clarinQ' tlie lad Fou7' Years. 215 



fe 



thank men of science generally for the readiness with which they 

 have come forward : Dr. Buckland, Mr. Murchison, Sir H. Dela- 

 beche, have helped us in geology ; Professor Henslow has given 

 us a complete history of the diseases of wheat ; Dr. Daubeny^ as 

 the Oxford professor of agriculture, might be said to belong to us. 

 Mr. Johnston, of Durham, has contributed an excellent account of 

 guano, in addition to his own valuable publications ; and the Society 

 has engaged Mr. Curtis to write for us a complete history of the 

 insects which are injurious to crops. 



Such are the principal facts which have come to our knowledge 

 in the last four years. I ought to have spoken of machinery, but 

 the shows in our implement-yards have spoken for themselves, and 

 we have most able reports from our judges ; yet I cannot but ad- 

 vert to two circumstances: one, that a manufacturer informs me 

 his threshing-machines, which seven years ago only threshed 

 15 quarters of wheat in a day on an average, now thresh 25; 

 the other, that, in accordance with a suggestion made in the first 

 number of our Journal, travelling threshing-machines worked by 

 steam were brought forward by two makers at Bristol, Messrs. 

 Ransome, and Mr. Cambridge of Market Lavington, in Wilt- 

 shire. I may add that Mr. Howden and the Messrs. Tuxford of 

 Boston have each constructed for travelling men similar machines, 

 which are now commonly let for hire in the fens of Lincoln- 

 shire. The most gratifying discoveries, however, have been the 

 discoveries of old practices unknown beyond their own districts. 

 I am certain that four years ago no one knew how much good farm- 

 ing there was in the country. Now that these things are come to 

 light, we may hope that they will not only be spoken of, but be 

 practised more generally : that clraining-tiles will be greatly 

 cheapened, more drains be cut, more chalk be laid on the downs, 

 the wolds, and the clays, marl on the sands, clay on the fens and 

 peats, lime on the moors, many of which should be broken up ; 

 that old ploughs will be cast av/ay, the number of horses re- 

 duced, good breeds of cattle extended, stock fattened where it 

 has been hitherto starved (though this is now rare), root crops 

 drilled and better dunged, new kinds of those crops cultivated, and 

 artificial manures of ascertained usefulness purchased. It is the 

 knowledge of these weapons which we actually have in our hands 

 that may make us look back with satisfaction to the efforts we 

 have already made, and forward, with cheerful confidence to the 

 improvement of husbandry through the collective experience of 

 our farmers. 



Pusey, Oct. 1th, 1842. 



