354 BOARD OF AGRICULTURE. 



furnishing inferior articles of feeding stuffs or artificial 

 manures have been given to the public ; and it has even gone 

 so far as to furnish an indemnity against prosecution for 

 libel to those journals publishing literally their reports. 

 But its greatest influence has been through its large consult- 

 ing corps of experts, Avhom members may consult on a fixed 

 scale of prices. * Thus, in chemistry, there are twenty-three 

 different kinds of analyses, ranging in price from $1.50 for 

 an estimate of value of sulphate and muriate of ammonia and 

 of the nitrates of soda and potash, to $27 for an examination 

 of the viscera complete for metals and alkaloids. For the 

 eradication and prevention of diseases among the domestic 

 animals, 54 veterinary surgeons are appointed, in as many 

 agricultural centres, to whom members may go, at prices 

 ranging from $1.50 for consultation by letter to $8 for 

 attendance during an entire day ; while sick cattle may be 

 boarded and treated at the Infirmary of the Royal Veteri- 

 nary College at Camden Town for about $3 a week, sheep 

 and pigs being received for half that sum. So, too, in bot- 

 any, a report can be obtained on the purity and germinating 

 power of seeds sent for examination for $1.50, or the deter- 

 mination of a collection of grasses growing on the same 

 kind of soil, and their pasture value, for $3. The consulting 

 entomologist is a lady, and her annual reports have for ten 

 years been a valuable feature of the journal. Insects are sent 

 to her for determination, and questions are answered respect- 

 ing their beneficial or injurious character. In short, in 

 evcr-y question bearing upon the improvement of agriculture 

 and agricultural education, we find the Royal Agricultural 

 Society of England taking a prominent paii; and leading the 

 way. Its 9,200 meml)ers, whether consciously or uncon- 

 sciously, are a leaven, silently but powerfully leavening the 

 whole lump. 



The essential features of the English system we find, then, 

 to be these : That until very recently this education has 

 been confined exclusively to the upper and wealthy middle 

 classes, no attempt having been made to improve the con- 

 dition of the lower. Indeed, one of their ablest writers 

 takes the ground ''that elementary, general and so-called 



* Journal of the Royal Agricultural Society, 1886. 



