THE, SUBJECT CONTINUED. 207 



change of commercial policy seemed especially to 

 evoke the mechanical resources of the kingdom, by 

 way of set-off to its often-urged disadvantages in 

 climate and in fiscal burdens, should have been 

 long regarded rather with the apathy evinced towards 

 the cobweb speculations of dreaming enthusiasm, than 

 dealt with as a practical question by practical minds. 

 WMlc zealous agriculturists were eloquently excited 

 once a year over the weight of an ox, or the twist of 

 an improved mould-board, ' Science ' was satisfied, 

 and ' Practice ' seemed to tread on the heels of per- 

 fection. Under such patronage, ' Improvements ' in 

 the established implements of tillage, were of course 

 as numerous as the moiety of tAventy acres of ground 

 could conveniently accommodate for annual Exhibi- 

 tion. A revolution impending over Tillage itself was 

 of course the last thing dreamt of. It is ever so. 

 True, a few black funnels might be seen smoking in 

 the show yard, and the whirring drum of the steam- 

 driven Threshing-machine had, thanks to the previous 

 invention of a certain Scotch lawyer, made the agrcs- 

 tial mind forget to expect, or its prizes to stimulate, 

 improvements in the Flail. But the principal and 

 time-honoured act of agriculture proper, of cultivation 

 itself still laboured under its ancient tribe of horse- 



