[ ix ] 



lous in the ftudy of agriculture; the im- 

 provement of poor, wafte and barren lands, 

 is become a favourite undertaking; and a 

 laudable enquiry feems to be general, How 

 the face of the country^ according to its local 

 circumjlances, can be rendered mofl produBive ? 

 This general enquiry, and the confequent ex- 

 ertions, may in no fmall degree be imputed 

 to the publick-fpirited inftitutions in the 

 kingdom, among which The Bath and 

 West of England Society has the ho- 

 nour of holding no inconfiderable place. The 

 effeft of fuch eftablifhments, though gradual 

 and diffufed, has undoubtedly been fure and 

 happy. For under all the circumftances of 

 increafed demand, it is an obvious truth that 

 the fupply of every neceffary, and moft of 

 the comforts, of life, is not only abundant, 

 but in general eafy of aequifition to the ho- 

 rieft and induftrious of all defcriptions. This 

 augmented fupply has been fumifhed, in fome 

 degree, by the increafe of lands brought into 

 cultivation; but perhaps far more by im- 

 provements in the general fyftem. 



Great, 



