Essatf on Agriculture as a Science. 267 



agricultural authorities ; and so long as that ta'^k is left in such 

 uniiappy hands, it is no wonder that our knowledge of any par- 

 ticular branch of this useful science should be sadly limited ; or 

 that Sir Humphry Davy should complain, that our acquaintance 

 with the gramina should be confined to two species*. 



Better prospects are now opening ; a revolution has fortunately 

 taken place; — philosophy supported bv science iias stepped for- 

 ward, and the Board of Agriculture, with its able chemical lec- 

 turer, have rescued the gramina at least from the hands of 

 mercenary ignorance. 



This unexpected irruption of science into the peaceful and 

 productive domain of these indefatigable scribblers has excited 

 no small uneasiness in Grub-street; one of the gentlemen, whose 

 name is perpetually occurring in almost every agricultural publi- 

 cation, shows the alarm that school has taken, at the dangerous 

 invasion of their territories. He says: 



" 1 am far from wishing to depreciate the use of science, as 

 directed to the improvement of agriculture ; but the pleasure, 

 the delight there is in studying Nature through these spectacles, 

 is greater than its benefit." 



" All that science has done to improve our knowledge of the 

 value of the grasses as yet, consists in showing which affords the 

 greater proportion of saccharum: — with those who sing the 

 praises of analysis, the burthen of tlie song is saccharum." 



" Can it be reasonably said that the choice of rye-grass, as a 

 separate grass, was the result of accident? This text that is 

 quoted from Sir Humphry Davy is not Gospel." Again. 



" This account is miserable, because it is not true ; and the 

 hasty expressions of great men ought to be more carefully re- 

 pressed, as they are the more widely diffused." 



1 know not any cpicstion in riual practice that more requires 

 tlie interference of the scientific theorist than the proper period 

 for mowing, nor any point upon which the practical farmer is 

 more ignorant or more opinionated — he prides himself on having 

 saved his hay before others, and boasts of its fragrance and tea- 

 like Terdure. 



The theorist, acquainted with natural history, would have told 

 him that tlie juices of all vegetables attain their greatest per- 



" Sir Hum|jlii'y Davy admits two vari(^ties to he in use ; but the second, 

 rocksfcot, is u recent introduction ; and the first recomniendrtlion of this 

 luxuriant iirass to the practic:il liirincr, will be found in the Transactions of 

 the Ro\al Irish Academy, six or seven years ai:o, in a ruomoir of mine, on 

 the useful grasses, "irh my reasons for strongly recomiuendiiij^ cocksfoot, 

 fkduced from its natural history. 



Whoever has published any earlier recommendation of this j^rass to tho 

 agricultuiibts of his country, is entitled to the credit of its intiod'iction. 



fcction 



