Remarhs on the Implement Department at Bury St. EdmuncCs. 585 



had been regularly followed. A fresh eye is of essential import- 

 ance towards a duly progressive system. It is now my object to 

 record the experiences of three busy years of office ; to preserve 

 the mere residuum — the moral " Extractum Carnis." 



Many things pass as a whole that would never pass in part. I 

 am proud of having been an officer of the Society ; and yield to 

 no man in appreciation of its importance, past, present, and to 

 come. Those who studied the Bury Meeting may well be satis- 

 fied with general results ; yet in speaking of details in my own 

 department I must be critical — if not critical, I am nothing. 

 Whatever may be thought of my opinion, credit I know will be 

 given to my motives, and my observations will not be less relished 

 because they are outspoken. I am to deal chiefly with prin- 

 ciples, because for the third time consecutively the Society is to 

 have the advantage of Mr. Coleman's practical notes on the 

 general show-yard. Before entering in order upon our subject, 

 let me stay to pitch one or two preliminary key-notes. There is 

 an activity positively contagious — a keen interest — insight — a 

 tendency to encourage, not to snub, a suggestion — a hatred of mea- 

 sureless content — these qualities are required to counteract the 

 natural drowsiness of institutions. Those who this year studied 

 two great agricultural meetings were struck by some reflection 

 such as this : — If management requires breadth and unity, may 

 we not unduly sacrifice unity for breadth ? 



It would be pleasant to dwell on picturesque and hospitable 

 Bury ; to refer to Suffolk, the home of that farmer-penman, Arthur 

 Young ; and birthplace of the poet of the farm, of whom it was 

 well said — 



" Bloom field, thy happy omen'd name 

 Ensures continuance to thy fame ; 

 Both sense and truth this verdict give — 

 While fields shall bloom thy name shall live." 



Space does not allow even for the great event of the Meeting — 

 the visit of the Viceroy of Egypt — more than a passing notice. 

 Despite the fickle weather, here at least, his Highness was 

 thoroughly satisfied with his reception. With an evident know- 

 ledge of agriculture and mechanics, he was full of sympathy 

 with our object, and left a most agreeable impression. He told 

 us at luncheon how he had himself adapted his steam-plough 

 tackle to work earth-levelling shovels, and he applied two 

 bills of fare to illustrate the process. The great ruler in Egypt 

 must have been impressed by the forty-two acres covered with 

 everything that could exemplify the perfection of modern agri- 

 culture : still more must he have been impressed if he reflected 

 that he saw an outward and visible sign of that hidden force 

 destined to expand, to fill, and to move the wide world, and 



