446 
THE PROGRESS OF AGRICULTURE. 
lectual advancement and digression, we find the cultivation of the 
soil never lost sight of. Whilst progression was rife in distant 
lands, the rude British plough, and the blind process of the hus- 
bandman of those days — who, like the mole, groped his way con- 
tentedly, without an}' conception of the capabilities of the soil — 
were all that England could boast, and are still in historical recol- 
lection. These proceeded as the acme of perfection, till the inva- 
sion of the Norman, in 1096, when French and Flemish hus- 
bandry were introduced, the Norman clergy being all superior 
agriculturists, and preferring the Norman plough with two wheels 
to the old British plough with its single stilt, already alluded to. 
Proceeding through the next 500 years, we find little more im- 
provement till 1534, when one of the Judges of the Common Pleas 
directed his mind to the subject, and published several works “ On 
the Philosophy and Practice of Agriculture.” It, however, was a 
philosophy little understood in those days ; and, therefore, agri- 
culture still kept slowly on till the beginning of the last century, 
when Plattes, Evelyn, Tull, Maxwell, Young, Sir John Sinclair, 
Kirwan, Sir Humphry Davy, and other talented writers, directed 
their minds to the science, and benefited mankind by the commu- 
nication of their intelligence, grounded upon experience. In 1 793, 
Sir John Sinclair immortalized himself by founding the Board of 
Agriculture, over which he presided for many years. The next 
great movement was in 1837, when Earl Spencer, at the annual 
dinner of the Smithfield Cattle Club, proposed the establishment 
of a society for the development of the agricultural resources of 
the country. The proposition was highly approved, and, in May 
1838, a notice, signed by Earl Spencer, the Duke of Wellington, 
the Duke of Richmond, Lord Portman, Earl Fitzwilliam, the 
Earl of Ripon, & c., was issued, announcing a meeting of all those 
who were friendly to the formation of “ A National Agricultural 
Society.” The meeting was held ; 250 noblemen and gentlemen 
enrolled their names as “ The Agricultural Society of England ;” 
and thus commenced the truly important body, which, with its 
augmented numbers, has just honoured this city with its presence. 
By a record of its proceedings, we find that its first meeting 
was held at Oxford in 1839, when there were 2000 persons at 
the dinner, a majority of whom were members. The following 
year they again mustered at Oxford, when, the Society having in- 
creased to 4000, they were honoured with a Royal Charter of 
Incorporation. In 1841 the meeting was held at Liverpool, and 
the members then numbered 5382. Bristol was the next place of 
assembly, and their numbers at that time were 65Q0. In 1843 
they went to Derby, where they added 500 members, making the 
number 7000. In 1844, they were at Southampton — 1845, at 
