440 Abstract Report of Arjricultural Discussions. 



capable, or at any rate to judge aright of tliose helps and alterations 

 which others may oflfer or suggest. 



It is, however, undoubtedly significant — partly perhaps of the exist- 

 ing educational status prevalent amongst farmers — certainly of the fact 

 that barely a single generation has yet passed away since the labours of 

 so many scientific men in the field of agriciilture commenced, and cer- 

 tainly also of the paramoimt importance of technical and commercial 

 ability, that is of skill and shrewdness for success in farming — that 

 while we have amongst us maxims which insist on the importance of 

 knowing the details of the business both in the field and in the market, 

 there are none that I know of which urge the value of scientific 

 knowledge. 



I have heard often enough that there is a " rent " difference between 

 the words " go " and " come " in agriculture, so that the farmer hiring 

 land who can show and teach his labourers how to do it, is as well off 

 as the yeoman owning the land he cultivates, who depends upon a 

 bailift". And we often hear, too, of the rent of a farm being " picked 

 up outside the fences," i. c, made by marlvct ability. But there is no 

 such maxim in assci-tion of the commercial value of an acquaintance 

 with the agi'icultural relations of the sciences. The tendency is still 

 the other way. More than once, for instance, I have overheard that 

 " a farmer with a chemical head is sure to have an empty pocket." Of 

 course such an idea has arisen from examples where the failure has 

 been owing, not to a knowledge of chemistry, but to an ignorance of 

 agriculture— examples, too, most probably where there has not been 

 much greater knowledge of science than of practice. 



If this part of my paper be concluded by a reference to an example 

 illustrative of what has been set forth, it may be said that no one 

 has more perfectly exemplified the attitude of the well-educated agri- 

 cultui'ist in the midst of the natural and artificial aids and difiiculties 

 aroimd him than the late Jonas Webb, of Babraham. No one knew 

 better than he the limits imposed by Nature on the agriculturist, and 

 few accomplished more within those limits, or did it better. The con- 

 dition both of his farm and of his stock bore ample witness here. A 

 wonderfully quick, almost instinctive insight, as it seemed, guided 

 him in the management of both ; and the energy of his character and 

 tenacity of his resolution — by which it was that Babraham, neither a 

 pastoral nor a grazing farm by nature, nevertheless became celebrated 

 for its flock? and herds — were tempered by kindliness and wisdom, the 

 fruit both of natural cordiality and of experience. I may refer to him 

 too as an example of success not only in the art of agricultiu'c, but in 

 the business of farming. No one ever commanded more willing ser- 

 vice from his laboui-ers, and no one could ever have received more 

 cordial co-operation from his neighbours — and power to engage the 

 sympathies of others in this way is of fijst-ratc importance in the pro- 

 fessional character of the agriculturist. And I will add that his intel- 

 ligent and cordial admiration of the successful efiforts of men of 

 science to throw light on the experience of the farmer was not only 

 of direct advantage to him by the freedom from prejudice which it 

 conferred ; but this, together v/ith his genial manly bearing — also the 



