532 Biographical Sketch of 



phrase, " international agriculture." In the next year, 1857, there 

 is a curious reference to American public judging in the ring, to 

 " prevent favouritism." Mr. Thompson contributed a paper on 

 Road-making. In 1858 he wrote his first paper on Grass-land, 

 so much neglected, and yet so grateful : " Effect should be pro- 

 duced at once, rather than by application little and often." He 

 speaks of his twenty years' experience as a grass-land improver. 

 A professional editor was appointed in 1859, but Mr. Thompson^ 

 M.P., as Chairman of the ' Journal ' Committee, continued tO' 

 control the policy of the Journal. The twenty-second volume, 

 1860, contains a letter from Lord Palmerston, admirable in point 

 of style. There appeai'ed in 1864 Mr. Thompson's exhaustive 

 paper on the ' Progress of the Royal Agricultural Society.' If 

 reprinted, this might well be entitled an Agricultural Handy- 

 book. 



This Handy-book, an index to its writer's character, shows us 

 what practice with science has effected during twenty-five years. 

 If the imagination may suggest and fancy personate, what a pro- 

 cession of the agricultural virtues now rapidly unfolds itself! 

 Free-trade, and the butcher clamouring for meat ; railwaySy 

 drainage, steam-cultivation ;* the talented implement-maker, anti 

 numerous inventions and improved implements ; associative 

 activity, steam, cheese factory, and other companies ; the migra- 

 tory principle of agricultural meetings, large receipts, and the 

 " splendid shilling," with increased usefulness and sound manage- 

 ment, attended by growing popularity ; steady progress and 

 simplified agreements ; chemistry, assisted along by commerce and 

 pushed by interest, and all driven by necessity ; farm-buildings, 

 farm-cottages, farm-consolidation ; and last, but not least, with 

 more money in his pocket and more knowledge in his head, see 

 there comes proudly in the place of honour the improved farmer 

 himself. Mr. Thompson tells us with ordinary roads and fixed 

 meetings receipts were small and usefulness limited. All per- 

 manently useful societies, he says, must be self-supporting. Jus- 

 tice is rendered by Mr. Thompson to the memory of " that capable 

 and accomplished writer," Mr. Pusey. The paper further tells of 

 the implement trophy, not trial system that will never work ; 



* Refer to Alison's ' History of Europe,' 1815-52, vol. i., cliap. i., paragraphs 

 42-46. The respective marginal notes are to this eifect : — " Steam power can 

 never be applied to the cultivation of the soil." — " Decisive proof." — '' What, if 

 the case had been otherwise ? " — " Influence of this law of nature." The historian 

 of 1852 relies upon the united evidence of " a boy from the turf-clad mountain," 

 — " a milkmaid tripping on the grassy mead," — " an old man delving in his 

 cottage garden," and — oh, honoured shade of Fowler ! — they would prove that 

 " Steam arid Mechanics have left untouched the rural marriage of Industry with 

 Nature ; and in the last as in the first it is in the garden of Eden that man is to find 

 his earthly Paradise." The 500/. prize for Steam Cultivation was awarded to the 

 late Mr. Fowler at the Chester meeting of the Eoyal Agricultural Society in 1858. 



