XXIV PREFACE. 



or useless speculations, as the plain un- 

 varnished description of his own prac- 

 tical experience. To be sure he has his 

 own theory as to the cause of potato-rot, 

 and as to the action of manures, or the 

 growth of plants ; and while he may in 

 stating his views run counter to the popu- 

 lar notions of the day, he hopes the public 

 will not, in combating the shadows he 

 throws, lose sight of the important sub- 

 stance contained in his experiments. 



So far as the Editor is personally con- 

 cerned, he wishes it understood that his 

 office is to prepare the matter for the 

 press, not to construct or correct the 

 theories of the author ; and he hopes to 

 have the good taste to forbear from mar- 

 ring, by interlineations or foot-notes, the 



