( Ija ) 



teen yr This purchafe was made by the 

 above noble Lord in 1787. 



The approbation of fo many intelligent 

 practical farmers in every part of Scotland, 

 gives the author infinitely greater fatisfadtion 

 than any praiies which Reviewers can beftow 

 upon his work. And as to their cenfures, he 

 profefies to defpife them. Their opinions, 

 for the mod part, proceed either from igno- 

 rance or prejudice : Nor, indeed, do they 

 think it below their dignity to publifh fenti- 

 ments that are not their own ; nay, without 

 having even read the fubjeft on which they 

 pretend to treat. 



Since writing the preceding pages, I have 

 converfed with many gentlemen and farm- 

 ers : Some of them are of opinion, that di- 

 viding the whole of Britain into diftrixfls of 

 about twelve miles long, and four broad, the 

 improved parts by themfelves, and unim- 

 proved parts by themfelves, every farmer 

 paying a fmall taxation every year for each 

 acre of his farm, in order to raife a fum to 

 be given as premiums to thofe who raife the 

 greateft crops upon ten acres, agreeable to the 

 plan propofcd for a national fyftein. This 



money 



