52 
WISCONSIN STATE AGRICULTURAL SOCIETY. 
the sources of knowledge ; especially let him take at least one 
agricultural journal. I never knew a man to do so, who did 
not confess that he was more than ten times paid for the out¬ 
lay, in increased profits, from the knowledge thus obtained. 
There are few arts and sciences that do not contribute to 
agricultural skill ; and I venture to say, there is no wider field 
for all the powers of a large and sagacious intellect, than that 
of farming. Many suppose that any sort of an intellect will 
answer for a farmer : and when a son seems unfit for anything 
else, he is so made ! I say, if you have a boy of bright in¬ 
tellect, make a farmer of him ; if stupid and indolent, throw 
him away by making him a lawyer, a doctor or a preacher ! 
Let us see how much science has to do with the every day 
life of the farmer. Those elements which have most influence 
on animal and vegetable life, I call the u vital forces ” They 
may he thus classified : 
1. Electricity. 
2. Light. 
3. Air. 
4. Water. 
5. Heat. 
That electricity , atmospheric and telluric, (which are one,) 
has much to do with vegetable growth and animal life, is un¬ 
questionable. The growth and flowering of plants, and ma¬ 
turing of fruit, have, in France, been wonderfully hastened by 
the galvanic battery. And the effects of electricity, on animal 
life are well known to all scientific physicians. It may be 
said, “True, but how can we command this subtle fluid and 
compel it to our uses?” To do that is the province of an Ag¬ 
ricultural College ; where science and practical efforts may 
combine to solve the secrets of nature. When Franklin first 
discovered the identity of lightning and electricity as evolved 
from glass and resin, it seemed to many a bald, isolated, and 
useless fact. But behold, first the lightning rod—then the tel¬ 
egraph—then, the Atlantic cable ! Who shall limit our powers 
over nature ; and say that we shall not compel this power to 
