226 HEROES OF SCIENCE. 



in Berwickshire from his father ; it was possible to 

 live on it, and farm and work at chemistry without 

 risk, whilst if he sold it, or used the rent*" in 

 advancing his position as a medical man, he might 

 fail after all. 



Certain it is that he returned to Edinburgh, and 

 in the summer of 1750 he abandoned his intention 

 of practising, and resolved to apply himself to 

 agriculture. He had as a friend Sir John Hall, of 

 Dunglass, a man of ingenuity and taste for science, 

 and also an agriculturist. As he was never destined 

 to do anything by halves, Hutton determined to 

 study farming in the school which was then 

 reckoned the best, and the manner which is 

 undoubtedly the most effectual. He went into 

 Norfolk, and fixed his residence for some time in 

 that county, living in the house of a farmer, who 

 served both for his landlord and his instructor. 

 This he did in 1752. He always spoke well of 

 John Dybold, who made him comfortable, and 

 whose practical lessons in husbandry he much 

 valued. He appears, indeed, to have enjoyed this 

 situation very much : the simple and plain cha- 

 racter of the society with which he mingled, suited 

 well with his own, and the peasants of Norfolk 

 could find nothing in the stranger to set them at 

 a distance from him, or to make them treat him 

 with reserve. It was always true of Dr. Hutton 

 that to an ordinary man he appeared to be an 

 ordinary man ; possessing a little more spirit and 

 liveliness, perhaps, than it is usual to meet with. 



