248 CHKONICLES OF A CLAY FAEM. 



"When that day comes when the living chemistry 

 of the soil is accepted and understood, not as an 

 amusing and probable speculation, the vaguely sug- 

 gestive subject of a " Lecture " before a patronizing 

 Council ; but as a solid, working-day, every-day 

 practical fact then the Mechanics of Agriculture 

 will not be far behind ! Then the " touching tru- 

 isms" of Tull the Galileo of agricultural science, 

 the Luther of modern husbandry struggling single- 

 handed against a whole dark age of ignorance and 

 banded prejudice will reach the "promised land" 

 he saw and pointed out with the finger of the seer, 

 but was never allowed to enter. Blending into the 

 truest of union with the after-discoveries of Davy, 

 De Candolle, Liebig, Boussinghault, and our own 

 not less deserving "Way, and Johnstone, and others 

 of distinguished note his theory of "Cultivation" 

 will propound matter of deep thought and combined 

 action equally to the chemist and mechanician.* 



* Future practice in cropping, followed by cultivation on 

 true principles, we hare not the least doubt, will prove tbat 

 the actual capacity of the earth to produce is yet but faintly 

 understood. When the sword shall bo beat into the plow- 

 share no ; but bended and welded, as they say that horse- 

 nails and wire are bended and welded into the finest barrels 

 of the finest fowling pieces the spear into the pruning 



