PROFESSOR JOHNSTON’S LECTURE. 
577 
the encouragement of others still to be made. Such associations 
were accordingly established in Scotland, Ireland, and England, 
and in the order in which he had named those countries. This 
was followed by the formation of similar institutions in the United 
States of America and in the various countries of Europe. To the 
numerous researches originated by these associations were to be 
added those simultaneously carried on by privat^ individuals in 
various branches, in addition to others consequent upon the in- 
vestigations of scientific men, with respect to facts hitherto un- 
intelligible and unexplained. As the result of these various move- 
ments, a multitude of facts had been brought to light in the relation 
of agriculture to other branches of science, its connexion with 
geolog}q physiology (animal and vegetable), &c. To enumerate 
all the points which had come under discussion, and which, after 
the most ample investigation, had been determined, would occupy 
far more time than the most zealous listener would be found to 
give a willing and patient attention to. One of the greatest points 
to be attended to was the value of chemical science. Its practical 
advantages were no longer matter of dispute, and its importance 
was now everywhere, in every civilized country, readily conceded. 
A large body of men who, five years ago, openly opposed the 
efforts making to advance a more scientific practice of agriculture, 
were now amongst the most forward to obtain a share in the honour 
of that advance to identify themselves with the diffusion of its be- 
nefits. In the first place, the experiments which were made, he 
need hardly tell them, brought into use various manuring sub- 
stances hitherto scarcely thought of. The experiments were 
adopted by some for the advancement of their own profit, and by 
others simply by those of scientific discovery. Amongst the latter 
was the Highland Agricultural Society of Scotland, in whose 
Transactions were recorded by far the most important investiga- 
tions hitherto undertaken, and the results of which have already 
proved invaluable to all agriculturists. Other societies have 
sprung up in England, Germany, and other countries, many of 
whose labours have proved scarcely less valuable. As before 
stated, to detail all they have effected, all the great principles in 
agriculture which they have brought to light, would be impossible 
in the space of a lecture. The Professor then stated some of the 
more general deductions which may be made from the results of 
those researches. * * * 
It might be asked — Had the past experimental researches done 
no good ! He certainly would declare they had done good, and 
that all the efforts thus made had not been thrown away. If no 
other good had been done, the minds of the experimenters had 
been called into action, and the results of the experiments had 
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