Visiiors to Clifton-on-Botvmont. 113 



such farms experimental plots might be formed, and 

 used for educational purposes. It is the recognition of 

 the absolute necessity for this practical teaching for 

 classes connected with land that has induced the United 

 States to start its extensive system of experimental 

 farms, and until we do so we can never expect to make 

 rapid progress with the agricultural changes called for 

 by the times. It must be considered, too, that as time 

 advances calls may arise for further and further modifi- 

 cations as communications develop throughout the 

 world, and its produce is therefore brought more and 

 more cheaply to our doors. 



That such farms would be appreciated by farmers 

 I have had the fullest practical evidence from the 

 number of agriculturists who have visited Clifton-on- 

 Bowmont, many of whom have visited the farm again 

 and again ; and the immense correspondence we 

 have had, and which, of course, has arisen out of 

 the work on the farm. We have had a fair propor- 

 tion of Professors of Agriculture as visitors, but few 

 landlords and land agents :* I suppose because the two 

 last classes are not sufficiently aware of the influence 

 they might bring to bear in pushing forward the agri- 

 cultural changes called for by the times, or perhaps that 

 any changes at all are requisite. But the present 

 " what we know we know, and what we don't know 

 we don't want to know" attitude of these classes would 

 be gradually changed were experimental farms placed 

 within easy reach of a railway. One for the East and 

 another for the West of Scotland would suffice to begin 

 with, and the number required for England and Wales 

 would not be large. I say nothing of Ireland, as that 

 part of the Empire is safely in the hands of Sir Horace 



* The visiting list shows an improvement as regards landlords this 

 year. It is as follows : — Farmers, 60 ; landlords, 21 ; land agents, 6 ; 

 agricultural professors, 8 ; seedsmen, 8 ; schoolmasters, 5 ; ministers 

 of the gospel, 2 ; agricultural chemist, 1 ; farm manager, 1 ; baker, 1 ; 

 butcher, 1 ; shepherd, 1 ; ploughmen, 7 (the last are members of an 

 agricultural educational class in the neighbourhood). 



H 



