Rural Economy. 425 



fattening poultry, and in expressing her distrust of some which were rec- 

 ommended, said that lier venerable grandmother always fed and fattened 

 her poultry in a very different way. But upon being asked whether her 

 grandmother's fowls were the best layers, brought up the most chickens, 

 and produced the best poultry for the table of any to be found, she was 

 compelled to answer tiiat on tliis point she had no information. A learned 

 naturalist, who, in many respects, was justly celebrated for his acquire- 

 ments, was once asked why black-wooled sheep consumed more food than 

 white, and proceeded gravely to give half a dozen philosophical reasons 

 for it, witliout having once inquired whether the fact were so. 



It is strongly hoped, that, under an enlightened system of agricultural 

 education, for which the auspices now are most encouraging, and by the 

 establishment of experimental firms, many important suggestions in rela- 

 tion to agricultural practice, as yet only conjectured, may be determined, 

 and much actual progress made in agricultural science, by the only infal- 

 lible teacher — exact and enlightened experiment." 



The chapter on the condition of laborers is one of the 

 most interesting in this report, and is deserving of a thor- 

 ough and careful perusal by every individual who appre- 

 ciates the welfare of his fellow beings. 



We pass over the other subjects, and conclude our notice 

 of this number with the account of the Dublin Botanical 

 Garden, one of the best conducted in Great Britain, under 

 the care of Mr. Niven : — 



" In the neighborhood of Dublin is a Botanical Garden, comprehending 

 twenty-seven acres, enclosed by a high stone wall, with a beautiful rivu- 

 let running through it, with ample and elegant conservatories and green- 

 houses, and in the highest state of cultivation and embellishment. It is 

 supported partly by private subscription, and partly by donations from the 

 government. It is a beautiful retreat, and open to all persons two days in 

 a week, with intelligent and courteous superintendents to show and ex- 

 plain every thing. To my inquiry of the superintendent whether he suf- 

 fered any injury from the visitors plucking the flowers or breaking the 

 plants, he replied, very little, if any ; none whatever from the highest 

 classes in society, and none whatever from the lowest classes, who visited 

 it in great numbers ; and who, coming out of their damp cellars, and tlieir 

 confined streets, and their dark and offensive holes, and fastnesses, and 

 common sewers, no doubt found in it, with their children, almost a tran- 

 sition from earth to heaven ; and here breathed the perfumes of the divine 

 beneficence, and contemplated, with a felicity which even princes might 

 envy, the exuberant tokens of God's goodness in the flowers and fruits of 

 the earth, radiant with a celestial beauty. There were other persons, 

 whom he chose to denominate the vida;ar rich, who were not so abste- 

 mious, and who required to be watched. It is to be hoped, as education 

 advances, a higher tone of moral sentiment will prevail, and that every 

 thing of taste or art, designed for general gratification, will be secure 

 against injury or defacement, so that the odious notices and cautions, 

 which are now so constantly seen in such places against depredation, may 

 themselves be deemed a public insult, and the very idea of violating an 

 VOL. X. — NO. XI. 54 



