C 333 ] 



The time in which Hartub flouri fried fecms 

 to have been an aera when the Englifli hufbandry 

 rofc to great perfection, compared with that of 

 former ages; for the preceding wars had impo- 

 vcrifhed the country gentlemen, and of courfe 

 made them induftrious. They found the culti- 

 vation of their own lands to be the molt profit- 

 able Ration they could fill: but this wife turn 

 was not of long continuance. At the Reftora- 

 tion, they generally became infected with that in- 

 toxication and love of pleafure which fucceeded. 

 All their induftry and knowledge were exchanged 

 for neglect and diflipation; and hufbandry de- 

 fcended almoft entirely into the hands of common 

 farmers. 



In that age of unreftrained indulgence, when 

 vice and folly were purfucd to the exclufion of 

 almoft every thing ferious and truly intcrefting; 

 Evelyn was the firfl writer who infpired his 

 countrymen with a defire of reviving the ftudy of 

 agriculture. He was followed by the famous 

 Jethro Tull. And their joint labours opened 

 a new and extenfive fphcre for the minds of man- 

 kind to range in, 



Evelyn, by his admirable Treatifes on earth 

 and on planting, and Tull, by (hewing the fupe- 



rior 



