222 BOARD OP AGRICULTURE. 



Hesiod and Aristotle, down to Liebig-'s ingenious theories, and 

 that modest effort entitled "Farming as it is." 



In addition to these admirable endeavors of eloquent and care- 

 ful authors to impart agricultural knowledge, many forms of asso- 

 ciated instruction have been established from time to time. Early 

 in the eighteenth century, about 1120, there were nearly thirty 

 agricultural societies in France. Ere long attention was turned 

 to the science of agriculture, which was publicly taught in the 

 Swedish, Danish and German universities. And private fortunes 

 were devoted to the endowment of special schools of agriculture. 

 The patronage of government, too, has not been wanting. In 

 Italy, in Sweden, in Denmark, in Switzerland, in France, in Eng- 

 land, every branch of agriculture has been encouraged by the 

 government ; and " even Spain, naturally inactive on these occar 

 sions, in spite of all the prejudices of a bigoted religion, invited 

 Linneeus, with the offer of a large pension, to superintend a 

 college, founded for the sake of making new inquiries into the 

 history of nature and the art of agriculture." And Bonaparte, in 

 his liberal policy toward agriculture, greatly increased the number 

 of societies, established professorships, botanical gardens, &c., all 

 of which concurred to elevate the study of agriculture in the 

 estimation of those capable of bringing to its aid the principles 

 of the abstract sciences. In fact, the only obstacle in the way of 

 a rapid advancement in agricultural information during the last 

 century in Europe, was the indifference of the popular mind, and 

 its devotion to tradition, rather than to the results of careful 

 investigation. "Book-Farming" had no charms for the common 

 people, who looked on with distrust and jealousy, while the edu- 

 cated explorer endeavored to elevate tlicir calling, enlighten their 

 minds, and relieve the heavy burdens of labor. 



There is no doubt that the establishment of Boards of Agricul- 

 ture is the most important step that has yet been taken in the 

 work of agricultural improvement, and that the labor of Sir John 

 Si)iclair, as the founder of such organizations, entitles him to the 

 respect and gratitude of all tillers of the soil. A century and a 

 half before he began his work, Ilartlibb, and more recently Lord 

 Karnes in the " Country Farmer," had pointed out the utility of a 

 board of agriculture ; but it was left to his zeal and untiring effort 

 to call into life that valuable auxiliary to agricultural progress, 

 and the board was created in 1793. To its establishment, more 

 than to any other movement of that day, England is indebted for 



