450 Abstract Report of Ajricidtural Discussions. 



acre, is now more nearly 3^ over tlio whole area : autl Mr. Bowley 

 states that the produce of miittou in tliat district is double what it 

 used to be, the sheep being brought out at a year old, weighing as 

 much as they used to do at two years old. So much for produce. 

 Eents, on the other hand, have doubled within fifty years; and the 

 expenditure on labour, taking for example a fairly characteristic 

 farm of GOO acres wthin the district, of which I have the figures 

 since 1774, has increased foui-fold. On this farm it was <Ss. an 

 acre up to 1787, 10s. 6d. an acre up to 1791, I'ds. an aero up to 

 1800, and between 1853 and 18G3 it has averaged 30s. an acre, besides 

 beer. 



This is but a scanty illustration of a gTeat subject ; but I do not 

 tliink it is necessary to lead a laboured i)roof by collecting the multi- 

 tude of examples which would easily be forth.coniing to show the in- 

 creased productiveness of English agriculture during the present 

 century. Tliis will be easily admitted by every one ; and if profes- 

 sional agricultural education is to be measui'cd by results of this kind, 

 we may fairly put in a claim for considerably increased professional 

 ability during the period in question. Unfortunately, however, for 

 the optimists, it is extremely difficult to draw with accurate discrimi- 

 nation the i^roper inference on this jioint from the facts before us. 

 We have had land-drainago very extensively adopted as a fertiliser, 

 and we have had some millions of tons of guano added to the soil, 

 jvnd some millions also, I jjixsume, of artificial manures a2)i)lied during 

 the period under review. There can be little doubt that experience 

 has, during this period, taught farmers the policy of gi'cater liberality 

 and outlay in the treatment of the land tlian used to be considered 

 the safe and proper thing ; but the increased jiroduce thus obtained 

 cannot be put down altogether to increased professional ability or to 

 better agricultural education. 



For there are three things contributing to this result : — 1st, the 

 natural quality of the land ; 2nd, the character of the machinery and 

 material available for its jiroper cultivation ; and 3rd, the quality and 

 character of the judgment, skill, and mind brought to bear on the 

 management of the whole. The quality of the land, notwithstanding 

 Liebig's warnings, may be safely pronounced at least as good as ever 

 it has been. The machinery and material available for its cidtivation 

 have wonderfully increased in cfiiciency and value, and this alone 

 would account for the increased produce obtained, even though the 

 professional ability of the tenant-famiers of the present day should be 

 pronounced no higher than that of their immediate in-edecessors. I 

 therefore leave any attemjit at determining the point under discussion 

 by reference to results, and fall back on testimony. And I submit it, 

 as at least deserving the serious consideration of all who are interested 

 in improved agricultural education, that v.-hile the testimony of expe- 

 rienced men, many of whom can speak from personal knowledge of 

 two preceding generations, is quite unanimous and clear as to the 

 immense strides made by the general body of farm tenantry in general 

 education, intelligence, and social position, there is not by any means 

 such certainty or unanimity as to tlieir standing in respect of pro- 



