

"s. 



1800. A Joint Stock Farmwg Society. i 



and every experiment, likely to affe£l the cultivation of 

 any part of the kingdom, mult be tried with the utmofl 

 precifion. It cannot be expefted, that perfons of high 

 rank, and whofe attention is neceflarily dired^-ed to other 

 objedlsj can renounce every other purfult, and devote 

 thernfelves exclufively to the condu£ling of experiments ; 

 whereas, when an Experimental Farm is once eltabliPned, 

 it will foon be proved., by the evidence of facts, i. What 

 is the bed mode of rendering arable land produclive, and 

 the proper rotation of crops to be adopted in all foils and 

 fituations : 2. What is the beft fyftem for the manage- 

 ment of grafs land : 3. What are the mod ufeful imple- 

 ments of hulbandry : 4. Vv'hat are the moft profitable 

 breeds of animals, and the bell and cheapeft mode of 

 rearing, of feeding, and of fattening them : 5. What is 

 the belt plan for rendering wade or barren land produc- 

 tive. Theie are points of Infinite confeqaence, which 

 never have yet, and Indeed never can be afcertalned, un- 

 lefs by means of farms appropriated for that fpecial 

 purpofe. It will require, it Is trui*, the unceafing at- 

 tention of an Intelligent manager ; and the experiments, 

 in order ta be relied on, mult be made with almofl ma- 

 thematical accuracy and ftrlclnefs : The expence alfo 

 muft be confiderable ; but the ultimate advantage to the 

 public mult be fo great, as amply to compenfate for any 

 trouble or colt which may attend the execution *. 



Third Objection. That it 'will be difficult to find 

 M^anagers. 



It Is an obdacle to this meafure, In the apprehenficn 

 of fome, that it will be fcarcely poffible to find managers 

 qualified for that purpofe. It certainly will be attended 

 with fome dlxBcuity ; but it would be libelling the agri- 

 cultural fkill and integrity of the country, to fuppofe 

 thac fuch men could not be found. I know fome, my- 



T 4 felf, 



* For inftance, if the queftion is — what is the bed breed of cat'ile ? 

 their food muft be accurately weighed, and a regular account preferved of 

 the whole quantity they eat during the courfe of the experiment. If the 

 queftion is, to afcertaiii whether large or fmall animals pay bed for the 

 food they eat, the experiment muft be begun from their birth, and con- 

 tinued till they are flaughtered. In fliort, almoft every experiment of 

 great conicquence requires a degree of attention and perfeverance, and a 

 duration, in point of time, wliich can only be expefted from a public 

 fiiftitucion devoted ciclpfiveJ)- to that purpofe. 



