1837] 



FARMERS' REGISTER. 



611 



March 1813, he endeavored to explain the nature 

 and advantarrps of makin<2: extensive inquiries the 

 basis of condensed inforn)ation. He then added, 

 " tiiat the power and prosperity of a country de- 

 pend on the diflusion ol" nsel'ul l<no\vledcre, can 

 hardly be questioned ; and there is prolnibly no 

 art, in reirard to which a variety of knowledire is 

 of more essential importance, than in the art of 

 agriculture. The extent o( information necessary 

 to brinfi: it to any thinu Mite periection, is hardly to 

 be credited. To preserve the fertility ol the soil — 

 to free it from superfluous moisture — to cultivate 

 it to the frreatest advantage — to raise its produc- 

 tions at the least expense — to procure the best in- 

 struments of husbandrj^ — to select the stock likely 

 to be the most profitable, to teed them in the most 

 judicious manner, and to bring them to the most 

 advantageous markets — to secure the harvest 

 even in the most unpropitious seasons — to sepa- 

 rate the grain from the straw with economy and 

 success — and an endless variety of other particu- 

 lars, require a degree of" knowledge to do them 

 well, of no common description." 



From being in possession of the Statistical Ac- 

 count of Scotland, as well as of the County Re- 

 ports, it was resolved to commence with that 

 countr_7, and Sir John, for the more entire com- 

 pletion of the task, associated witli himself a com- 

 mittee of inspectors for revising the different great 

 divisions of the work, consistina of IVIr. Rennie 

 t)f Phantassie, Mr. Robertson of Ladvkirk, Mr. 

 Low of Woodend, Mr. Walker of Wooden, Mr. 

 Brown of Markle, Mr. Walker ol Mellendean, I 

 Mr. Hunter of Glencarse, and the Rev. Charles 

 Finlater of Newlands. 



Tlie grand divisions of this national work con- 

 sisted of accounts of the ffcofrraphical state and i 

 general circumstances of Scotland — of the landed j 

 property in Scotland — of huildinos as connected 

 with agriculture — and of the occupation of land in 

 Scotland — together wirh dissertations on the im- 

 plements of husbandry — on enclosing land, and 

 the nature and advantages of fencing— and on the 

 management of arable land. 



The subsequent divisions of the work are devo- 

 ted to the other branches of rural economy, after 

 which a view is taken of the political economy of 

 the nation, in which we are furnished with very 

 interesting historical accounts of the various 

 branches of our manufactures and commerce. lu 

 the volumes which constitute the appendix, a vast 

 mine of information is opened np, regarding the 

 civil and ecclesiastical divisions of Scotland. 



On the appearance of the work, the Farming 

 Club of Dalkeith, which consists of the principal 

 agriculturists of the Lothiatis, Sir Joseph Banks, 

 and upwards of fifty of the most eminent practical 

 farmers in the kingdom, wrote to the author in 

 terms of consfratulation, and expressing their hiffh 

 estimate of its value.* Asa work on the hus- 



* In an unpublished memorandum, Sir John states, 

 that " the proprietors of land in the Lothians, and other 

 improved districts of Scotland, reaped peculiar advan- 

 tao;e from the attention that liad been directed to the 

 improvement and management of the soii, by the m- 

 stitution of the Board of Ajjriculture, an instance of 

 which was pven hv the celebrated farmer Mr. Brown 

 of Marklo, in EastLothian, who, in a letter dated 5th 

 January IS] 3, mentions, that a farm containins; 330 

 Scotch acres of arable land, was just ht for £270?) per 

 annum, or at £8 2s. per Scotch,' or £6 10s. per Eng- 



bandry of Scotland could, however, only contain 

 information applicable to districts similar in soil 

 and climate, Sir John was then induced to turn 

 himself to the great object of forming " a Code or 

 Digest of Agriculture," on principles of universal 

 application, and suited to all future times. In 

 this he has amply succeeded; and had Sir John 

 Sinclau' bequeathed uothinir to posterity save that 

 work, his name must have ever been classed 

 among the signal benefactors to the human race. 

 # ' # * » # 



We have already given, at some length, an ac- 

 count of the origin of that great national establish- 

 ment the Board of Aarriculture ; and we have 

 clearly seen, not only that the idea of such an in- 

 stitution originated with Sir John Sinclair, but 

 that he was maiidy, almost solely instrumental, in 

 maturing its plans, and carrying these into execu- 

 tion, when formed. The labor and fatigue thus 

 caused, would soon have worn out common zeal, 

 I more especially as it was attended, not with emol- 

 ument, but great annual pecuniary loss. It is also 

 admitted, on all hands, that an enthusiasm inlc'rior 

 to that which Sir Jolm Sinclair evinced, in the 

 cause of the national prosperity generally, and in 

 that of its atrriculture in particular, must have al- 

 lowed the establif-'hment, even after it had been 

 put in operation, to have speedily fallen to pieces, 

 so many ramifications of its interests had to be at- 

 tended to, and so many individuals consulted. It 

 will scarcely be credited, therefore, that, after Sir 

 John had presided over the Board of Agriculture 

 with so much honor to himself", and with so much 

 benefit to the nation, for a period of" five years, an 

 attempt should have been made, and that success- 

 (iilly, to deprive him of the president's chair. 

 We have no wish here to investigate into the 

 causes of this transaction, or the ways and means 

 by which it was effected. We fear that, through- 

 out the business, Mr. Pitt did not act with his ac- 

 customed openness and generosity of disposition, 

 although we can scarcely permit ourseh^es to sup- 

 pose, that any political differences of opitiion be- 

 tween himself and Sir John should ever have been 

 allowed to actuate his conduct. It is true that Sir 

 John differed with the celebrated minister in opin- 

 ion, with rerrard to the trial of Warren Hastino-g, 

 the Westminster scrutiny, and, we believe, also 

 the Irish propositions ; and it has also been sur- 

 mised by some, that Mr. Pitt was not only a little 

 jealous of his influence and popularity on some 

 important national topics, but considered him 

 too inde[)endent in his parliamentary votes. Be 

 this as it may, there can be little doubt, that, 

 through the exertions of Mr. Pitt, an opponent 

 was started aaainst Sir .lohn ; and that, through 

 his influence, the opposition was a successful one. 

 Most of the official members of the board were 

 prevailed upon to attend the election, althoucrh 

 thev had never taken any part in its proceedings 

 before. The Archbishop of York was an honor- 

 able exception, and, although applied to, he would 

 not vote against Sir John. To the great mortifi- 

 cation of the regular members. Lord Sommcrville, 

 who had lieen prevailed upon, although it appears 

 very reluctantly, to come l()rward, was elected — 

 but only by a majority of one. Sir John himself 



lish acre, which he recollects in his early days did not 

 paj' above £300 per annum, while the occupiers were 

 in a poor condition, and scarcely able topay their land- 

 lord, at the usual term." 



