Repository: UIHistories Project: Book - History of the University (Powell) [PAGE 504]

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A Mcvwriul to the Lcgisl&tufi

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our country who can bo most benefited by such a state department, rather than the more aged and opulent, who by their means alone can gain access to such valuable departments. Thus far they are secluded under the umbrage of the State, and national capital, precluding the youthful and indigent by the necessary formality of official parade. Everything in science and art, which has been developed by genius and industry, is by the force of irresistible progress dedicated to the ambition of youth. For the more especial promotion of the second object mentioned above, to wit, to make science subserve the purpose of public economy, we recommend that there be a sufficiency of land of good quality attached to such a seminary, that will facilitate experimental results in such practical departments, as—transplanting, inoculating, grafting, hybridizing, mulching, draining, substitution of foreign for home products, adapting certain crops to certain soils, and anticipating the results of cropping and rotation from a knowledge of the food of plants and grains—what is consumed in abundance by one crop can be noted, and a successive crop so selected that shall not depend for perfection on the same staple. This depends on a knowledge of the staples of vegetables consumption—an investigation in the loose customs of inbreeding amongst our products is of equal importance, endangering thereby the perfection of the fruit or grain, and consequently their fitness for the food of man or beast, jeopardizing also by it, the integrity of the growth of products, often causing their premature decay, also abortion and unnatural growth, and the ultimate extermination of the species. We arc led to notice such results in the present growth and maturity of potatoes, wheat, apples, grasses, etc Also to inquire into the causes of diseases incident to crops of a constitutional decline, such as congestion, gangrene, etc., the cause of parasites, and the propagation of larva, and development of insects which becomes their natural enemy. Another important source of inquiry is the extent to which the natural and deciduous growths of every soil (taking climate into account) can be made to indicate the character of the soil, the nature of its productions —every hoof that compacts the earth, every stone thai is turned, and every leaf that falls, gives some new indication, of growth.