670 Abstract Report of Agricultural Discussions. 



difficulties, and for the gi-eat ability and talent with whicli they, espe- 

 cially those gentlemen to whom was entrusted the work of preparation, 

 compiled reports that will no doubt be read with interest in all parts 

 of the civilised world. 



Having thus unmistakeably given my own opinion upon the cha- 

 racter of these reports, I would briefly allude to some remarks I have 

 occasionally heard, expressive of a little disappointment that they do 

 not contain certain things which the objectors hojied and expected to 

 find in them, but which I wish to show could not properly have been 

 inserted. 



I have heard it said that the reports should have contained a state- 

 3IEXT OF AVERAGE KESULTS, which would havc Settled some of the 

 leading features and principles of steam-cultivation. This objection 

 very probably takes some such form as this : — " It is now ten or twelve 

 years since , steam-cultivation was fii'st introduced ; there are hun- 

 dreds of steam-engines at work on the land, and so extensive an inquiry 

 as that of last year ought to have settled some of the main questions 

 affecting steam cultivation, such as the average cost of steam versus 

 horses, or any other j>ower; the kind of implements which we had 

 best employ ; and the best mode of applying the best power." While 

 not agreeing at all in these views, 1 think it right to mention them, 

 because I believe that a complete answer can be given to any objec- 

 tions that may be raised. 



I think we are very apt to attribute too much importance to a 

 statement of average results. There is a feeling common amongst 

 us, that if the number of instances of which the average has been 

 taken is sufficiently great, we arrive at something like a law of 

 nature from which there is no appeal. When considering the value 

 of averages we ought especially to consider the kind of results from 

 which the average is collected, because if the results themselves 

 are dissimilar, it is plain that the average loses its value altogether. 

 Take any familiar example — chairs, for instance. On comparing the 

 cost of a certain number of chairs, of the same kind of material and 

 manufacture, the average cost of a great niunber would furnish 

 information as to their price ; but on comparing chaii-s of all kinds, 

 from the plain wooden kitchen chair to the highly-ornamented 

 drawing-room chair, covered with satin-damask, the average struck 

 would furnish no idea of the value to an intending purchaser. It 

 would not be the average price of any particular kind of chair, and 

 therefore, instead of being a guide, it would only lead him into error. 

 If we apply this to the case in hand, we shall at once see that the cost 

 of cultivating strong clay land will always be greater than the cost of 

 cultivating light-land farms. Therefore the average cost of cultivating 

 the two different kinds of land would be of no value to the man who 

 wished to obtain information as to the cultivation of one or the other. 



In endeavouring to sti-ike an average of the results of steam cultiva- 

 tion in a certain number of cases where the soil is somewhat similar, 

 you have to take into account the old adage, that " one man will tlu'ivo 

 where another will starve ;" and if you arc to consider not only the 

 diffijrences of soil and climate, and the size and position of farms, but 



