THE SUBJECT CONTINUED. 235 



seemed especially to evoke the mechanical resources 

 of the kingdom, by way of set-off to its often-urged 

 disadvantages in climate and in fiscal burdens 

 should have been long regarded rather with the 

 apathy evinced toward the cobweb speculations of 

 dreaming enthusiasm, than dealt with as a practical 

 question by practical minds. "While zealous agri- 

 culturists were eloquently excited once a year over 

 the weight of an ox, or the twist of an improved 

 mould-board, 'Science' was satisfied, and 'Practice' 

 seemed to tread on the heels of perfection. Under 

 such patronage, ' Improvements ' in the established 

 implements of tillage, were of course as numerous 

 as the moiety of twenty acres of ground could 

 conveniently accommodate for annual Exhibition. A 

 revolution impending over Tillage itself was of 

 course the last thing dreamt of. It is ever so. True, 

 a few black funnels might be seen smoking in the 

 show-yard, and the whirring drum of the steam- 

 driven Thrashing-machine had, thanks to the pre- 

 vious invention of a certain Scotch lawyer, made 

 the agrestial mind forget to expect, or its prizes to 

 stimulate, improvements in the flail. But the prin- 

 cipal and time-honored act of agriculture proper, 

 of cultivation itself still labored under its ancient 

 tribe of horse-adapted implements. The Plow and 



