Vlll PREFACE. 



been a considerable breeder and feeder of 

 pigs. 



The following letter to the publishers, of 

 a Right Hon. Baronet, late President of the 

 Board of Agriculture, the author of this 

 little book feels peculiarly honourable to 

 himself, and a gratifying reward for his 

 pains, as proceeding from a man who, 

 through so great a part of his life, has la- 

 boured to obtain a right understanding of 

 every thing which appertains to rural affairs, 

 and who has thence actually conferred so 

 many solid benefits on his country. With 

 respect to the injunctions of Sir John Sin- 

 clair, I had already anticipated them in 

 part ; but I could find nothing of material 

 interest respecting poultry in the books he 

 quotes, agricultural writers in general, neg- 

 lecting that subject, as of inferior concern, 

 unless indeed we except one, and him there 

 will he no doubt that I consulted, I how- 

 ever recollect the description of a most 

 complete poultry-yard, some years since, 

 either in the Annals of Agriculture, or Com- 

 munications to the Board. As to consider- 



