EDITORIAL OBSERVATION'S. 
91 
other hand, their application will make “the desert blossom 
like the rose/ 5 by doubling the amount of produce; thus 
amply rewarding the toil, both mental and physical, of the 
labourer. 
The great end of the vegetable kingdom is to prepare 
principles for a higher order of beings ; it therefore stands 
midway between the mineral and the animal kingdoms, 
although “ it is hard to sever the link that binds Prometheus 
to the rock.” By the growing vegetable, effete matters that 
would otherwise be noxious are taken up, and by assimilation 
rendered useful as sustenance, or otherwise, to man and beast. 
The elements of all these substances are derived from without, 
hence their origin can be easily traced. Thus, from putre¬ 
scence we derive fragrance and beauty, and from death life 
and health. 
It is not, however, alone in its healthy state, that the 
agriculturist has to view the yield of his broad acres. From 
causes at present not sufficiently investigated, but probably 
arising from the very means resorted to by him for bringing 
about the results alluded to, disease is often produced in his 
crops. A structural organic change is brought about in the 
vegetable, either from a redundancy of some of the constituents 
of the soil, or from a diminished supply, or it may be that 
the growing plant has taken up some foreign agent which 
has proved prejudicial, and, being partaken of by animals, they 
become affected by it. 
And here we come to another link in the chain of science. 
The laws of physiology and pathology are now brought to 
bear upon the inquiry; in other words, Medicine is called 
into requisition, and the educated veterinary surgeon is 
sought for to apply those principles which he has made his 
study, so that these effects may be removed. It follows, 
therefore, that lie should be conversant with agriculture and 
chemistry, so far, at least, as their general principles are con¬ 
cerned, while the last-named division—medicine—he should 
make his particular study, as this constitutes his true voca¬ 
tion. 
It is in this way the mutual relationship that exists between 
