x INTRODUCTION. 



Little, a born statistician and model compiler of 

 official reports ; Lord Winchilsea, whose ardent 

 spirit glowed with too fierce a fire for his physical 

 powers ; Sir John Lawes, sturdily tramping round 

 his well-loved fields at Rothamsted ; Ben Druce, 

 happier by the fireside of the Farmers' Club than 

 in his chambers at Lincoln's Inn ; Wilson Fox, 

 eager and strenuous, whose zeal for the public 

 service too literally consumed him. These, and 

 many others who are brought to the mind's eye 

 in their habit as they lived, are still well remem- 

 bered on the countryside and in places where 

 farmers foregather. To those who knew them, 

 and worked with them for the " good old cause," 

 and to all who love the land, this little book is 

 submitted. 



I have to thank the Royal Agricultural Society 

 and the Bath and West of England Society for 

 permission to republish the articles which have 

 appeared in their respective journals. 



R. H R. 



September, 1913. 



