384 
WISCONSII^ STATE AGRICULTURAL SOCIETY, 
the science of botany. He may stimulate the grass by the use of 
fertilizers; then he ministers to plant growth by the law of chem¬ 
istry. J3ut suppose his pastures are all right, and the milking ma¬ 
chinery defective — for herein lies the difference between profit 
and loss — then the truly scientific, practical husbandman will take 
advantage of that subtle branch of natural science, which has taught 
us that desirable traits may be preserved, transmitted and promoted 
by an intelligent breeding. Then we say the man who produces 
the most beef from his herd, or the most milk from his dairy, is the 
one who makes the best use of these forces in nature. And the 
farmer who raises the best stock, raises the best crops, and keeps 
his soil and farm in the best condition, is the most scientific farmer. 
You may call him the book farmer, or any other name you choose; 
nor does it make any difference by what process he has reached 
these results. 
It has been attained by a conformity to natural laws upon scien¬ 
tific principles. There may be, and generally are, several ways of 
reaching the same facts and arriving at the same results, but he 
who gets them, understands them and profits by them, is the scien¬ 
tific man. Jacob, of ancient time, understood some of nature’s 
laws, and profited by them in a scientific way, to the disadvantage 
of old Laban. It might have been considered a little sharp prac¬ 
tice, but it was scientific nevertheless. So if we depend upon na¬ 
ture, we must understand the principles which govern and control 
nature. Education is not always science, for many who are skilled 
in book lore are far from being wise, and hardly have the practical 
sense to earn a livelihood. 
But if the truly practical and the truly scientific man talk about 
the same things, they will reach the same results, for truth is truth, 
wherever you find it. Science teaches us that by intelligent selec¬ 
tion, it is possible to determine quality, and with care we can reach 
the highest results to be attained by the race or species, either in 
plant or animal. 
The chemist, by an analysis of plants and soils, tells us of the 
component parts of each, and the adaptation of one to the other, 
and by pointing out the defects, we are enabled to supply the lack¬ 
ing elements, and by scientific practice determine what is the best 
stimulant, or plant food, for each part of the farm. 
It is to the science of chemistry that we are indebted for all the 
