THE DEVON AGRICULTURAL SOCIETY. 
409 
however, might soon be put to the best test, as lie believed that 
the next meeting of the English Agricultural Society would be 
held so near to this neighbourhood as to give both counties an 
opportunity of deciding the point. Whichever might be success- 
ful, he would give three cheers for the victorious county. He 
would be always ready to do his utmost to promote agriculture, 
and to co-operate with those engaged in it. He fully valued 
their exertions, even those of the farm labourer who had that day 
been cheered by them, and who deserved those cheers. 
The thanks of the meeting were afterwards voted to Mr. 
Rogers for the kindness with which he had granted the Society 
the use of his forge for the operations of the shoeing-smiths. Mr. 
Rogers, sen. being absent, Mr. J. H. Rogers briefly, but with 
much feeling, and shewing how deeply he was interested in the 
proceedings of the day, returned thanks. 
Shortly after this the meeting dispersed. 
[How is it that the veterinary surgeon is so seldom observed 
actively employed in scenes like this ? Who ought to be so good 
a judge of the relative merits of the candidates? In his judg- 
ment of the horse he should have no compeer ; and the time 
we trust is not far distant, when the value of his opinion with 
regard to cattle and to sheep will be eagerly sought. The simple 
fact too often is, that his education has not prepared him for this 
honourable course. He is not a fanner’s man. He is not endea- 
vouring to make himself so. He is jealous of the farmer. He 
is afraid that some little secret of practice will be divulged. 
Oh ! foolish and false calculation, but that which is far too 
often made. Just in proportion as he identifies himself with 
the pursuits of the farmer, will he be respected and employed ; 
and just as, churl-like, he wraps himself up in his own foolish 
ignorance, will he be avoided and despised. If he does not 
make himself acquainted with the common rules and practices 
of agriculture — if he is a mere child when he is questioned re- 
specting the weight and the value of live or dead stock — if, as 
he walks with the farmer over his grounds, he shews himself 
perfectly ignorant of many a common agricultural procedure, 
why he may for awhile wrap himself up in his ridiculously 
assumed importance, but he will soon be treated with the 
neglect and contempt that he deserves. The hour of mystery 
is now passed away ; and he is foolish, indeed, who betrays his 
consciousness of his incapacity, by anxiously avoiding every 
situation and every pursuit that would endanger the continu- 
ance of his false and ridiculous presumption. — Y.] 
