34 Agricultural Implements and Produce. 



proximity, an opinion bad prevailed that in England agriculture 

 had been neglected in favour of trade and commerce. The tariff 

 regulations of Sir R. Peel, not well understood in their design 

 or in their consequences, had tended to fortify this assumption. 

 Nothing, therefore, created more surp>rise than the vast collection 

 of agricultuial implements which the Exhibition of London con- 

 tained, and the proof they afforded of the high development of 

 agricultural skill and science in the United Kingdom/' 



It has been reserved for the Paris Exhibition of 1855 to give 

 new force to these impi'essions ; to carry into the heart of France, 

 and to display before the eyes of hundreds of thousands of spec- 

 tators, these evidences of the skill of our machine-makers, placed 

 in immediate contrast with the works of their competitors from 

 all quarters of the world. 



The approach between the two nations, which was invited by 

 the Exhibition of 1851, has been advanced and quickened by the 

 Exhibition of 1855. The cordial and friendly reception given 

 to Englishmen of all classes in Paris has been thoroughly appre- 

 ciated and responded to — new interests have been called into 

 action. The advantages to be derived by both people from a 

 more free communication have forced themselves upon public 

 attention, and have taken root in public opinion. Such a result 

 alone would be worth all the labour and all the cost of both Ex- 

 hibitions. 



It was not till the 25th of October, shortly before the close of 

 the Exhibition, that I was made acquainted with your Lordship's 

 wish, that I should furnish a report on the Class of Agriculture. 

 If I had known this wish at an earlier period, some matters, 

 especially matters of detail, might have been noted, which it 

 would not be easy now to go back upon. But I bear in mind 

 that this is not a report, accompanying and justifying an adjudi- 

 cation of prizes. Such a report will be furnished to the Imperial 

 Commission by officers specially appointed in each class, and- 

 will be accessible to all. 



The terms of the letter addressed to me by your Lordship's 

 directions are, " That I would furnish a report, to be laid before 

 Parliament, of the position which the United Kingdom held in 

 the Paris Exhibition, compared with foreign countries, in the 

 Class of Agriculture, and the progress, if any, which has been 

 made since 1851 in respect of this class of objects." 



I propose to follow the course pointed out in this letter of 

 instructions. 



It may be well to consider at the outset the position of the two 

 countries as regards agricultural practice at the present moment. 

 Such a picture, full of life and interest, has been drawn to our 

 hands by the able pen to which I have already referred. As the 



