1846.] False Estimates. 8 1 



FALSE ESTIMATES. 



The progress of improvement in any branch of art or science, 

 is usually slow and toilsome. There seems to be a disposition in 

 most men, to cling particularly to maxims and methods to which 

 they have been accustomed, and to obstinately refuse to receive 

 any thing new, even when its truth and utility are established by 

 the strongest proofs. Such is certainly a prevailing tendency in 

 the human mind at the present day. 



The progress of agricultural knowledge and skill has conformed 

 to these assertions I have made. And in this, as in all other pur- 

 suits, the world is divided into three classes — one consisting of 

 the few who are ready to candidly and cautiously examine any 

 thing new that offers advantage to them, and adopt improvements 

 known to be such. A second, composed of the few enthusiasts, 

 whose fancy has got the upper hand of their judgment, and w^ho 

 are ready to receive as true, mere shadows — to build theories 

 upon speculative promises, and to rush madly into every innova- 

 tion without even probable evidence of value; — and a third, and 

 by far the greatest in number, consisting of the mass, who, con- 

 vinced of their own consummate wisdom, inherited from their 

 fathers, cannot be persuaded to look at an improvement, and to 

 whom any thing is fully condemned if it has been printed in a 

 book. 



But large as this latter class is, their prejudices are less to be 

 feared than the head-long, fiery zeal of those who are satisfied 

 with nothing unless it is new. The former can be improved 

 through their imitative faculties — the latter, only by accident. 

 They may stumble upon something which is useful, but in their 

 high ambition to become original discoverers, they neglect the 

 opportunity to benefit by what is already known. They would 

 be leaders, but cannot, because they have never been led. 



I am reminded here of a question I asked an officer of the 

 American Agricultural Association, formed in the city of New- 



