Punch,  54 (1868), 91.

"The Book of the Farm"

Anon

Genre:

News-Commentary

Subjects:

Agriculture, Breeding, Class, Education, Reading, Evolution, Darwinism, Science Communication, Animal Development


    Pokes fun at a review of Darwin 1868 which claims that the book will be as interesting and illuminating to 'Country Gentlemen' as 'all Biologists and Speculative Thinkers'. Imagines how a 'Country Gentleman [...] of the finest old-crusted Tory politics and views on education' might read Darwin's work. Relates that 'Old John Stockwell, of Bathley Wood Farm' is prompted by talk at his local public house to borrow the volumes from 'his clergyman, who is scientific, and subscribes to a London Library', and to peruse the work while being stimulated by brandy and water. Relates that since the farmer's education stopped at fourteen he fails to 'master the polysyllabic difficulties' in the work, and after struggling with 'Hybridism' and 'Provisional Hypothesis of Pangenesis' 'throws Darwin down' and retires to bed where he 'resolves never again to stray away from Old Moore, the weather-glass, and Bell's Weekly Register'.



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