INTRODUCTION. 



THE ufual period* of two years having 

 elapfed, this volume was fent to the 

 prefs, and would have been fooner publifhed, 

 but unforefeen impediments prevented. Since 

 the publication of the fifth volume, the So- 

 ciety has been attentive to the various fub- 

 jefts of publick utility included in its plan. 



It will naturally be fuppofed that a Society 

 which has now exifled fifteen years, fliould 

 frequently take a retrofpe6tive view of the 

 ftate of agriculture, before and fince the pe- 

 riod of its eftablifhment; and that this great 

 fubjeft (hould be contemplated in connexion 

 with the growing ftate of the trade, manu- 

 faftures, and population of the kingdom: — a 

 population which is generally believed to 

 be rapidly increafing, and which, if fo, may 

 fairly be confidered as a natural confe- 



quence 



