354 NIMROD'S NORTHERN TOUR. 



ease, was the common result of a summer's run at grass, accounting most 

 satisfactorily for each. I took the liberty of putting the question to him, 

 whether he had known a case of navicular disease in the hinder foot.^ 

 which he answered in the negative ; but the why or the wherefore, nei- 

 ther he, nor do I believe any one else, can say. 



I was likewise introduced to Mr. Lowe, agricultural professor in the Col- 

 lege of Edinburgh, and attended one of his lectures, having been previously 

 conducted by him through the rooms in which the various models of imple- 

 ments, species of grain and vegetables, are displayed ; and being of Lord 

 Bacon's opinion, that the true end of science is to enrich human life with 

 useful arts and inventions, I considered it a most interesting sight. But 

 I believe I should have described my visit as one to "The Agricultural 

 Museum," which these premises are called, and deservedly so, for they 

 contain a vast collection of objects, highly interesting to the naturalist, as 

 well as to the practical agriculturist. Among the implements, a hay- 

 cutter and an angle harrow— the latter especially attracted my notice ; 

 and there was a curious selection of wheats, amongst them the Triticum 

 Hibernum, Hunter's, and the Blood-red. Of potatoes, for cattle-feeding, 

 there were such as I never before saw ; for example, the pink-eyed dairy- 

 maid, weighing very nearly five pounds each, with the Irish lumper, and 

 Wellington red, very nearly as big. 



The lecture delivered this day by Professor Lowe, happening to be on 

 the common topics of Scotch agriculture, with which, from the circum- 

 stance of my having had a Lothian bailiff four years in my service, when 

 residing in Hampshire, I am very well acquainted, was generally void of 

 interest; but there was one point discussed by him, which I listened to 

 with much attention, and also with much pleasure. It was on the gene- 



