OYSTER CEXTUBE. 23 



OTSTEE OULTUEE. 



WITH much pleasure, both in the United States and 

 in England since my return, I have read a number 

 of most interesting communications from Mr. Frank 

 Buckland, H. B. M. Commissioner of Fisheries, 

 and others in reference to oyster culture. It has 

 long struck me that not nearly enough attention was 

 paid by my fellow-countrymen to this unbounded 

 field of operations and wealth, and if they still con- 

 tinue to neglect their opportunities after the ability 

 and energy with which the columns of " Land and 

 Water " have pointed out the means of prosecuting 

 the good work, let the onus lay on their own shoulders, 

 for truly they deserve it. It is a well-known adage, 

 " that one man can take a horse to water, but an un- 

 limited number can not make him drink;" the horse 

 might not be thirsty, and there are excuses for his 

 refusal. But dear Old England, with her immense 

 population, is always hungry, and has always mouths 

 to feed, and I feel certain that with the amount of 



