GOft
and two or three in Ireland , might, in the course of a shortperiod of years, collect and diffuse a valuable mass of well di-gested agricultural information; and, in the course of theirsurveys, might eorfifaiunicate the knowledge of many interest-ing and useful practices, among the rural districts throughwhich they had to travel. It is believed that agriculture hasbeen greatly benefited by the publication of farming tours;and there can be no question, with regal’d to the vast nationalutility, of the numerous County Reports which have beendrawn up and published under the auspices of the Board ofAgriculture. The institution now proposed, seems calculatedto continue and extend that most excellent source of informa-tion and improvement, and at no great expence.
Such are the results of this most important inquiry into themanagement of arable land in Scotland . It is a subject confess-edly of infinite importance, since the strength and resources ofevery country, and consequently of its government, must ne-cessarily be commensurate to the numbers, comfort, and pro-ductive industry of its inhabitants; and for their multiplica-tion, support, and beneficial employment, it is highly essential,that a constant and ample supply of food, and of the raw ma-terials of manufacture, should be provided. What then canbe more desirable, than to ascertain the best systems for ma-naging the territory of a country, according to the circum-stances connected with its situation, soil, and climate; and todisseminate a knowledge of those systems, 'among the nume-rous body of individuals, who are employed in carrying theminto effect ?
END OF VOLUME FIRST.