considerations here, and will satisfy every one that the 

 spirit of wanton destruction and persecution often indulged against 

 the inferior animals is as unwise as it is barbarous ; that we should 

 destroy only what we evidently perceive to be injurious and unfitted 

 to dwell in any connection with ourselves, and should see with pleasure 

 the various races of animated beings enjoying themselves around us 

 so far as they may be permitted to do so without any serious mterie- 



