CONNECTION OF THE BOARD WITH THE COLLEGE. £23 



the present high and prosperous state of her agriculture. It 

 brought men together from all parts of the kingdom, made them 

 acquainted with each others' views, and with the modes of culture 

 prevailing in sections of which they had previously been ignorant. 

 Take away from our present knowledge of agriculture, or indeed 

 of any other practical art of life, all that has been learned from 

 the mere mental stimulus of associated eflort, and the attrition of 

 mind upon mind, and there would be a comparatively small amount 

 left. It was through the encouragement of the board of agricul- 

 ture chiefly that Sir Humphrey Davy was led to investigate the 

 elements of the soil, and to apply the science of chemistry to the 

 improvement of agriculture ; and here begins, properly, the real 

 progress of the art ; for without a knowledge of the simple sub- 

 stances of nature, agriculture could not be expected to take the 

 rank of a science. The lectures of Davy before the board of 

 agriculture, from 1802 to 1812, mark an important epoch in the 

 history of modern agriculture. The substance of these lectures 

 was embodied in his "Elements of Agriculture," published in 

 1813, and translated into German in 1814, and into French in 1829. 

 This work offered the very kind of information which Arthur 

 Young declared to be the great want of the day. It opened to 

 the reflecting farmer new and interesting views of the principles 

 of fertility and vegetation. It explained the physiology of plants ; 

 it analyzed the manure best adapted to their growth ; and con- 

 tained careful experiments upon specific fertilizers. It was 

 indeed the introduction of scientific agriculture, opening the path 

 which has since been trod so zealously, and erecting a monument 

 to the wisdom which guided the board of agriculture in its 

 selection of the great philosopher as its guide in agricultural 

 education. 



After reviewing the various attempts made by Marshall, Young, 

 Bakewell, Anderson, the Duke of Bedford, and other noblemen, 

 in advancing the art, Dr. Dickson says: "But neither the dis- 

 tinguished example of the sovereign, the endeavors of provincial 

 societies, nor the exertions of private individuals, with whatever 

 zeal and attention they may be directed, are probably sufiBcicnt to 

 extend the knowledge of husbandry to that degree whicli is 

 necessary for its complete and radical improvement. This could 

 only be fully accomplished by the powerful influence and expen- 

 sive exertions of a national establishment instituted for the 

 purpose. Such an institution has at last been brought forward 



