iv PUBLISHERS ANNOUNCEMENT. 



tion of the publishers, that Col. Wilder permitted us to place his portrait in our work ; and 

 we are confident that his many friends in the United States and Canada will thank us for the 

 favor. We present also, as a fitting frontispiece to this work, an excellent steel engraving of 

 its editor, whose genial face, as represented, is a speaking picture of the man, of whom we 

 may say truthfully : &quot;All his works do praise him.&quot; 



Without disparaging any of the few agricultural works now before the public, we may 

 say generally of books of this sort, as Daniel Webster once said of the legal profession : 

 &quot;There s always room at the top&quot;; at this point, only expressing the hope that happily a 

 critical public will accord to our book that honorable place in agricultural literature, which 

 we believe it merits. 



The methods of tillage and fertilization of the soil, the cultivation of that portion of the 

 vegetable kingdom here presented, whether of products in the East,. West, North, or South, 

 will be found not only entirely reliable, but the latest word on the subject treated, and sug 

 gestive of still better conditions of improved agriculture in the future. 



Broad and liberal, as well as humane views are here^ inculcated with reference to the 

 breeding and management of all domestic animals ; the hundreds of engravings in steel and 

 wood being an attractive as well as instructive feature of this exhibit. 



The systematic arrangement of this work into Parts and Departments, with Sub-headings, 

 greatly adds to its utility by making it convenient for ready reference, and invaluable, if not 

 indispensable, to all farmers, and those interested in general agriculture, as well as to fanciers 

 of fine stock of whatever variety or breed. 



In conclusion, it is our agreeable duty to acknowledge our indebtedness to the late 

 United States Commissioner of Agriculture, Hon. Wm. G. Le Due, and his successor, Hon. 

 George B. Loring, Hon. Marshall P. Wilder, Hon. Spencer F. Baird, Director of the United 

 States Fish Commission, and Seth Green, Esq., from all of whom we have received valuable 

 assistance; to the Commissioners of Agriculture generally in the several States who have 

 favored us with copies of their reports and other important documents; to Prof. C. V. Eiley, 

 Entomological Department of Agriculture, Washington, D. C., for valuable printed documents, 

 to Professors Brewer, Johnson, and other leading agricultural writers. Our acknowledgments 

 are also due to the agricultural press generally, to the Librarian of the Massachusetts Agri 

 cultural Society, and to the officers of the Boston Public Library, who have greatly aided us 

 in the prosecution of this work; to Hon. J. H. Pope, Minister of Agriculture in the Canadas, 

 who has rendered great assistance by reports and other documents; and finally, to that agri 

 culturist of world-wide reputation who established, and for nearly fifty years has conducted 

 an &quot; Experiment Station &quot; on his estate at his own expense, and solely for the advancement of 

 knowledge in agriculture, fhe Hon. J. B. Lawes, LL.D., of Rothamsted, St. Albans, England; 

 we would also tender our sincere thanks for the many valuable documents he has furnished 

 us, giving the rich results of his experiments and investigations. 



Very respectfully, 



RALPH H. PARK & CO 



HARTFORD, Ct., Jan. 1882. 



