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duties of a Government situated as is the 

 British Government in India. For though, to 

 arrest altogether the onward tide of civilization 

 when once it has set in, is not easy, yet the 

 neglect by a Government of its obligatory func- 

 tionsand what duty can be more obligatory than 

 instruction cannot fail in a very great degree to 

 check its progress. 



All great questions affecting the material pro- 

 gress of a nation, and especially those connected 

 with agricultural experiments, may be viewed from, 

 two stand-points the scientific and the commercial. 

 And it will be admitted that the business of the two 

 is so entirely distinct, that if those to whom one 

 appertains, meddle with the other, they are sure 

 to mismanage it. ^t will not be denied also, that 

 the two go hand in hand, neither being iudepen- 

 of the other. In countries in an early stage of 

 civilization, the former, it will be apparent, properly 

 appertains to Government, for this reason, that 

 the people, from poverty and ignorance, are clearly 

 unequal to the perforance of the task ; and, con- 

 sidering its bearing ou the welfare and existence 

 of the people, the duty, in regard to agricultural 

 experiments of national importance, may well be 

 placed amongst those that are obligatory. In countries 

 in an advanced stage of civilization, the case, like 

 all others, is different. Tlie people are so highly 



iucated, and so wealthy, that they are well able 



