34 THE GROUNDSWELL. 



to observe the various methods of tillage which prevailed, 

 and is said to have edited nearly one hundred volumes re 

 lating to the profession. 



In Scotland, Lord Kames, and still more, Sir John Sin 

 clair, were earnest and persevering patrons of agriculture. 

 To the latter gentleman, Scotland is indebted for a complete 

 agricultural survey of the country, with statistical accounts 

 relating to it. The publication of the fruits of his labors 

 had the important result, among others, of leading to the 

 establishment of the Board of Agriculture, in 1793, by Mr. 

 Pitt. 



Sir Humphrey Davy was another benefactor of hus 

 bandry, deserving prominent mention. It was the result 

 of his experiments which led to the establishment of Agri 

 cultural Chemistry as a recognized branch of modern science ; 

 and this is truly the &quot; corner-stone of agriculture.&quot; Recog 

 nizing a plant as a living thing, he held that the laws of its 

 existence must be studied in order to develop the most per 

 fect growth. By experiments, and in his lectures, he demon 

 strated that plants derive their component parts either from 

 the atmosphere by which they are surrounded, or from the 

 soil in which they grow. These elements being principally 

 carbon, nitrogen, oxygen, and hydrogen, he showed by 

 analysis of soils and plants the relative nature of each, and 

 the conditions necessary to best furnish the elements for 

 growth, and proved that the process of vegetation depends 

 upon their constant assimilation by the organs of plants, by 

 means of moisture, light, and heat. 



SCIENTIFIC EXPERIMENTS IN THE UNITED STATES. 

 *e 



In the United States but little scientific experimenting, 

 having for its end the promotion of agriculture, was officially 



