11 
of making some of them produce blossoms at two years old. I 
suffered only one or two fruits to remain on each tree, which in 
consequence attained nearly three times their common size, 
with a very high degree of maturity and perfection; and the 
appearance of the plants I raised from their seeds, so much ex- 
celled any I had formerly obtained from the same fruits, taken 
from the orchard, that, I think, I can confidently recommend 
the method I have adopted.” 
227 True office of the Earth in relation to Plants. 
It is of the first importance that, in all scientific pursuits, we 
obtain correct knowledge of the materials with which we have 
to deal. This is more especially necessary in chemistry; and 
to chemistry, it is now evident, the agriculturist must resort, to 
acquire just views of his proceedings — to know the why and the 
wherefore — to be enabled to draw just conclusions, and to apply 
them to his own profit, and the welfare of his country. The 
farmer and the gardener have usually exercised their skill 
empirically. Practice, practice, has been extolled as affording 
all wisdom ; and true enough it is, that practice, that is, a 
knowledge of results, has put them in possession of all the 
learning of their contemporaries. But the time has arrived in 
which practical knowledge — the mere knowledge that the 
application of farm-yard manure will assist in the production 
of a crop of wheat or potatoes, is not considered sufficient infor- 
mation to satisfy the inquiry of the cultivator. If the one 
produce the other, the inquiry is now made — what ingredients 
do they possess in common? what are the qualities of these 
ingredients? and can they not be supplied to the living vege- 
table by other substances than those usually employed ? The 
answers are not sufficiently evident, for we are now but just 
emerging from a state of darkness; and it behoves every one 
to assist in the general search after facts, instead of pertina- 
ciously adhering to old practices, an adherence to which we 
are sorry to observe too general an inclination. We have been 
naturally led into these reflections from reading some observa- 
tions which many advocates of improvement will think too 
extravagant. Their main features will, however, be recognised 
ere long, and we will extract them as antagonistic to the too 
pertinacious attachment to old customs, which prevails with 
some of our best friends. The observations alluded to are by 
218. ADCTARIUM. 
