VI. PREFACE. 



painfully conscious of his deficiencies, he assumed the office, de 

 termined to do the best fee could. Upon the very threshold, 

 however, he met with an unexpected difficulty. He could find 

 no book, published either in America or Europe, adapted for a 

 collegiate class, many of whom were practical and middle-aged 

 fanners, and some to whom the very terms of Science were un 

 known. Professors Johnston, Norton, and Nash have each pub 

 lished elementary works, most excellent so far as they go ; but 

 they are confined almost entirely to the chemical portion of the 

 subject^ and &quot;Practical Agriculture in its connection with Sci 

 ence&quot; was the topic demanded. There are other books again, 

 but deficient on the other side, consisting merely of directions 

 how to cultivate the land, being chiefly compilations, and ma 

 king no pretensions to a higher or scholastic character ; so that 

 the Author was obliged to prepare and write his entire course 

 of lectures, and the students lost much from the want of some 

 work which they might study in private, or refer to from time 

 to time. This loss was chiefly felt in regard to analyses, figures 

 and scientific words. It is quite impossible that a student can 

 understand the one, or recollect the other by merely hearing 

 them ; and yet if these portions are lost, much of the value of 

 the succeeding information is lost likewise. 



Within the few last years, the study of Agriculture in the 

 United States, has assumed a new form. It is beginning to be 

 introduced, not only into Colleges, but also into Primary Schools ; 

 and in conversing with other gentlemen, the Author found that 

 this want was as sensibly deplored by others, as it had been by 

 himself. He therefore undertook to write out the substance of 

 his lectures. Neither his more important engagements, nor his 



