NIMROD'S NORTHERN TOUR. 355 



ral bad culture of field-peas — the Professor closing his remarks by saying* 

 that ** unless they were differently cultivated to what they, for the most 

 part, are, even in Scotland, it would be far better not to grow them at all" 

 — an avowal which was received by the audience with evident marks of 

 satisfaction, as well as with actual applause. For my own part, with the 

 exception of the immediate neighbourhood of London, it is my firm con- 

 viction, that out of every thousand acres of field-land under peas, nine 

 hundred have not derived the slightest benefit from the culture of them, 

 but have been left fouler than they were previously to being planted 

 with them — particularly under the broad-cast system, so often practised 

 in the south. 



Although, as I have before said, I kept no chronological memoranda of 

 my proceedings in this seat of learning, eloquence, and philosophy, still the 

 recollection of one day is too strongly impressed on my mind, to make 

 me at a loss to name it. It was Thursday, the 22nd of January, which 

 I may venture to mark as a day of honour, having been called upon, at 

 my hotel, by the following distinguished individuals, viz. Professors 

 Wilson and Cheape, who came together; Professor Napier; Mr. Black, 

 the great publisher; and Mr. Stephens, the editor of the Quarterly Jour- 

 nal of Agriculture, who paid me the compliment of telling me, that, if I 

 wrote any thing on the agriculture of Scotland, lie should be happy to 

 have it for the Journal. 



The mention of this Journal reminds me of another very eminent 

 character, whose acquaintance I made in Edinburgh. This was the late 

 Sir John Sinclair, my introduction to whom was this : Soon after my 

 arrival in France, I published a small pamphlet, addressed to the agricul- 

 turists of Great Britain, showing- the effects of what is called " Peel's 



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