102 BERMUDA. 



enlarged minds have been long convinced of the 

 great advantages to be derived from societies of 

 scientific men, and have occasionally recommended 

 them ; yet scarcely a society was found in England 

 before the year 1640. Since the commencement of 

 the last century, however, these advantages have 

 been more and more developed, so that there is 

 scarcely an object relating either to rehgion, to 

 science, or to the promotion of arts and manufactures, 

 which is not carried forward by a society formed for 

 that express purpose. 



Among other objects, agriculture has, for some 

 years, been greatly promoted by societies, formed 

 with that view in England and other countries. The 

 benefits which have already arisen from them are 

 almost incalculable, and the prospects opened by 

 their present labours are of the most encouraging 

 nature. 



The capabilities of the soil to enrich a nation to an 

 almost indefinite extent have been clearly demon- 

 strated by their reports. 



An agricultural society, among other things, 

 would pay close attention to the improvement of 

 land, by encouraging a superior mode of cultiva- 

 tion, by ascertaining the best kind of manure, and 

 the best method of applying it — by encouraging neat 



