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unproductive to the practitioners as it is ruinous to the land-holders. 

 Yet it is pertinaciously adhered to. To forsake it, to pursue a course 

 of husbandry which is altogether different and new to the gazing mul- 

 titude, ever averse to novelty in matters of this sort, and much 

 attached to their old customs, requires resolution; and without a 

 good practical guide, may be dangerous; because, of the many volumes 

 which have been written on this subject, few of thom are founded on 

 experimental knowledge — are verbose, contradictory, and bewildering. 

 Your Annals shall be this guide. The plan on which they are published, 

 gives them a reputation which inspires confidence; and for the favour 

 of sending them to me, I pray you to accept my very best acknowledg- 

 ments. To continue them, will add much to the obligation. 



To evince with what avidity, and with how little reserve, I embrace 

 the polite and friendly offer you have made me, of supplying me with 

 "men, cattle, tools, seeds, or any thing else that may add to my rural 

 amusement," I will give you. Sir, the trouble of providing, and sending 

 to the care of Wakelin Welch, Esq. of London, merchant, the following 

 articles: 



Two of the simplest and best-constructed ploughs for land which is 

 neither very heavy nor sandy. To be drawn by tv/o horses — to have 

 spare shares and coulters — and a mould on v/hich to form new irons when 

 the old ones are worn out, or will require repairing. 



^% 



I shall lake the liberty in this place to observe, that some years 



ago, from a^description, or recommendation of what was then called the 

 Rotherham, or patent plough, I sent to England for one of them; and 

 till it began to wear, and was ruined by a bungling country smith, 

 that no plough could have done better work, or appeared to have gone 

 easier with two horses; but for want of a mould, which I had neglected 

 to order with the plough, it became useless after the irons which came 

 in with it were much worn. 



A little of the best kind of cabbage-seeds, for field culture. 



Twenty pounds of the best turnip-sesds, for ditto. 



Ten bushels of sainfoin-seeds. 



Eight bushels of the winter vetches. 



Two bushels of rye-grass seeds. 



Fifty pounds of hop clover-seeds. 



And, if it is decided, for much has been said for and against it, that 

 burnet, as an early food, is valuable, I should be glad of a bushel of 

 this seed also. Red clover-seeds are to be had on easy terms in this 

 country, but if there are any other kinds of grass-seeds, not included 

 in the above, that you may think valuable, especially for early feeding 



