t *33 ] 



fection, with much advantage to himfclf, at well 

 as to the publick. 



There N is a certain degree of indolence, not to 

 fay prejudice, among the farmers in general, with 

 refpect to every thing out of their common line 

 of practice, and efpecially with refpect to matters 

 on which trials have been unfuccefs fully made. 

 This has been ftrikingly difplayed in the article 

 under confideration. About fixteen years fincc, 

 the London Society offered a premium of five 

 pounds an acre, on all lands planted with Madden 

 This, it was expected, would have rendered the 

 cultivation of it general; but the proper method 

 of railing it being then imperfectly underftood, 

 the experiments of a few perfons failed ; and this 

 fo far difcou raged others, that little further pro- 

 grefs was made in this important article of con- 

 fumption. The farmers could not, or at lead 

 would nor, fee the difference between a crop fail- 

 ing through improper management^ and through a 

 natural unfitnefs of foil or climate, which would 

 in all cafes operate againft it. 



But Mr. Arbuthnot was not weak enough to 

 be governed by this miftaken prejudice. He faw 

 what the errors were which had occafioned fomc 

 of the planters of Madder to be unfuccefsful, and 



Vol. II. K determined 





