578 
PROFESSOR JOHNSTON’S LECTURE. 
undoubtedly given birth to more precise modes of reasoning. The 
agricultural class had likewise been roused to possess a large 
number of books. It had also induced many intelligent farmers 
to become members of this great society, whose formidable motto 
was “ science with practice,” and thus take the lead in their own 
districts in the advance of an art which they were not formerly 
aware, how much they could promote. The Professor then urged 
the necessity of a further effort being made in this department of 
agriculture. In commencing a new method of research they must 
first learn how to proceed with accuracy before they make a certain 
progress. As this could only be attained by making actual trials, 
they must be content to fail in their experiments. Lives might, be 
well spent in this work; and the more they advanced, the more 
important would their investigations become. The accuracy of 
experiments would depend upon the genuineness of the manures 
used, but to the practical man this was actually a money concern. 
And this remark led him, in the second place, to advert to the 
manufacture of artificial manures as one of those circumstances 
which strikingly marked the advancement which scientific agri- 
culture had made among us of late years, and the position which 
it now occupied. The possibility of concentrating great fertilizing 
effects in small bulk had been demonstrated in a very remarkable 
degree by the article of guano. In watching the progress of this 
branch of science, and marking the obstacles which had from time 
to time stood in its way, it had appeared to him as if the finger of 
Providence might be recognised in the introduction of this foreign 
substance. More grain was wanted to feed the people, and more 
manure to raise it. A more portable and manageable form of 
manure was desired, that it might be applied more easily and 
frequently than hitherto. How many years of almost unavailing 
labour might teachers of science have spent before they could have 
satisfied the agriculturists that large bulks of manure were, in 
many cases, unnecessary, and that the success of their crops might 
be traced to the fertilizing qualities of any mixtures which were 
recommended to them ! But guano came, and the old principle, that 
“ seeing is believing,” forced new ideas into the oldest heads, and 
a new belief into the mind of the farmer. “ I will try some my- 
self next year,” was the often expressed resolution of men con- 
vinced against their will. Chemical analysis then took the matter 
up, declared that guano could be imitated at a reasonable rate, and 
published a recipe for compounding mixtures to be tried against it. 
Immediately half-instructed men, supposing the conclusion to be 
already arrived at, engaged in the manufacture of artificial ma- 
nures, as a sure and easy way of making money. * * * 
That their position, in regard to agricultural theory, was mate- 
