eries: but were the expence of the manufacturing of nets to be thus diminished, and their durability augmented, this difficulty would be removed, so that they would soon come into universal use. For, although the first cost of the materials would not be thus lefsened, yet, as one of these nets, when once obtained, would not require to be renewed for perhaps an age, it would descend like a field of land from father to son, and would be a source of certain income to the holder during the time he enjoyed it; and when he chose to part with it, it would always bring a valuable consideration.

The same reasoning obviously applies in every particular to that of fishing-lines; so that it is unnecessary to repeat it.

And, although it does not apply with such entire speciality in all its points to the manufacture of cables and cordage, because the friction to which some of these are exposed, may, perhaps, be presumed in some instances to render them more liable to being rotted; yet, as this is a matter of doubt at the best, seeing if the twine were loosely spun, so as to admit of its being soaked to the heart, it might be supposed that each separate filament would be inveloped in its distinct coating, which would prevent the rotting from ever penetrating farther than the individual fibre that was worn through, and seeing also that a rope could be thus formed without any sort of twisting, and of any form that should be best suited to the purpose required, which, by admitting of an equal strain upon each thread, would make it much stronger with the same number of threads than any twisted rope ever can be; a hempen rope might be thus rendered nearly

as strong as one of silk at present, so as thus not only to diminish the expence, but also greatly to lighten the rigging of a vefsel, and thus to promote nearly as much the general interests of navigation, as the fisheries of our isle.

I could, even at this moment, point out several other material improvements that might be made in these two important departments; and, no doubt, the ingenuity of other men would be able to suggest many more that are totally beyond our present comprchension. These cursory hints, however, are enough to show, that it is an object highly deserving the attention of the public. I shall take an early opportunity to give an account of some farther experiments by Dr. Roxburgh on this subject, with the name and botanical clafsification of the plant that gave occasion to these remarks, accompanied by some hints for its propagation and farther extension, with a view to supply. the future demands of this kingdom.

To the Readers.

A CORRESPONDENT who signs A. C. Z. earnestly recommends an enlargement of the agricultural department of this work, and is extremely solicitous with the Editor to proceed rapidly with (what he seems to expect) a complete system of agriculture. I should have answered this requisition very slightly had I not received many other letters of a similar tendency from various quarters since a very early period after the work commenced. This circumstance indicates that an opinion pretty generally prevails that something of that sort is, or was intended, which makes me suspect that some unguarded exprefsion of mine must have given rise to it; although I am totally unable to conjecture where it is to be found: but, to remove all doubt on this head, it behoves me here clearly and explicitly to declare, that such an enterprise never was in contemplation by me. Any one who is acquainted with my habits of thinking on this subject, which, I imagine, may be unequivocally collected from all my agricultural writings, must, I should think, perceive that I know myself to be still at an infinite distance from that degree of knowledge which could authorise me to engage in such an undertaking. This I say, not out of false modesty, from a desire to be contradicted, with a view to flatter a little childish vanity; for I am perfectly sensible that I know a variety of particulars on that subject which many persons, who think themselves completely qualified to execute this task, and

who are restrained from doing it merely from a fear that their works might not sell, have never got a single glimpse of. Ignorance in this case, as in most others, only generates presumption; for most true it is here, as elsewhere, that

"A little learning is a dangerous thing."

Were my own amusement, or emolument, or the affording a mere temporary entertainment to my readers the principal objects I aimed at, I doubtlefs could bring forward a tolerably plausible performance on that plan; for few exertions of the mind are more pleasurable than the exercise of that kind of superiority which the mere act of giving dictatorial precepts implies; and those who are not sufficiently aware of the danger that may result from indulging this propensity, may be in some sort excusable if they thus gratify their own inclination. In them it could only be called a blameable carelefsnefs, like a child waving a firebrand while surrounded by combustibles; with regard to those who know the danger, and still persist in it, it becomes a positive crime, like wilfully setting on fire. My object then is to keep myself, as far as pofsible, from incurring the blame of such a serious charge. The little that I really know, compared to the immensity that I do not, is like the drop in the bucket; a mere nothing but that little I shall communicate to the readers as occasion shall call for it; and when I do so, it shall be given with the firmnefs it deserves. My principal aim, however, will be not to teach others, where I require to be taught myself, but to put them in a way of informing themselves, and of becoming, in time, teachers to others where I must have failed.

In one particular respecting agriculture, however, I have reason to suspect that most of my readers, and the public in general, view the subject in a very different light from what I do. It seems to be a very universal opinion, that the practice of agriculture is to be best taught by learned writings, by harangues, by premiums, and I know not what of that sort; all of which I consider as of trifling importance. I am stunned with the sounds "ignorance of our farmers," their obstinacy, and the necefsity of putting them in leading-strings, and driving them on to their own good; while I know that farmers are as much alive to their own interest, and as ready to seize it when it is within their reach as any clafs of persons whatever. Who ever heard of the obstinacy of a shoemaker, a taylor, or a milliner, who would not adopt a new fashion? Nobody. And why? Because they find it would be much contrary to their interest to do so. And do they not exercise their ingenuity in discovering novelties, for the same reason? Are farmers then to be accounted a singular exception to all rules? No. But those who think they can be made to go forward by any other incitement than that which stimulates all other men, that is, a freedom to act in the manner they know will best promote their own interest, and a certainty that they shall be secured in the possession of what their ingenuity and industry shall acquire, will doubtless find themselves mistaken. If a man feels he has ingenuity, Will he not fly to that profession where this ingenuity can be turned to the best account for himself and his family? If he has the spirit of a MAN, which disdains to be the tool of any human being, Will he not wish to be placed in a situation where himself and family will not be in danger of being turned out of house and home, when they are perhaps in the most helpless situation; or oppressed by infinite harassments at the whim of another? If he has an active spirit of industry, with a small capital, Will he not choose to get into that line where that industry will have the best chance of raising him soonest to a desirable competency; or where the small capital can produce a competent in

come, with the greatest certainty or ease? Can a farmer, I ask, without á lease, or whose lease approaches to a close, be said to be independent? Can a farmer, whose hands are tied up by restrictive clauses that have been dictated by ignorance, exert his ingenuity with energy? Can a poor farmer, be he ever so active, honest, and industrious, be able to live as well, or raise his family into as respectable a situation as in many other professions in this country? Can a farmer with a small capital, or no capital at all, ever hope to raise himself to the same exaltation of wealth, or consequence, as thousands of citizens in London, who 'were a few years ago in his situation, now enjoy? If none of these questions can be answered in the affirmative, Why do you talk of inciting farmers to act by giving them precepts upon precepts, and lefsons heaped above lefsons a hundred fold. It is neither by skill in their profession, nor vigour of exertion, that such men in general can raise themselves; but by the practice of the mean arts of chicanery and evasion; of shuffling and cringing, and of cheating those who expect to impose upon them, that they are to get forward; and, as their interest is here deeply at stake, you nee! not doubt but their ingenuity will be exerted, and that they will find little difficulty in biting those who expect to profit by their simplicity. In a country thus circumstanced the profefsion of agriculture must be degraded; and in spite of the example of a few, and the inconsiderate zeal of the many, that country must be poorly cultivated; and dependance upon foreign nations for the necefsaries of life must follow, though treatises on agriculture so much there abounded, as that the soil might be manured with them.

No one thing that I know places the weakness of the human understanding in such a striking point of view, as the perpetual propensity that men, even those of the most respectable talents, have to decide upon subjects that they never have had an opportunity of fully investigating. To hear persons in this situation talk of the utmost physical pofsible productibility of a country, without adverting to the over-ruling influence of moral causes, is like one who should decide upon the expansile power of the air from a single experiment, without adverting to the variation that would take place in consequence of an augmentation or diminution of its heat. Spain, with a population of about eight millions only, is at the present moment distressed for want of food, and can scarcely subsist its inhabitants in an ordinary year. The same Spain, under Ferdinand and Isabella, sustained a population of above twenty-five millions, and had abundance, and to spare. Is it from any physical variation in that country that this difference arises? I myself know in this island a district which, at the present moment, supports at least AN HUNDRED times the number of people it could do thirty years ago. These are facts which are either not known or not adverted to by those who pretend to ascertain the utmost pofsible extent of the produce of this country. Sensible men ought not thus to intrude upon the province of fools. Ne sutor ultra crepidam applies to more businesses than that of a cobbler. Knowing these things as I do, can I, if I seriously wish to promote the real interests of agriculture, and the general prosperity of this country, suffer myself to be carried away like an idle boy in chase of the brilliant though unsubstantial colours of the rainbow, which never can be attained, while the only objects of real importance are disregarded? I shall discharge the task I have undertaken with the utmost fidelity in my power, by dwelling chiefly upon those particulars that have the prospect of proving ultimately the most bene

14.

APRIL 1800.

RECREATIONS

IN

AGRICULTURE, NATURAL-HISTORY,

ARTS, & MISCELLANEOUS LITERATURE.

N° 2. VOL. III.

AGRICULTURE.
CU

Hints respecting the circumstances that require to be chiefly adverted to in experimental agriculture, particularly with a view to a proposal for instituting a national experimental farm.

[Continued from page 17.]

2nd. Varieties of the bos tribe respecting size.

THE diversities of this tribe, in as far as respects the size of body, is not nearly so great as in some other classes of animals, the dog species in particular; but I shall be able to show that they differ from each other much more in regard to this particular than has been in general suspected.