PREFACE. 



of barley, or that of beans, peas, &c. ; as did also Mr. 

 Hill for the meal of linseed baked with similar ingre- 

 dients. Both attempts, being complicated and expensive, 

 failed to reward the projectors, or to confer any benefit 

 upon the community: for baking, pressing, and forming 

 into shapes are superfluous operations, deteriorating, 

 instead of contributing to the fattening properties of the 

 materials. 



I had myself a large oven and steam-apparatus erected 

 for cooking roots, &c. ; but discontinued their use in 

 favour of boiling and scalding, these being more simple 

 and better adapted to every grade of farmer. As yet I 

 have seen nothing so effective and economical as an iron 

 copper. 



Since this Preface was commenced twelve months have 

 elapsed, and additional opportunities been afforded me of 

 ascertaining the results of experiments, the omission of 

 which would have rendered my work incomplete. I 

 resume my pen, therefore, not to enforce untried theories, 

 but to record authenticated facts. 



If I had ever any solid reasons for promulgating my 

 plans, those reasons are rendered doubly urgent at the 

 present crisis. The repeal of the corn -laws is insisted 

 upon by the League, with all the art that human in- 

 genuity can devise, and with all the power that money 

 can command ; while agriculturists, formed into pro- 

 tective associations, are equally determined to uphold 

 the existing duties. Whatever may be the result of the 

 conflict, it is evident that farmers who have adopted the 

 cultivation of flax, the fattening of cattle upon native 

 produce, &c., &c., must be better prepared to sustain the 

 shock of free-trade than those who resort to foreign 



