AGRICULTURAL SOCIETIES. 73 



embrace the improvement of the moral condition of humanity. 

 Indeed their proceedings have sometimes an opposite tendency, 

 by seeking to maintain monopolies and duties on foreign 

 produce, which cripple trade, curtail the field of industry, 

 and enhance the necessaries of life, from all of which wretch 

 edness and vice flow. But the population actively engaged 

 in agriculture are also little cared for, and their condition 

 seems declining comparatively with other classes. Such in 

 stitutions too much overlook youth and moral agency in im 

 proving agriculture, and spend much of their funds and time 

 on minor objects. 



In making these observations on the agricultural societies 

 of Britain, I am aware of some exceptions. The Liverpool 

 society is a good institution, and a manufacturing district is 

 the situation where an efficient society might be expected in 

 Britain, as furnishing members liberal in mind, and compara 

 tively free from agricultural prejudice. 



The Highland Society of Scotland is also a good institu 

 tion ; its ample funds accomplishing much for the benefit of 

 the country by giving premiums ; but more advantage would 

 result from their application in the improvement of youth, 

 and in cultivating an experimental farm something analogous 

 to what Mr Buel recommends. Edinburgh would form an 

 excellent situation for such, where there is already a Univer 

 sity Professor of Agriculture. An experimental farm of 

 sufficient size would furnish better results from systematic 

 procedure and continued registration, than the efforts of 

 isolated individuals. With such an institution, sons of landed 

 proprietors might be instructed in the science and art of farm 

 ing, and the management of property. Stock and seeds 

 might be experimented with and improved ; and by the sale of 

 them the institution would support itself. 



