106 CHRONICLES OF A CLAY FARM. 



which marks the parent-discipline of Nature, over 

 her inter-squabbling and mutually-intolerant children, 

 they wonder she interferes so seldom, and with such 

 mild half-measures, to rescue her beleaguered sons if 

 not from the foes in front, at least from the fools 

 behind that go bleating about, exaggerating every 

 fact, like street-news-mongers; dressed in the li- 

 very of science like a monkey in regimentals, and 

 understanding and appreciating the language they 

 talk at second-hand, as much as the organ-grinder 

 does the opera-tune that his winch works thread- 

 bare. 



A good solid impenetrable advocate of old-fashioned 

 ignorance, falling foul of one of these light gentry, 

 snaps him up at a mouthful; and no harm done 

 neither : but the mischief lies in the corollary ' So 

 much for your Science!' 



Agriculture has had enough of this, and something 

 to spare. Counterfeits of every sort and shape have 

 crowded at the heels of every improvement, every in- 

 vention, every good suggestion, every new manure; 

 till Art and Science are well-nigh ashamed of the 

 sound of their own names, and are fain to wear 

 smock-frocks for incognito. The plague that has 

 reached its height in the present decade, was beginning 



