24 INTEODUCTION. 



power of the farmer as has been gained within the last ten 

 years of our own history. 



In English agricultural literature, we find many marked and 

 striking evidences of progress. This is especially true of the 

 works of the present century. Within this time the minds of 

 all have been awakened to a wonderful activity. Scientific 

 men have developed important theories, which experience has 

 proved to be true, while cultivators of the soil have done their 

 part by careful observation, and discoveries have followed one 

 another in quick succession. Every step, moreover, has been 

 recorded. Every new machine invented, and every new pro- 

 cess carried through to success, has been published to the world, 

 and thus we have a multitude of works by which a flood of 

 light is thrown upon every department of farm economy. 



Scientific discoveries in Agriculture are the property of the 

 intelligent farmer everywhere, and those made abroad have had 

 a material and important influence in promoting the advance- 

 ment of practical agriculture among us. No one who desires 

 to be even moderately skilful and successful can dispense with 

 the use of books relating to his calling. It is much to the 

 credit of the present time that old prejudices against books 

 upon farming, which are the recorded experiences of careful 

 observers and experimenters, are fast giving place to a generous 

 appreciation of the labors of the inventor, the chemist, the 

 geologist, the entomologist, the botanist, and the practical man 

 who tries experiments and records results. 



For some years after the public mind, in this countrv, began 

 10 discard its narrow prejudice against the use of books on 

 farming, we relied chiefly upon the mother country. English 

 works on Agriculture were our only resource. These were not 

 in all respects adapted to our climate, our soil, and our cir- 

 cumstances, and, notwithstanding their great value for many 



