VI PREFACE. 



think Montaigne says somewhere, that if a 

 man would sit down, and describe that 

 which he has known practically, upon 

 almost any subject, he could scarcely fail of 

 being useful. Just so far my ambition ex- 

 tends. Nor is the world entirely without 

 need of advice on this subject, notwith- 

 standing its antiquity, and the multitude of 

 counsellors. Of this fact I had a signal 

 proof, in a visit a few years since, to an 

 Hon. Baronet, in whose extensive park, 

 and most convenient yards and offices, and 

 upon a soil excellently adapted, I found a 

 sufficiency of poultry could not be raised for 

 the family use ; in consequence of which, a 

 very considerable annual expence was 

 .incurred at a neighbouring town, for an 

 additional supply. This was regretted, 

 and described to me as an unaccountable 

 circumstance, by the housekeeper. I have 

 . here, moreover, an eye to a favourite plan 

 of mine, making the country-house its own 

 mart for the supply of all necessaries, in a 

 far more ample degree than it usually is ; 

 implicating, among other domestic objects, 



