22G 
The Present State of Agriculture 
In Scotland the Highland Society has perhaps for a longer 
jieriod devoted sums of money to chemical agriculture, but it has 
not hitherto seen fit to enlarge its support in proportion to the 
increased importance of the subject. Long the only leading body 
in the island in promoting agricultural improvement, this Society 
has perhaps — for I would speak with becoming hesitation and 
respect of a Society which has done so much good — scarcely as 
yet become reconciled to take a second place in the wake of this 
greater though younger Society, to be influenced by its move- 
ments or to be guided by its example. Steady rivalry, however, 
tells on all ; and while you have been not unstimulated by its pro- 
ceedings, I may say that the Highland Society is now taking a 
fresh start, and that we of the English Society must work hard 
and train well, or we may come in second at the next agricultural 
Derby. 
But the analytical, and what I may call the protectionist depart- 
ment of scientific agriculture, has been zealously supported by 
another Scottish society, the Agricultural Chemistry Association. 
Having been myself the chemical officer of that association from 
its commencement, I will merely state, that during the four years 
and a half that have since elapsed, upwards of two thousand ana- 
lyses have been made in its laboratory, and nearly four thousand 
reports and letters of advice have been written to its members. 
In carrying out its several objects, it has during the same pe- 
riod expended nearly five thousand pounds. You may fairly 
suppose, therefore, that it has been instrumental in a very consi- 
derable degree both in filling up those gaps in our analytical 
knowledge to which I am at present more especially referring, 
and in diffusing existing scientific information among the rural 
population of Scotland. 
Some of you are probably aware that the establishment of the 
Agricultural Chemistry Association of Scotland was only an expe- 
riment, which its members agreed to carry on for five years, tliat 
is till the November of the present year. The undisputed good 
of various kinds which the society has done, has given rise to a 
wish on the part of some that its objects, and in fact that the 
whole society should in future be incorporated with the Highland 
and Agricultural Society. I am unwilling to form a hasty judg- 
ment in regard to this union ; but I confess, that looking solely 
to the interests of scientific agriculture, I think they are likely to 
suffer by the proposed amalgamation. Experience, I think, will 
prove that the ehtire field of agricultural knowledge cannot be 
matter of the plant. At temperatures far below that at which carbonate 
of potash volatilizes, great loss may occur from the escape of common salt. 
Ail this the Messrs. Rogers might have learned from my friend and late 
pupil, Professor Norton, of Yale College, whose analysis of oats cannot be 
unknown to them. 
