1922.] Wisdom and Folly of Ancient Book-Farmers. 



•2o:4 



WISDOM AND FOLLY OF ANCIENT 

 BOOK-FARMERS. 



The Rt. Hon. Lord Ebnle, P.C., M.V.O. 



The story of Joseph and his brethren lias often been 

 re-enacted in the protracted struggle between science and 

 practice in agriculture. The elder sons of Jacob were plain 

 practical men, experienced in the traditional routine of stock- 

 rearing and corn-growing, wearing the weather-stained 

 garments of their industry. It is possible that their younger 

 brother, with his dainty clothes and indoor airs, had spoken 

 disrespectfully of their lives and methods. ITe was a theorist. 

 The day came when they saw their chance. " Behold this 

 dreamer cometh! " So they stripped him of his variegated 

 raiment and thrust him into a pit: but Joseph lived to save 

 them from starvation and become their leader. 



Yet it must be admitted that farmers have had good reason 

 to distrust the pseudo-scientific advice of book-farmers. Before 

 the end of the 18th century it was often indistinguishable from 

 quackery, often false in its conclusions, often so mixed with 

 folly as to be ridiculous, often based on hasty generalisations, 

 often so extravagant in its promises as to arouse suspicion. 

 The practical man opposed to the theories of would-be teachers 

 his traditional routine of farm management. Its growth had 

 been slow. It had been built up by protracted processes. Here 

 and there some isolated agriculturist had, either by accident 

 or experiment, chanced upon some new process or substance 

 which increased the yield of his crops. Often the discovery 

 would be ignored or forgotten, perhaps to be revived a century 

 later. Sometimes it would be tried and confirmed by neigh- 

 bours, spread over an ever-extending circle, and gradually 

 incorporated in the general stock-in-trade of farmers. Test cm 1 

 experience of this kind is not easily disturbed. Why the given 

 results follow may be unknown; it is enough that they are 

 produced. Another process will not be adopted merely because 

 it is new. Proof of better results is needed, and printed pages, 

 especially when reading was a rare accomplishment, carry 

 less weight than ocular demonstration. Seeing is believing. 

 Sound sense often lies behind the conservatism of farmers. 

 Mistakes in agriculture are costly, and sure returns are 

 necessary where subsistence is at stake. The path of the 



