stewards to manage the home farm under their own directions, and to keep them in check by commanding them to render an account of their intromissions at the moment, and not at the protracted periods of terms. They would then discover there is not a more rational, pleasing, or interesting study than the science of agriculture, and its practical application, nor one which can be so well combined with those manly sports and amusements in which it is the pride of our country gentlemen to excel. They would then have no temptation to reside abroad, but would discover that a knowledge of the minutiæ of farming creates a daily increasing interest in field operations, and the cultivation of stock. A personal acquaintance with their tenants would then open a wide field of human nature for their observation; and this ample field to glean from, in connection with the facts acquired in their own practice, would supply them with cogent arguments and illustrations on all subjects connected with agriculture, whereby their sentiments would command respect in every public assembly.

Where is all this important knowledge to be acquired? It is to be acquired like every other species of knowledge, by observation; in the operations of nature as displayed in the field of art. Is this question asked in a country, whose proud boast is to possess more enterprising, educated, and well informed farmers than perhaps any other country in the world? In all the best managed districts, where we mean the mixed husbandry is practised, or the culture of stock and crop are combined, there are farmers well qualified to impart instruction in their profession, as well as possessing such cultivated minds as to render them valuable companions. A two-years' residence with an agreeable and intelligent farmer, who practises the raising of corn with the breeding and management of cattle and sheep, and putting to the hand to every kind of work, could not fail to impart to young men of ordinary capacity, a competent knowledge of farming. Such a tuition we consider absolutely necessary for the eldest sons of our landed proprietors, who mean to reside in their own country, and enact the part of landowners; but it may be also profitably extended to those younger sons, who may turn their thoughts to the New World, as the surest means of success in any undertaking connected with the culture of the soil, or the rearing of the domesticated animals, in which they may

embark. Their interests will be promoted by studying agriculture effectually, before they embark in their migratory undertakings. No proprietors' sons need be ashamed to receive instruction from, or sit down at the tables of such men.

We are entitled to speak confidently on this subject; for the foundation of our practical knowledge of agriculture was laid by an intelligent farmer, and most agreeable companion, in perhaps the best county for farming in Scotland; and never since have we had cause to consider the time misspent. The facilities are evidently greater in Scotland than in any country we know, for young gentlemen acquiring a practical knowledge of agriculture, almost under the eye of their friends and relations.

Should these remarks attract the attention of those country gentlemen who may feel inclined to profit by them, we can furnish them with the names of some of the most eminent farmers who have been in the habit of taking pupils; and leave it to their own discretion to choose the most eligible situation.

But we think the system of tuition might be beneficially extended. Most farmers, we apprehend, are not quite competent to teach the science of agriculture in connection with its practice. Suppose then, an extensive farmer has a large house, capable of containing a number of pupils, not exceeding twenty. That number, we conceive, to be enough for successful and comfortable tuition. Let this house be subdivided into comfortable sleeping apartments, a large dining-room, a large drawing-room, and a large class-room, fitted up partly as a library, and useful also as a reading and writing apartment. Let a tutor of competent acquirements be appointed to take the immediate charge of the pupils, both within and without doors. He should be competent to teach the application of chemistry, although we are not so sanguine as most people of the utility of this science to agriculture. He should teach the application of the principles of mechanics, in order that the principle on which any implement operates may be comprehended—the application of the principles of hydraulics, that the principles of draining, embanking, and constructing reservoirs for water may be easily understood. He should teach botany, to enable young farmers to distinguish soils by their natural vegetation; and particularly the physiology of plants, that the culture of plants of what

ever kind may be in conformity with appropriate soil and situation. Also geology, that the substrata or subsoils on which soils rest may obtain due regard. Meteorology should be studied, in order to be able to anticipate the changes of the weather. The anatomy and physiology of animals are also requisite for him to teach, that the good points of live stock may be duly appreciated. And above all he ought to be acquainted with the practice of agriculture, for although the farmer himself will no doubt undertake to teach this department of the system; yet, unless the tutor also understands it, he cannot so successfully demonstrate the application of science to the operations of practice. It may, at first, be difficult to find a tutor so amply qualified for the task; but as the practice of agriculture would most likely be the only department in which he would be deficient, he could, in the course of two years, acquire that knowledge as easily as any of the pupils.

With colloquial prelections and discussions in the house, at stated hours, so as not to interfere with the hours of labour in the fields, and with demonstrations in the fields, whilst the labour was in progress, a vast mass of useful information would in a short time be conveyed to, and acquired by, the pupils. It is presumed the pupils had already acquired, at school or college, the elementary principles of all these sciences, besides mathematics. Such a house should be situate on a large farm of not less than six hundred acres, on which the mixed husbandry is practised, that is, the growing corn with the breeding and rearing of cattle and sheep.

The system might be extended still farther. It will scarcely be possible to find a sufficient number of large farms on which such establishments could be founded, or of intelligent farmers to conduct them; as the mixed system of husbandry cannot be successfully carried on, on a very small farm, or by small farmers. This difficulty might be obviated by the erection of a large house in a convenient village, in the neighbourhood of which, intelligent farmers held farms. The tutor himself could engage the house, and draw the emoluments, and give premiums to the farmers, for permission to the pupils to inspect and witness all the operations.

We think such establishments would be conducted much

more satisfactorily on private speculation, than under the guidance of any society, or public commission. Both the farmer and tutor would be stimulated by their own interests for their success, and competition would in time sharpen the stimulus still more keenly. Let any farmer who has the requisite accommodation and qualification, begin the experiment with adequate appliances, and he will soon find customers. Like a coach or a steam-boat starting on a new line of communication, his establishment will attract pupils; whereas, if he wait until the demand for such establishments rouse him into action, he may have to wait as long as the waggoner had for the assistance of Hercules.

ON THE CULTURE OF THE GORSE OR WHIN AS FOOD FOR LIVE

STOCK.

By Mr ROBERT BLACK, Lachalsh, Ross-shire.

THE gorse or whin, as every body knows, is a hardy evergreen shrub, indigenous to most parts of Great Britain, and, when viewed in the light of a weed, one of the most determined growers, and most difficult to get rid of that the agriculturist can meet with. It has, however, long been known as a plant highly nutritious as food for horses, sheep, and cattle, and has probably been neglected from the supposed difficulty of converting it into a state fit to be comfortably eaten by domestic animals, the process of cutting, gathering, and bruising the young shoots, when taken from the old stunted bushes, being both laborious and expensive. These difficulties are, however, comparatively easily overcome, when gorse is allowed the common privileges of a cultivated plant, and the most worthless part of the farm to vegetate upon.

From suggestions made to me by a Warwickshire gentleman, on whose property gorse to a considerable extent is cultivated, I was induced, from the great benefit I saw would arise to a country situated as this is, where winter keep is exceedingly scarce, and, from the variable climate, hay-making both uncertain and expensive, to try a few acres of gorse in the spring of 1834; and following the Warwickshire system, sowed two or three acres along with a crop of barley, and in the suc

ceeding year about twice that extent of old lea-ground, and from these trials, I plainly saw that what might suit the constitution of the whin in the weedless clay soils of Warwickshire, would not suit it in the grassy and weedy soil of Wester Ross. The result in both cases was unsatisfactory. Among the barley, the seed vegetated freely enough, but from its shading and overtopping, the plants of whin were drawn up, of a sickly hue; and, before the next spring, were thrown out by the winter's frost, the slight efforts at vegetation made by the plants that were left during the course of next summer, being generally overcome by the natural grasses. The truth is, the land was in a very unfit state for crops of any description, being both wet and dirty. On the lea-ground, which I must premise was neither ploughed nor harrowed, the gorse had similar difficulties to contend with; but to give the experiment all manner of justice, we did not pasture the field for a year after the seeds were sown, and this we found, when almost too late, was the most speedy and effectual way of frustrating the experiment; for whenever the grass had got up to any length or thickness, the gorse was either choked or drawn tenderly up, and during the succeeding winter and spring, it was very generally rotted or thrown out of the ground. Cattle and sheep were allowed to range over the field as usual, and at the present date (Jan. 1838) the gorse on the lea-field seems to have wonderfully recovered, and will, I think, after being carefully cut over during the course of the winter, and the blanks filled up by transplantation, afford a fair cutting in the winters of 1838 and 1839.

Having thus stated the experiments, in the success of which we have not much to congratulate ourselves upon, I may now relate those trials in which we have completely succeeded. From the hints gathered from past experience, I plainly saw that wherever the gorse had moderately dry soil, somewhat free from grass and weeds, it succeeded to satisfaction. In the winter of 1835 and spring of 1836, I had therefore a bog of sixteen Scotch acres drained, and dug over to the depth of ten or twelve inches, at an expense of L. 6 an acre. The land at the time of sowing, April 1836, I considered in a very unfit state for sowing, as the raw peat had had no time to mellow down to any thing like soil, and the seed was consequently sown over