REVIEW OF PROFESSOR JOHNSTON’S TRAVELS. 
221 
REVIEW OF PROFESSOR JOHNSTON’S TRAVELS. 
Notes on North America—Agricultural,. Econom¬ 
ical and Social, by James F. W. Johnston, M. A., F. R. 
S. S. L. and E, F. GL S., C. S, &c., &c., Ac.*, 2 vols. Will¬ 
iam Blackwood & Sons, Edinburgh and London, 1851.— 
For Professor Johnston as an agricultural writer, we 
have always entertained a high respect, since our first 
perusal of his lectures on the subject of agriculture, 
published, we believe, in 1842. He has neither the 
genius or originality of Davy, nor Boussingault; but 
he possesses the next highest qualifications for use¬ 
fulness after genius, in his habits of close observation, 
indefatigable industry and considerable research, to all of 
which, is happily superadded a cautious, discriminating 
judgment, in assigning due weight to the suggestions 
and theories of others. 
Agricultural science is yet in its infancy. Its history 
hardly goes back for half a century. It was in the 
latter part of the eighteenth, where chemistry was 
in the seventeenth, and astronomy in the sixteenth 
centuries. Astrology represented the latter, and alche¬ 
my the former science, with nearly the same accuracy 
that the senseless aphorisms and old wive’s fables did 
the true principles of agriculture, in the respective pe¬ 
riods mentioned. A few gifted, and many intelligent 
minds, perceiving the intimate relations which chemis¬ 
try and mineralogy bore to the great underlying ele¬ 
ments of agriculture, immediately seized upon the splen¬ 
did modern discoveries in those two far-pervading 
branches of utilitarian knowledge, and at once made 
them subservient to the development of agricultural 
principles. 
The period that has since elapsed, has been too 
brief, and the aid rendered, altogether too feeble, 
to develope any comprehensive, well-defined, and 
properly-authenticated system of original principles, 
which are entitled to be ranked as a science. Much, 
it is true, might have been accomplished within this 
period, had the proper means and appliances been 
directed to this object; but agriculture, alas, had re¬ 
ceived a bad name. Branded, like its first great follow¬ 
er, Cain, not exactly with the stigma of crime, but 
what for its well-being, was perhaps worse, as insepar¬ 
ably associated with ignorance and stupidity, it- met 
with no favor from astute professors nor learned pun¬ 
dits. Jeered by the witty, and scoffed at by the seem¬ 
ing wise, it has been neglected by patriots and states¬ 
men ; and amid the munificent academical, collegiate 
and other beneficiary endowments of legislators, this 
great and paramount interest has been deemed alto¬ 
gether unworthy of encouragement and support. And 
much as they were interested in its reputation and ad¬ 
vancement, it has not even had the cordial nor generous 
aid of its own followers. 
As a necessary consequence of all this neglect, agri¬ 
culture has had to creep along slowly, and almost by 
stealth. Time and chance have almost alone befriended 
it. There was, therefore, no little credit due for the 
entire devotion of mental qualities like those possessed 
by Mr. Johnston, to this hitherto neglected, but greatly 
important and advancing interest. Though little calcu¬ 
lated to elicit or strike out new ideas, to originate new 
sources of thought or new tracks of discovery, he has 
studiously followed up such as had been indicated by 
others, and by safe and cautious steps, has materially 
advanced us on our journey. We have carefully read 
what he had hitherto written, and have always admired 
the deliberate prudence with which every step has been 
taken. Indeed, we deem him one of the safest guides 
on the subject of agricultural principles, the present age 
affords. 
We had hoped to find in him more than all this—a 
man of comprehensive research and liberality of senti¬ 
ment. We had looked forward to the record of his 
tour in this country, with much pleasure from his pre¬ 
viously shrewd and experienced observation. We have 
much to gratify us in these particulars, in the two vol¬ 
umes before us; yet, we must reluctantly copfess, we 
find much, also, that has disappointed our anticipations, 
and diminished our respect for the ability of- the author, 
in his character of tourist. The time spent in the 
United States was too short to do justice to his subject, 
and he has not that eagle glance, or rapid insight, that 
would enable him to do without it. Most of what he 
has recorded of material benefit to science is, the glean¬ 
ings from our own accumulations, or they are not of 
material consequence. What is important is not new, 
and what is new is not important. We get more real 
information on agricultural subjects from a few pages 
of his previously published works than from both the 
present volumes. True, we did not anticipate a great 
deal of information ; but there is the manner of the 
teacher about our author, and therefore we expect 
something worthy of being taught. There is a tone of 
superiority throughout, that leads us to expect impor¬ 
tant suggestions, and we are disappointed in not find¬ 
ing them. Lyell enjoyed a liigher reputation as a man 
of science, and Lord Morpeth, (now Earl of Carlisle,) as 
a statesman and sagacious observer ; yet, neither in¬ 
dulged in the occasional sneers, nor the general tone of 
depreciation adopted by Mr. Johnston. There is noth¬ 
ing but what he feels qualified to decide on, and his 
decisions are pronounced with the air of a master. But 
lest we may be thought to speak unadvisedly, we 
quote a few items. 
In the second sentence, of the preface, we have that 
gross vulgarism “ Britisher,” under quotation, as if of 
every-day American use. We have often seen this 
phrase attributed to America by English writers. Yet, 
in travelling through our country within the last 30 
years, for thousands of miles, in all directions, and to 
its remote borders, mixing in general conversation with 
all classes, we have not once heard the word used; and 
though reading much and from all sources of American 
writers, we have noticed it but once, and that in a 
scurrilous newspaper, and since the publication of the 
present volumes. If not of British coinage, it certainly 
has afforded an excellent currency for an extensive class 
of British writers—Marryatt, Fidler. Trollope <fc Co. 
