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EXPERZME.VTAL LEGISLATIOA‘. 265
dmnkenuess, w0 numerical resuits affected by the oscillations
of trade, by the character of the seasons, the value of gold,
etc., etc., aa well as by the Acts of the Legislature. To make a
valid experiment me must have a certain thing subject to
Mrtain constant conditions, and we must introduce a single
definite change of condition, which will then be probably the
cause of whatever phenomenon follows, It is possible, indesd,
to experiment upon an object of varying conditions, provided
we can find two objects which vary similarly ; we then operato
upon the one, and observe how it subsequently diffurs from
the other. We need, in fact, what the chemists call a ‘‘ blind
experiment.” Suppose, for instance, that an agricultural
chemist or n scientific farmer wislled to nsccrtnin tho effect of
a new kind of manure; mould it be ratiolml for him t,o sprcad
the manure over all his available land ? IYould it, not tlleu be
doubtful whether the increase or decrease of yield were due to
the manure or the character of the soasons ? In this c~wzso his
neighbours’ crops might, to some extent, furnish the blind
experiment, showing whet had been the ordinary yield. But,
of coume, the obvious modo of procedure is to spread the new
manure over a port only of ench experimcutal field, so that
the difference of tho crops on tho different patches brings out,
in a most unquestionable way, the effect. of the manure. Not
only is the smaller experiment, in a Iogical point of view, far
better than the larger one, but it is possible to try many concurrent.
small experiments upon a farm of moderate extent.
I maintain that, if our legislators are to act rationally,
they will, OS far as possible, imitate the agricultural chemist.
The idea, for instance, of obliging, or even allowing, all the
boroughs in the kingdom simultaneously to adopt the Gothenburg
plan would be ridiculous and irrational. The cost and
confusion which would arise from a sudden general trial must
be very great; many years would elapse before the result was
apparent. And that result would not be so clear 88 if the
trial Were restricted to some half-a-dozen towns. In the
meantime it would be far better that other boroughs should be
trYh3 other exp~rimentw, giving us many strings to our bow,
while some towns would actually do best for the country by