46 THE PHILADELPHIA FLOEIST. [June 



& AGRICULTURAL CHEMISTRY. 



cP When the "Plough, Loom and Anvil" flourished under the editor- 

 ' ship of the late respected J. S. Skinner, many valuable communica- 

 tions found their way into its pages. We remember reading one 

 which attempted to show that a knowledge of chemistry was useless to 

 the farmer, or at least not necessary. We think different and add in 

 this place a few observations written at the time, which were denied 

 publicity. 



We extract the following from an article of one of his corres- 

 pondents, and his own opinion follows. 



"A great deal has been said and written of late, on the importance 

 of *a knowledge of agricultural chemistry to the farmer, to enable 

 him to cultivate his lands in the most profitable manner to himself 

 and fello\v-men. 



"Now, my dear sir, will you be so good as to tell me what practi- 

 cal good chemistry is to a farmer (as a farmer), and what discovery 

 has chemistry ever made that would enable him to raise one blade of 

 grass morel I am particularly anxious that you will publish the an- 

 swer to these questions in the "Plough, the Loom, and the Anvil," 

 first, because you would take a more impartial view of the subject, 

 than any one I know — and secondly, because there is considerable di- 

 versity of opinion and much interest manifested by the farmers in 

 this section of country. I trust you will not consider it presumptu- 

 ous or arrogant in me to array myself on the negative side of this 

 question, and in opposition to such men as Von Thaer, Liebig, and a 

 host of others. With all due deference to their learning, I think 

 they start on false principles." / 



"We have no idea that "grown up" farmers are generally to be 

 benefitted by lectures on Agricultural Chemistry. But if taught at 

 school, it would be to the man all his life an interesting and valuable 

 accomplishment. That chemistry may throw light, however, on the 

 constituent elements of soils, food, plants, and manures, who can 

 doubt] Dr. Higgins, the State chemist of Maryland, has, by analysis, 

 detected deficiencies and impurities in various artificial manures, and 

 given most salutary advice on the subject to the legislature and farmers 

 of that State."— J. S. Skinner. 



In reply we introduce our ideas written at the time. 

 A correspondent in the "Plough" appeals for a judgement 

 against the extension of agricultural chemistry amongst practical 

 farmers — situated as you are, the agent for the transmission of the 

 ideas of your readers, it is prudent in you to withhold your decision 

 and await a more ample examination of details. It is but just to al- 

 low those who have seen chemistry carried into practice in the field 

 and garden, and witnessed its real capability to define and regulate 

 material laws, and explain and exemplify actual operations, which 

 though slow and hidden in their progress, act upon and in the end 

 \ govern the great and fundamental operations of those whose office it 

 «Dis, from the willing and almost mysterious earth, to produce the Pabu- 



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