第41章

We may easily satisfy ourselves of this, by turning our attention to the manner in which any of the articles we use for the supply of our wants has been formed.Bread may be an example.A farmer, some two years ago, made choice of a particular field for the cultivation of wheat.Had he been asked why he did so, he could have stated the different circumstances in the soil, and the previous crops that it had carried, which had thus determined him.By ploughing and harrowing it a sufficient number of times, he thoroughly broke, and pulverized the land.This he did, because he knew, from observations he or others had made, that in this state the seed he intended to deposit there would, when it came to germinate, more easily spread its roots around, and draw nourishment from among the particles of earth amidst which it would grow.He allowed a considerable time to elapse between the several operations, that the weeds might have time to spring up, and be destroyed.Thus he knew they would be prevented from afterwards injuring the growth of the crop.He also spread over the field, and covered in, a quantity of manure, because experience had taught that this substance gives vigor to vegetation.He then sowed the seed, in the mode, and quantity, and at the time, which observation had instructed him was the best, covered it with a harrow, and waited the harvest.When he perceived the grain sufficiently ripe, he cut it down with an iron hook having a form and edge which experience had ascertained to be best adapted for this purpose, made it into bundles, exposed them to the sun and air so that they might be dried, when this was effected, conveyed them to his barn and stored them there.Having lain there some time, the grain was separated from the straw by the process of threshing, it was then carried to the granary, where, having been kept for a longer or shorter period, it was thence taken to the mill, and, by a very ingenious process, reduced to small particles, and then separated by another process into three parts, of which the finest part, the interior of the grain called flour, being packed in sacks or barrels, was preserved for use.A certain portion of this, mixed with a particular ferment, wrought with the hand and exposed to the action of fire, became bread.

It is very evident, that all the steps of these various processes depend on a knowledge of the course of natural events, and are regulated by that knowledge.A long series of observations of this sort, and of reasons deduced from them, could alone have enabled the farmer to prepare the ground properly for the seed, or, after the grain had come to maturity, to preserve it, to separate it from the straw, and fit it for being converted into flour.

The observations on the trains of events connected with the production of this grain that have been committed to writing, fill many large volumes, and besides these, every farmer is obliged to have a great store of his own, to guide him in his proceedings.Thus, in the single process of cutting down and storing up this crop, his success in securing it uninjured depends on observing and noting well a great variety of particulars.He observes the plant carefully, and discovers, from the appearance of every part, from the dryness of the stem, the drooping of the ears, the fulness of the grain, if it be in a proper state to cut down.If he make any error in this, he will either have unripe, and therefore shrivelled and light grain, or he will lose great part of it by its being shaken off the stem in harvesting it.Next, before he determine on commencing the operation, be regards the aspect of the sky, watches the rising and setting sun, notes the color of the air, the appearance of the clouds, the direction of the wind, the dew on the grass, and perhaps has recourse to that delicate instrument, the fruit of so many ingenious observations, the barometer.By means of all these, he is enabled to draw tolerably correct conclusions, in regard to the probable state of the weather for some succeeding days.This knowledge influences greatly his farther operations; for experience has taught him that the injury which severe rains, calming on the grain when newly reaped, would occasion, is very great.if, therefore, the weather promise to be fine he will commence cutting it down a few days sooner than he otherwise would; if rain threaten he will wait a few days longer.When he has it reaped he gets it tied into bundles, which are put up in small parcels, and so disposed, that the wind may penetrate through them, and the rain be as much thrown off from them as possible, and thus the plant may have the best chance of being securely and quickly dried.

This drying is watched with care and, when it is judged to be sufficiently advanced, the crop is transported to the barn, there to wait till the proper period of threshing it out arrives.All these processes are, it is evident, governed by rules drawn from assiduous and long continued observation, and their success depends on its extent and accuracy.

Were we to examine the manner in which all the articles that we provide for the supply of future wants are produced, we should find that they depend, in this way, on observations on the course of events, and on reasons rounded on these observations.Were proof wanting of this, we might turn at hazard to any complete treatise on any art.On examining it, we would invariably find it to contain a set of observations, the result of experience, and of reasons, and rules, drawn from these observations.