The style is old-fashioned, and the word ‘but’ superfluous i e unnecessary. ‘I make no doubt that . .’ means ‘I have no doubt that . .’
He is saying that people are generally more naturally capable than we realise, because they need a supportive environment [education, culture, soil cultivated] and the right circumstances [situation, occasions, season favourable] to demonstrate their ability. We will never know how many great people are farming the land [‘at the ploughtail’] or working in shops and workshops [‘behind counters’].