That such farms would be appreciated by farmers
I have had the fullest practical evidence from the
number of agriculturists who have visited Clifton-on-
Bowmont, many of whom have visited the farm again
and again; and the immense correspondence we have
had, and which, of course, has arisen out of the
work on the farm. We have had a fair proportion
of Professors of Agriculture as visitors, but few land-
lords and land agents:* I suppose because the two


* The visiting list shows an improvement as regards landlords this
year (1904). It is as follows :—Farmers, 60; landlords, 21; land agents,
6; agricultural professors, 8; seedsmen, 8; schoolmasters, 5; ministers
of the gospel, 2; agricultural chemist, 1; farm manager, 1; baker, 1;
butcher, 1; shepherd, 1; ploughmen, 7 (the last are members of an
agricultural educational class in the neighbourhood). Clifton-on-Bow-
mont farm is always open to visitors. The steward will show them
round the farm, and he can supply from his books, when requested, all
information respecting the seeding and cropping of the different fields
for the last twenty years. ;


The Board of Agriculture. 115


last classes are not sufficiently aware of the influence
they might bring to bear in pushing forward the agri-
cultural changes called for by the times, or perhaps that
any changes at all are requisite. But the present
“what we know we know, and what we don't know
we don’t want to know” attitude of these classes would
be gradually changed were experimental farms placed
within easy reach of a railway. One for the East and
another for the West of Scotland would suffice to begin
with, and the number required for England and Wales
would not be large. I say nothing of Ireland, as that
part of the Empire is safely in the hands of Sir Horace
Plunkett. In this connection I may take the oppor-
tunity of thanking the Board of Agriculture for its
action, though some might call it want of action,
with reference to Clifton-on-Bowmont, in declining to
take the part that I suggested with reference to the
farm. This was that the Board should print a leaflet
on the work of the farm, and send one to each County
Council in order to make it known that the farm was
open to visitors. 