Amateur Farming. 359 



or not thriving of these gentleman farmers," says the same 

 old writer quoted before/ " cannot clear np that point, because 

 their living depends not on the produce of their farms. But 

 when a poor lad that has served them comes to be set up 

 in a farm, when he practises the same method and thrives 

 with it, this is demonstration to a common farmer that ob- 

 serves it, and he will immediately become a convert and 

 follow the same course," These words written nearly one 

 hundred and fifty years ago illustrate a void in the agricul- 

 tural system of the present day which no surfeit of cheap 

 literature however simple, or technical education however 

 handy, will fill up, 



^ A Dissertation on the Chief Obstacle to the Improvement of Land, 

 etc. Aberdeen, 1760. 



