182 - 
opportunity of laying before the fubfcribers the 
fieps taken towards fulfilling their intentions, 
and, at the fame time, of fubmitting to their 
confideration a general view of the duftienities 
which attend the execution of the plan, and of 
the advantages of which, if properly managed, 
it promifes to be produdtive, 
The fir objet of the committee was to 
afcertain, with as much precifion as poffible, 
what funds the inftitution would require; they 
were aware, that if the bufinefs was taken up 
on too narrow a fcale, the hopes of the fub- 
ferivers would be defeated, and, perhaps, an im- 
pediment be thrown in the way of fimilar under- 
takings ; and, on the other hand, it was necef- 
fary to make fome feleCtion among the almoft 
innumerable objets of experiment which agri- 
culture prefents, and to proportion the eftablith- 
ment to the probable extent of their refources. 
With thefe views the eftimate was formed, and 
the committee have not found reafon to alter it 
materially ; the original fund was, however, 
placed rather low, at rocol. and, as the fub- 
feription has fallen fhort even of that fum, it 
will be abfolutely neceffary to commence the 
annual fabfeription this feafon, and to pay it, in 
future, at ne beginning of each year. 
Until the fabs {criptions amounted to nearly 
the fum required, no farther meafures could be 
taken} with propriety ; and before this happened, 
the feafon was fo far advanced, that moft of the 
farms that were to be entered upon at May day 
had been difpofed of : one, however, which had 
been offered to the fociety, feemed, in many 
refpe€ts, well calculated for their purpofes ; but 
on this the committee were unwilling finally 
to determine, before they knew the epinion of 
a diftinguifhed agriculturift, of whofe powerful 
aid they expected to avail themfelves in the 
profecution of the undertaking. An unfavour- 
able ftate of weather unfortunately prevented 
that gentleman from viewing the premifes till 
near the clofe of December 5 “and, as he thought 
them not altogether fuited to the views of the 
fociety, without the addition of fome adjoining 
Jands, of which the committee could not com- 
mand the pofleffien, and foon afterwards declined 
accepting the management of the as | it be- 
came neceflary to abandon the idea of entering 
upon bufinefs this f-afon. On the meafures to be 
now purfued, the fubfcribers at large muft de- 
termine, but the committee are unwilling to 
neglect this opportunity of ftating their fenti- 
ments on the fubject. 
The farm may either be fo conducted as to 
exhibit a model of rural economy ; or, without 
attending to economical details, it may be deci- 
«ated to the inveftigation of the fever. al qualities 
wf thofe objects which engage a farmer's attertion. 
n attempt to combine thefe very diftinét de- 
partments, which may, at firft fight, appear 
advifeable, would, probably, prevent the 
accompliihment of either”. 
Pe Mees sy eae EN LE LUE Ta 
~% This diftin&tion is very clearly laid down, 
and the neceflity of keeping the two depart- 
weents feparate reaeibatin ot by Di. An TDERSON, 
The Durham Experimental Farm. 
[Sept. 
If the firf thould be adopted by the fociety as 
their obje€t, no Ses difficulty would attend the 
undertaking, neither would it be unproductive 
of advantage. It would excite a fpirit of agri- 
cultural improvement; would exhibit the ufes 
and defeéts of the different implements of huf- 
bandry ; would :end to introduce a greater 
variety in the culture of tillage-lands, and a more 
advantageous rotation of crops ; the mof effec- 
tual means of refioring land impoverifned by 
improper management, of of freeing it from 
forings or furface-water, by draining ; in fhort, 
the mof judicious treatment of land, under a 
variety of circumttances, and the molt econo= 
mical application of its produce, would be held: 
out to the Beg of the county, and the quan- 
tity of different articles of food, and the value 
of the land, be proportionably augmented. 
Thefe, no tous are confiderable advantages, 
but are greatly inferior to thofe’-which may be 
looked for from the other department of agri- 
cultura! refearches. They are, moreover, within 
the reach, in fome degree, of every gentleman 
who cultivates a portion of his own property, 
and of, indeed, every tenant who joins the ftudy 
to the practice of his art, and who pofieffes an 
adequate capital, and a leafe of fufficient dura- 
tion. 
If the fociety turn their attention to that de- 
partment to which, more findtly fpeaking, we 
ought to confine the appellation of experimental 
diericultucs, the undertaking becomes, at once, 
more arduous, and more important. Few facts 
have been afcertained with due precifion, and 
hence practical farmers are generally compelled 
to draw their conclufions from an inaccurate 
and delufive experience. To correct thefe erro- 
neous dedu€tions by accurate obfervation, and to 
furnifh to pra¢tical hutbandmen a body of wel? 
afcertained faéts, on which they may rely with. 
confidence in conduéting their bufinefs, is the 
province of the philofophical agriculturift, and 
the objeéts which it involves are aS important - 
as any which can engage the attention ef the 
public, 
It is dificult to enumerate all the advantages 
to be derived from fuch an enquiry, conducted 
with ability and candour; but whoever reflects 
how little is known of the natural hiftory of 
many ufeful plants; that their virtues and 
habits have never been properly iriveftigated 5 
that the defeéts and excellencies of different 
varieties of grains, with the foil, expofure, and 
cultures beit adapted to each, are yet unafcer- 
tained; and that we are equally ignorant of the 
fame circumftances with regard to the ufeful 
erafies; that the chemical properties of foils, 
Sakae an acquaintance with which our power 
of correcting their defeéts muft be imperfect, 
have not been fully examined; that our know-= 
ledge of manures, of their refpeCtive nature, and 
mode of ation, oF their prefervation, mixturey 

in his report to the committee: the whole, 
indeed, of that matterly, though rapid fketeh, is 
worthy of the high chara@ter of the author, 
and defesving of the attention of the fociety. A 
ane 
