DINNEE AND PRESENTATION AT OXFORD.

Globe, Volume XXIV, Issue 2456, 18 February 1882, Page 4

DINNEE AND PRESENTATION AT OXFORD.

On Wednesday a few of the friends of the Rev. Mr Wilkinson met him in the East Oxford (Town Hall to wish him “ good-bye ” and success in his new vocation A capital dinner was provided by Mr Sedcole, at which about thirty sat down. The chair was occupied by Mr B. H. Pariah, and the vice-chair by Mr W. P. Pearson, M.H.B. The Chairman said a very pleasant duty had been allotted to him, and he was glad to see so large a gathering of the friends of their guest. They had met that evening for two purposes—to wish good-bye to the Bev. Mr Wilkinson, and to present him with a slight token of their esteem. The rev. gentleman had lived a long time amongst them, and had taken an active part in a great many things that were beneficial to the district, and had been a true friend and a good citizen in every sense of the word. The meeting that evening did not represent any class or denomination, but was a gathering to meet a friend and a gentleman whom they all respected and delighted to honor. It had been said by two or three individuals that their guest had been wicked enough to play cricket, and to take an interest in athletics. He thought that in doing this the rev. gentleman had shown that he was a man as well as a clergyman. [Applause,] He had great pleasure in handing the Rev Mr Wilkinson a purse of sovereigns and an address in the name of the many true friends he had made in Oxford, and to wish him success in his new calling. He would conclude by proposing the health of Mr Wilkinson. In responding to the toast of bis health, the Bov. Mr Wilkinson said he did so with mingled feelings. He had parted with his congregation, and believed that he had the kindly feelings and good wishes of nearly every one of them. He felt keenly the honor they were conferring upon him that evening, and it was a great pleasure to him to see so many friends around him, and to know that apart from his ministrations as a clergyman, he had their friendship and good wishes. Whilst he had been in Oxford he had tried to be a good citizen, and lake an interest in whatever he thought would be a benefit to the district. He should like to say that he bad not left the ministry because be had a distaste to it, or that he thought—as some few seemed to think—that the work of the minister was passing away. Still he thought there would be many modifications, and the work of the ministry must keep with and progress with the times. Although he had resigned his position as minister, he should still give a large portion of his time and attention to the work in the place where be was located, and help the cause in every way he could. He thanked them for the hearty way that had drunk his health, and for the more substantial proof of their friendship, and nothing would give him more pleasure than to see very often his old friends of Oxford. Several other healths were drunk during the evening, including that of the clergy of the district, coupled with the name of the Rev, J. Sheldon, and the “ Ladies,” responded to by Mr Hawkins. Some very nice songs were sung, and a very pleasant evening passed. Votes of thanks to the choir ond vice-chair terminated the proceeding*.

SCIENCE AND PRACTICE IN AGRICULTURE. Ooloniali farmers are ever prone to sneer at the assertions of scientists, and to remark “ that science is all very well for the old country, but that in the colonies it is quite >ut of place ; ” “ that farming may be carried on very well without its aid, for the reason that very good crops can be grown by simply turning the soil over and sowing tho seed.” However true this may have been in the past, it is equally true that the time is rapidly approaoning when intelligent thought will have to be exercised by those who hope to succeed in tho business of farming. The day when “book farming”—as thoughtful, intelligent work on tho farm was called—could bo despised, is passing awny. Our farmers must awake to the fact that knowledge is a marvellous power, giving life, activity and skill to tho management of the farm, as well as to all departments of business. On the farm, as elsewhere, it has, in these days of close competition, become an absolute necessity. The farmer who is to be successful under the present condition of agriculture must be intelligent ; must keep himself posted concerning new methods, new systems, and new varieties. He must know what his competitors are doing, and bow they are doing it, and he must adopt many of the improvements which are constantly being devised. We are quite aware chat the trying of nsw systems, new plants, and breeds of animals is frequently attended with much loss and disappointment ; sometimes more than the general run of farmers oaro to risk. It is just here that such institutions as our Agricultural College at Lincoln can be made of value to the country. Having a variety of soils, ample means, and all tho improved appliances of modern agriculture, including, wo now hope, an automatic harvester, as well as a laboratory where soils, &0., may be tested. We would here claim for this young institution a little more indulgence than many of our farming men seem inclined to allow, judging from the effusions which have appeared from time to time in our local prints. The fact is, too much is expected from such institutions. The agricultural chemist, or teacher of agricultural science, is not unfrequentiy asked by the farmer to state exactly what ho should do with his land or animals in order that more profitable results may follow. Such a request is obviously absurd. We have read of a trustee of an agricultural college having said to the Professor of Agriculture, “ What we wish you to do is to tell us just what wo must put on our farms in order that we may get big crops ?” meaning that there must be some way, known or unknown, by which all soils could be made productive to the desired extent. Many farmers seem to be living in the expectation that a series of facts are to be discovered, and a code of rules formulated, that will constitute their guidebook, which will relieve them of the inconvenience of facing difficult and disagreeable problems. Some there are who pretend to distrust science, and say that “ tho farmer must depend on himself alone;”, bnt such distrust arises in many oases from the fact that science hos not helped them out of all hard places, so that they still have difficulties. This condition of expectancy, this waiting for tho scientist to dig out the summum bonum of agricultural knowledge—which can be used as the housewife usee a recipe for bread-making—has tended to retard the progress of agriculture. It does not seem very probable that agricultural practice will admit of very many universally beet methods. At least such is not the case now, and farmers need to be more fully impressed with the faot. The main operations of the farm can only by chance allow the profitable use of the same details of practice on two separate farms ; nor is it the business of science to provide a creed of farm practice that shall contain anything beyond great underlying principles. The determination of almost all the rules of practice best adapted to a farmer's particular circumstances rests with the farmer himself. We would, it possible, place the matter in such a light as to more, sharply define the relation which the farmer’s own observations and knowledge on the one band, and the generalizations of science on the other, bear to the sphere of individual effort. Science teaches principles only j and on these principles the intelligent farmer will base his practice. Chemistry teaches that super-phosphates furnish plant food; bnt this is only showing that they can be used when needed. Not every farm may respond profitably to their use. In every agricultural problem there is the science side and the farmer side, the latter being often the more difficult. The farmer stands between principles on the one hand, and the conditions of his farming on the other; and out of the proper application of principles to conditions comas correct practice. Other things being equal then, the farmer who has the best knowledge of principles has the best practice; in other words, the educated farmer should be the best farmer. It is just this class of men we hope to see produced at our agricultural college ; but we must give the institution a reasonable time to achieve such desirable results. It would be well it agricultural practice could be so simplified as to render unnecessary any special study or preparation on the part of the tillers of the soil. We should then be tolerably sure of maximum good results, even from those who belabor science for its mistakes and its inability to do certain things. But it must be remembered that neither now nor at any other time can science stand in tho place which the farmer fails to occupy ; nor can it be expected to produce the best results except through the medium of minds fitted to comprehend its teachings. The keen competition which pervades every department of business is no less felt in the business of agriculture ; and those who will keep in tho foremost ranks must avail themselves of every new appliance, whether suggested by science or practice, or both combined.