Phillip's knowledge was universal.

He understood all about astronomy, and had prepared an abstract of figures proving the connection of sun-spots, rainfall, and the price of wheat.

Algebra was the easiest and at the same time the most accurate mode of conducting the intricate calculations arising out of the complicated question of food--of flesh formers and heat generators--that is to say, how much a sheep increased in weight by gnawing a turnip.

Nothing could be more useful than botany-those who could not distinguish between a dicotyledon and a monocotyledon could certainly never rightly grasp the nature of a hedgerow.

_Bellis perennis_ and _Sinapis arvensis_ were not to be confounded, and _Triticum repens_ was a sure sign of a bad farmer.