To'wns. 417 



harrow and grubber ; though the improved grubber is an in- 

 strument that might work nine tenths of the turnip and naked 

 fallows of England, and one which will sooner or later, and 

 more especially when steam is applied to impel agricultural 

 implements, effect a revolution in the culture of arable lands. 

 Is this, then, the result of the exertions of the Board of 

 Agriculture, and of the 150 county boards that were esta- 

 blished all over the country ? Yes : and nothing better would 

 be the result if these boards were recalled into existence and 

 continued for another half century. They were mere plaj^- 

 things for the country gentlemen. Instead of boards, if, in 

 1796, it had been thought fit to establish schools all over the 

 country, agriculture would by this time have reformed itself; 

 the farmers would have found it to be their interest to adopt 

 improved practices, as they did in Scotland, without the 

 assistance of any board. All that the agricultural societies 

 attempted is to be considered in the light of empiricism or 

 topical remedies; but a system of general scientific education 

 would strike at the root of evety disease in agriculture, in 

 gardening, and, indeed, in every thing else. Effectually and 

 permanently to advance, we must begin at the beginning, 

 that is, with the risino; (generation. 



Tuxsons. — We cannot help noticing the great increase of 

 Birmingham, Manchester, Stockport, and all the towns we 

 have passed through connected with manufactures. They 

 have not only increased in extent, but improved in their archi- 

 tecture ; though in this art they have not advanced beyond 

 the stage of introducing half and three-quarter columns as 

 component parts of walls, entire columns set against walls, 

 and detached columns used as mere ornaments, instead of 

 being useful supports. There are some honourable exceptions ; 

 among which we may include the Institution of Arts in Man- 

 chester (not yet completed), and the approved design of the 

 town hall at Birmingham. The latter is a Grecian temple, 

 with a colonnade on each side, raised about 25 ft. from the 

 ground, upon a basement story, with a simple roof, like that 

 of St. Paul's, Covent Garden. There is a pediment at each 

 end, supported by two ranks of fluted columns ; the sides of 

 the building being supported by one rank above and by a 

 piazza or range of arcade below, as in the Exchange at Paris. 

 The hall will be 1 30 ft. long, 65 ft. wide, and 65 ft. high. 

 The design is by Messrs. Hanson and Welch, and it is to be 

 executed of marble from the Anslesea mines.* One thing- 



* A more detailed description will be found in the Midland Bepresent- 

 ative, or Birmingham Herald, of June 1 1. ; a weekly paper established on a 



Vol. VII. — No. 33. e e 



