376 NATURAL SCIENCE. ^^^^^r 



The museum will present all the peculiarities of these animals by a 

 very simple process of grouping. The odd-toed horse will come 

 first with its simple stomach and its four kinds of teeth. The even- 

 toed sheep (ruminant) will be last with its highly complex stomach 

 and very incomplete dentition ; and between them will be placed the 

 omnivorous pig, with its very slightly-divided stomach and its almost 

 complete dentition. 



This is only the nucleus of a teaching museum, and manifestly a 

 great many things remain to be added before any approach to com- 

 pleteness is made, A small case may profitably be used to make 

 those interested better acquainted with the different grasses grown in 

 the fields and their relative value for grazing purposes. In the 

 present state of information it would be a risky experiment to ask 

 the ordinary agriculturist to point out the perennial rye grass 

 {Lolium pennne) and to indicate its exact position in the order. In 

 this district there is no commoner grass in our hay-fields than York- 

 shire fog (Holcus InnaUis), which only ranks as a weed grass, and 

 whose presence indicates poor land or bad tillage. 



Another case may be made to indicate the natural use of food- 

 stuffs with a view of producing certain definite results ; and still 

 another devoted to fruit culture as a subsidiary branch of farming, 

 and one which is likely to rise in importance if small holdings 

 become general. Even the arrangement suggested is by no means 

 final. Details might be added or subtracted, and a fresh grouping 

 followed as a better way suggested itself. It is not necessary that 

 one should be a repetition of the other ; indeed, it would be a weak- 

 ness and a hindrance if it should be so. The local conditions of 

 farming differ, and will suggest that greater prominence should be 

 given to one thing in one district and to another elsewhere. All that 

 is meant here is to point out the use such an institution might serve 

 in the enlightenment of farmers and ploughmen, in the economy of 

 material by the more accurate adaptation of means to ends, and in 

 the consequent spread of scientific agriculture. 



J. H. Crawford. 



