The true northerner. [volume] (Paw Paw, Mich.) 1855-1920, 1885-08-13

OH john oA0ctolIs Va OCOexoA0 -Sxx~
friend OF Washington should b
known and respected by every
cultivator of the soil on both
sides Of the Atlantic Ocean. He saw
the agriculture of his country, the
great source OF human substance and
human effort, in a wretched condition.
He saw that from the little intercourse
the farmers had with other countries
and other districts from which they
could draw instruction, little improve
ment was to be expected, except
through the united exertions OF inhu-
entail individuals, aided by the liberal
patronage of the government
Impressed with these convictions. he
printed and circulated, in 1893, his plan
for establishing board of agriculture;
and in few days afterwards ne moved.
In his place at Parliament, an address
to the Grown in favor of the proposed
esta blishment, which was carried, lOl
to twenty-six, the board organized and
he made president. In speech which
he made while the subject was under
discussion in Parliament. he pointed out
the obvious advantages which would re-
suit from the establishment. IN the first
placed, according TO his hiographer ne
regarded 1t as \ general magazine of
agricultural knowledge and )ciety OF
reference, to which any question might
be sent connected with the improve
place he showed that, by agricultural
surveys carried on under the auspices
of such board. every fact or observa-
tion known in that country, connected
with the improvement of the soil or the
stock it main tanned. would be collected.
In the third place, that by establishing
an extensive foreign correspondence,
the discoveries and improvements APP
pertaining to other lands would be
much sooner and more widely rendered
available than If dependent wholly on
private exertions. In the fourth place,
that it was only through the means of
such board that any general improve
ment of stock could be looked for; and
that, in the last place, it might be the
instrument of obtaining statistical &C
count of England. Five thousand
pounds, sos, 900, was the annual grant,
and, the privilge of ranking was given
to the board.
The two great primary objects of the
board we're to ascertain the general
agricultural state Of the country, and
the means OF improving that State.
As the most effectual way of accom-
plshing these, objects, agricultural sur
veys were made, and "in the course OF
little more than year." as stated by
distinguished writer on husbandry,
"the board of agriculture had printed
body of authentic facts respecting the
agricultural and internal economy of
the country greater than was ever OBJ
tanned by any other nation since the
beginning of time"
But these works, amounting to about
eighty volumes, we're too voluminous
for general use, and the next object of
the worthy president was to condeDse,
and bring within the compass of vol
ume, al the most material facts thus
collected, IN order to render them
available TO the practical farmer and
more conductive to general improve
ment BE laid It down as maxim In
literature, that knowledge, previous
to its being brought into con-
densed state, may be compared to
small portion of gold dispersed through
great quantity of oar. In that rude
condition the strongest man cannot
sustain its weight, nor convey it to
distance, but when the pure metal is
separated from the dross, child may
carry it without difficulty"
He published Code of Agricul-
ture," which raised the cultivation of
the soil to the dignity of science, and
embodies vast amount OF useful in
formation. He was also instrumental
in promulgating the knowledge of
Elkinson's system Of draining, and it's
being extensively adopted; in inducing
Davy to undertake his valuable work
upon agricultural chemistry; in insti-
tuting and giving efficacy to the High
land Agricultural Society, and in in
Producing to public notice McAdam's
improved system of road making. He
also published, after his "Code of Agri-
culture" had passed through the press,
code of Statistical Philosophy" q
Code of Finance" and had nearly pre-
pared for publication Code or Digest
of Religion"
What pity it is that we could not
have few such men in this country,
who would turn their backs on politics
and politicians, and would seek, as Sir
John Sinclair did, to improve the cul-
tivation of the soil Cult
GATOR.