YALE AGRICULTURAL LECTURES. 103 



under the domain of the horse and plowing under that of 

 steam. 



Upon the subject of manures, Dr. Voelcker was quoted as 

 supporting by science the lesson of practice, that " farm-yard 

 manure is a perfect and universal manure," and that no one can 

 base a system of improved cultivation solely upon the purchase 

 of artificials. The fifth and last lesson of English agriculture 

 at present noticed was the importance of more earnest and 

 better organized effort in obtaining well-conducted experiments 

 in carrying on scientific investigations, and in deciding that 

 most difficult of questions, how and in what the education of 

 farmer's sons is to be advantageously modified and advanced. 

 Prominent among the agents of progress in English agricul 

 ture had been the Agricultural Societies ; and in referring to 

 the show last summer of the Royal Society of England, three 

 points were alluded to as particularly striking : 1st, the extraor 

 dinary turn-out of implements, comprising 4,700 entries for 

 some 235 exhibitors ; 2d, the uniformity of excellence among 

 the animals, as more remarkable than the number that were 

 exhibited on the one hand, or any especial instances of wonder 

 ful merit on the other ; and 3d, the character of the attendance, 

 the amount paid for admission, and the fact that so large num 

 bers were ready to pay it. The exertions put forth by the dis 

 tinct societies were also noticed, and details given of the differ 

 ent exhibitions held by that of East Lothian in the course of 

 the year, including the prizes respectively offered according to 

 the season. 



In conclusion, he could only be sensible how very small the 

 beginning was that had been made however long his notes 

 might have appeared to his audience upon the grand stores 

 of agricultural information looked up in the practice of English 

 farmers. He was inclined to consider it well worth some self- 

 denial to the young American farmer to visit Great Britain be 

 fore " settling down" for life if his visit could be made in the 

 right spirit, and judiciously arranged. In returning, he thought 



