for 2.-COUNT CHLAPOWSKI. Among the number of distinguished foreigners, who applied my aid, in procuring information regarding British agriculture, Count Chlapowski was one of the most zealous, and it gave me very great pleasure to promote his views. The improvement of a country, however, cannot be effected by zeal, unless accompanied by skill, and, above all, by perseverance, and that is the circumstance, to which the failure of so many plans for the improvement of agriculture, in foreign countries, ought to be attributed. It would be an interesting object of inquiry, for any person who proposed travelling abroad, with some useful object in view, were he to endeavour to ascertain, to what extent foreign countries have been improved, by the introduction of British agriculture, and to what extent British agriculture might be advanced, by the introduction of foreign practices. MONSIEUR*, Je suis revenu que tout à l'heure du Norfolk, et je suis obligé de partir pour la Pologne demain, desirant joindre à Harwich le même paquet qui m'emmena de Hambourg. Je suis extremement faché d'être privé par-là de l'honneur et du plaisir d'aller à Ormly Lodge, vous remercier à la bonté que vous avez eu de me donner des lettres d'introduction pour les East Lothians et pour Holkham. Je vous dois, Monsieur, tout le plaisir que j'ai eu à m'instruire chez les respectables SIR, * Translation. London, September 9. 1818. I have just returned from Norfolk, and am obliged to set off for Poland tomorrow, as I wish to join at Harwich, the same packet which brought me from Hamburgh. I am much disappointed in being thus denied the honour and the pleasure of going to Ormly Lodge, to thank you for your kindness in giving me letters of introduction for the East Lothians and Holkham. I owe to you, Sir, all the happiness which I have had in my acquaintance with those respectable persons to whom you recommended me. I regret having had so little time to myself. I will certainly avail myself of the first opportunity which occurs to return to this country, in order to obtain instruction from it, (so far as lies in my power), for a country so much in arrear as ours, and which has every possible obstacle to contend with. I entreat you, Sir, to accept the assurance of my regard, and the distinguished sentiments with which I have the honour to be, &c. personnes auxquelles vous m'avez recommandé. Je regrette d'avoir eu si peu de temps à moi; et je profiterai certainement de la première facilité que j'aurois pour revenir dans ce pays, continuer à prendre bon exemple, autant qu'il se peut, pour un pays aussi en arrière que le nôtre, et qui a toutes les entraves possibles. Je vous prie, Monsieur, d'agréer l'assurance de ma reconnaissance et des sentimens distingués avec lesquelles j'ai l'honneur d'être votre tres humble et obéissant serviteur, D. CHLAPOWSKI. Londres, 9. Septembre 1818. 3.-M. SERWINSKI. It was pleasing to find, that the natives of foreign countries, were not only ready to avail themselves, of the useful practices of Great Britain, but were likewise ready to communicate to us, any information which they thought might be of service to British agriculture. It was therefore, with much pleasure, that I received the following communication from a Polish gentleman, respecting an implement, which he considered to be of considerable importance. Nothing will satisfy the opponents of British agriculture, until the farmers of this country are reduced to the necessity, of cultivating the soil with instruments, that may be purchased for four or five shillings sterling, and which may be worked with two small oxen or even cows. It is melancholy to think, the state of dependence on foreign supplies, to which this country may be reduced, by oppressed agriculture. MONSIEUR*, Cielesnica, près Bixta, en Pologne, le 10. Novembre 1820. Parmis les instrumens aratoires décrits par les plus célèbres agriculteurs, tels que l'Abbé Rozier, Arthur Young, Albrecht * Translation. SIR, November 10. 1820. Among all the instruments of tillage, described by the most illustrious agriculturists, such as the Abbé Rozier, Arthur Young, Albrecht Thaer, and others, Thaer, et autres, je ne trouve aucune mention de l'instrument aratoire usité dans tout le grand duché de Lithuanie, dans certaines Russies, et dans une grande partie de la Pologne. Cet instrument, nommé dans la langue Polonoise Socha, est de la plus grande simplicité; presque chaque paysan le construit luimême, et qui a besoin de l'acheter ne le paye pas davantage que 8 à 10 florins de Pologne (4 à 5 schellings). C'est cependant avec cet instrument que l'on cultive la terre dans un pays d'une immense étendu : les recoltes én bleds y sont très abondantes, dont le superflu avant le maximum de votre pays s'exportait même en Angleterre. Il faut ajouter encore qu'il ne faut que deux petits bœufs, ou deux petites vaches, pour labourer la terre avec cet instrument. Après cette courte description de cet instrument, je suis presque sûr que vous voudriez voir, et essayer cet instrument, ou, peut-être, en augmenter la collection des instrumens de la Société Royale d'Agriculture, (Board of Agriculture), dont vous êtes le fondateur. S'il en est ainsi, vous n'avez, Monsieur, qu'à m'ordonner; je me ferai un vrai plaisir de vous l'envoyer tel que les paysans d'ici le construisent, par les bateaux que descen I find no mention of that used in tilling the grand duchy of Lithuania, in certain parts of Russia, and in a great part of Poland. This instrument, called in the Polish language Socha, is of the greatest simplicity. Almost every peasant can construct it himself; and he who is obliged to buy it, pays no more than eight or ten florins Polish money, which is four or five shillings in England. It is nevertheless with this instrument that a country of immense extent is cultiva. ted. The harvests of wheat are there abundant, and the superfluity of the grain, which is more than the maximum of your country, is exported into England. It must also be stated, that only two small oxen or two small cows are necessary to cultivate the ground with this instrument. After hearing this, I am very sure that you will wish to see it and try it, or perhaps to add it to the collection of the instruments of the Royal Society of Agriculture, of which you are the founder. If this is the case, you have only to acquaint me, Sir, and I shall have sincere pleasure in sending you such an instrument as the peasants here construct, by the boats which sail down the Bog, and then the Vistula, for Dantzic. You have only to give me the address of some merchant at Dantzic, who will transmit it to you at any port you may mention. If you should honour me with an answer, I request you will address to me by Varsovie, Cielesnica, près Bixtá, and the letter will be sure to reach me. I have the honour to be, with all the esteem which is due to a man so celebrated and so justly renowned over all the world, &c. dent le Bog, et puis la Vistule, pour se rendre à Dantzig, en me donnant seulement l'adresse de quelque negociant á Dantzig, que pourrait vous le faire passer dans quelque port que vous lui indiqueriez. Si vous m'honorez d'une réponse, je vous prie de mettre sur l'adresse par Varsovie, Cielesnica, près Bixtá, et la lettre ne manquera pas de me parvenir. J'ai l'honneur d'être, avec toute l'éstime qui est due à un homme dont la celebrité est si justement établie sur toute la terre, Monsieur, votre très humble et très obéissant serviteur, ANDRE SERWINSKI. Answer to M. Serwinski. Sir John Sinclair had the honour of receiving Mr. Serwinski's obliging communication of the 10th November last, respecting an instrument for the cultivation of land, called "Socha" in Poland; and he begs to inform Mr. Serwinski, that similar instruments are made use of in the more remote parts of Scotland. Experience, however, has now taught the superior order of Scotch farmers, that none but instruments of the strongest and best construction, drawn by horses or oxen of the best quality, will cultivate land to perfection. Sir John is also persuaded, that the instrument recommended, more especially with the "stock" or cattle described as sufficient to draw it, can only be used in light lands; whereas a large proportion of the arable land in Great Britain, consists of strong and stiff soil. Sir John returns Mr. Serwinski his best thanks for his obliging attention, in transmitting to him any hints which he considered to be material; and begs to add, his best wishes, for Monsieur Serwinski's success in the important pursuits of agriculture. 133. George Street, Edinburgh, 14th February 1821. It evidently appears from these letters, and from a variety of other communications inserted in this volume, that a great spirit for agricultural improvement, existed on the Continent, as well as in this country, which was often checked, by the want of success in trying plausible experiments. I was thence led to draw up the following paper, pointing out the hazard of attempting any extensive speculations, until experience, on a small scale, had justified the attempt; for the most plausible plans of improvement, may encounter unexpected difficulties, which may render them abortive. The following statement, furnishes some striking examples of the justness of that remark. Anecdote illustrating the Hazards attending Speculations in пит. Farming. Several years ago, a very ingenious person, the inventor of some useful machines, for which he had taken out patents, but from which he did not derive the profits he had expected; and who found also, that the profession he followed, (that of a writing-master), produced but a moderate income, formed an idea, that he could make his fortune, by an improved mode of cultivating the soil. With this view, he took up his residence in the neighbourhood of Edinburgh, where he purchased eight Scotch acres of land, from which, by means of his new system, he expected to derive an income of L.1600 per anHis plan was, to plant 5000 gooseberry bushes per acre, making in all 40,000; and in the interstices between the bushes, to raise cabbages and other vegetables, by the sale of which he expected, to be enabled to defray, both the expenses of the cultivation, and the interest of the money he had paid for the ground. He admitted, that no profit could be made till the fifth year, when the bushes would come into full bearing; but he calculated, that though the bushes were reduced from five thousand, to about four thousand plants per acre, yet that each bush, on an average, would produce three Scotch pints, which, (making allowances for the rivalship of other cultivators), he would be able to sell at the rate of fourpence per pint, or one shilling per bush. Thirty-two thousand bushes, therefore, even at that low price, would produce L.1600 per annum. Hence the plan, seemed to him certain of success. It was in vain that his friends pointed out an objection which he had not taken into his consideration, namely, the hazard of not finding a market for such a quantity of the same article. He was too sanguine to admit of any difficulty in effecting a sale. The event however proved, that the difficulty anticipated, was perfectly |