1797+] 
and application, is yet very defective; that the 
principles on which we ought to proceed in im- 
proving the breeds of ufeful animals, are not 
fully underftood; whoever, in fhort, confiders 
how often in every branch of this moft import. 
ant of all arts we mect with unfounded preju- 
dices, or, at bef, with plaufible conjeCture, 
may form fome idea of the exteulive advantages 
which mankind would derive from a well-con- 
ducted feries of experimeats in agriculture: but 
the difficulties which attend the attempr are 
alfo great, and itis of much importance that 
they fhould be maturely weighed before we 
engage in it. 
To forma plan of experiment, in which the 
moft important points of enquiry fhall be {cleét- 
ed, and fo arranged in the feries, that each may 
reflect light on the other, and the whole be 
condpcted with as much fimplicity of manage- 
ment as poffible. is alone an arduous tefk 3 and 
although an agricultural experimentali% has not 
fome of the obftacles to enccunter which are 
met with in more abftrufe fciences, there are 
difficulties almoft p-culiar to his refearches, 
which can only be overcome by the utmoft cau- 
tion in planning, and the moit unremitted at- 
tention in.conduCting experiments. ‘The che- 
mift, for example, may experience no {mall de- 
gree of difficulty in feizing and confining the 
fubftances on which he operates; but this is 
often compenfated by the power of keeping 
them fo fully under‘his control, and of exclud- 
‘ing fo completely the aétion of extraneous caufes, 
that he can form his conclufion with the utmoft 
confidence. he agricultural enquirer has 
‘neither the fame. difficulties, nor the fame ad- 
vantages ; the objects of his attention are-eafily 
managed, but they are expofed to the influence 
of fo many agents, they are fo readily and fo 
powerfully aéted upon, by changes of the at- 
mofphere, and by whatever affects the compo- 
fition and cohefion of the foil; that it is only by 
efrequently fepeating his experiments, under a 
variety of circumftances, that he can hope to 
arrive at truth. Addto this, that in other de- 
partments of-icience, the duration of experiments 
is feldom confiderable ; but in agriculture they 
always occupy great part of a year, and often 
continue for a much longer period. From thefe 
circumftances, it is necefiary that the manager 
of this department fhould not only be con- 
- verfant with praé€tical hufbandry, but alfo pof- 
fefled of an adequate knowledge of chemiftry, 
and fome other auxiliary branches of fcience, 
and be habituated to philofophical inveftigation ; 
and to this it muft be added, that as accurate 
conclufions cannat be formed if every article is 
not brought to account, his integrity moft be 
_above fufpicion, and his attention unwearied. 
But if the fubfcribers prefer the plan of a 
pattern farm, on which an improved fyitem of 
-fural economy may be purfued ; philofophical _ } Lin Ww oe d 
_ prevent their participating in the punifh- 
knowledge need not be required of the manager ; 
the other qualifications above enumerated, will, 
however, be neceflary for this purpole alfo. 
Such, after the fulleft confideration, are the 
fentiments of the committee on the in{titution ; 
they will now only add that, as its fuceefs muft 
Lhe Durbam Experimental Farm, 
183 
greatly depend on the poffeffion of a well- 
adapted farm, .an early attention ought to he 
paid, by the fub{cribers, to that important 
object. 
Durham, Auguft §,1797- 

To the Editor of the Monthly Magazine. 
STRy 
HAVING been a collector and lover 
of coins from my early youth, 
have been much pleafed and inftruéted 
by the difquifitions which have appeared 
in your interefting pages, by Civis, 
V.F. of Newcaftle, and D.— D. pro- 
mifes (June, p.-441) a continuance of 
his’ communications; but writes very 
modefily, and with great deference to 
you. J hope, however, that, for the 
gratification of the tafte which appears 
to predominate in feveral of your readers 
and correfpondents, you. will be pleafed 
to encourage a repetition of his favours. 
No perfon can difpute the general in- 
firuction which muit be derived from his 
hint of rendering the defcriptions of 
fuch pieces, as may be tran{mitted to you 
for reprefentation, vehicles for difcuiling: 
the mature, properties, allufions, or 
prefent ftate of the objects which they 
exhibit. J adept this hint, and inclofe, 
herewith, a good impreflion of a new 
provincial haifpenny, fubmiffively re- 
ferring to your judgment, as my prede- 
ceffor D. does, whether it be worthy of 
occupying a fpare corner of a plate in 
your refpectable literary Journal. 
Previous to defcribing it, I muft pre- 
mife, in general, with regard to fuch 
** unauthorifed money,’ as V.F. very 
properly terms thefe pieces, in his well- 
written paper (May, p. 352) that I en- 
tively concur with him in hoping, that 
they may {oon only be feen in the cabinets 
of medallifts; for as to their appearing 
asa medium for circulation, little public 
benefit is to be expected from them in 
that light. Our magiftrates, indeed, 
have lately very properly fuppreffed the 
circulation of all fuch private mintage in 
this city. It may be regretted, that 
fuch good and weighty coins as our firft 
Edinburgh halfpenny, bearing St. An- 
drew on his crofs, thofe of which I now 
fend you a f{pecimen, and fome other 
good ones, fhould fhare in the profcrip- 
tion; yet they have of late kcept fuch 
bad company, that it was impoffible to 

* A reprefentation of the medal! thall appear, 
_ if neceflary, on a plate of Gmilar medals, in a 
future Number, 
bo Wey mene 

aan sh A ta a 
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3 
