‘PREFACE. me 
LIBRARY 
NEW VORK 
VOLTA NICAL 
’ . sy roe 
AORN, 
AT length we have completed another volume, which 
will be a proof of our perseverance ; with whatever other ' 
consequences it may be attended. In it will be found mai 
useful pieces of information, though novelty may me, 
tract the merely curious inquirer. To practical men, the 
developement of old operations, tested by experience, are 
more important, than new discoveries: yet some of even 
these will be seen. Nothing injures agriculture more than 
whimsical novelties; except bigotted adherence to old and 
bad habits. It should be the aim of all agricultural publica- 
tions, to record and promulgate good practices ; and to ex- 
‘tinguish, by practical and well ascertained facts, the mischiefs, 
or insufficiency, of old and inveterately ustoms. New 
discoveries seldom occur: but when the known, they 
should be examined with care, and received with caution ; 
but without prejudice. When tested by experience, they should 
be added to the store of profitable lessons; and explained 
and enforced by intelligence and industry. AGRicULTURE, 
like the Common Law, is more indebted, for its best principles, 
to precedents founded on wisdom and experience, than it is 
to the presumed improvements of theorists, and speculative 
experimenters. This is enough for us to concede, to those 
who receive every thing written with distrust and hesitation : 
and suppose that none are acquainted with husbandry, but 
those who hold the handles of the plough. To those who 
began with theories, originating in ingenious and speculative 
opinions, philosophy, and the arts and sciences, are highly in- 
debted foy some of their best pririciples. Pursuits with the fatu- 
on 
JUL 10 905, 
