PREFACE. 



No one can attempt to teach an irregular science, or a &quot;sci 

 entific art&quot; such as Agriculture is rapidly becoming, without 

 discovering how much he must depend for explanation and il 

 lustration on his own resources. The strict sciences, such as 

 mathematics, may bo entirely taught by books ; but in agricul 

 ture there is still so much that is uncertain, and so many scien 

 ces and arts are combined within it, that without taking into 

 consideration tha discoveries that are almost daily made a life 

 time, laboriously devoted to the subject could scarcely render 

 one individual master of the whole. It is hoped, therefore, that 

 the Teacher who may use this book will enlarge upon the vari 

 ous subjects, and explain that which is difficult in one word, 

 that he will consider it as the mariner does his chart, as a di 

 rector of his course, but a director from which he is at liberty 

 to differ should his superior experience and knowledge induce 

 him to do so. 



The Author has no desire to assume to himself more credit 

 than is due, nor to make excuses which are not strictly true. 

 But constantly and seriously occupied in various other duties; 

 for a length of time at a distance from the Press ; and com 

 pelled to search for materials in a large number of books con 

 siderably over one hundred volumes having been consulted and 

 compared he has not only found the labor of compiling these 

 sheets a very arduous one, but is well aware, that had he been 

 able to devote more time to the object he could have rendered 

 them more truly worthy of the acceptance of the public. Should 

 another Edition be called for, many emendations will probably 

 be male. 



The limits of this volume forbid the subject of Domestic 



