. A JUSTIFICATION 



Some Biblical writer said that of the making 

 of books there is no end. We wonder what he 

 would say if he lived in this age and saw the pub- 

 lication of books, in number almost as the sands 

 of the sea. 



In the face of this book multiplicity we can offer 

 no excuse for the publication of this volume fur- 

 ther than the fact that the importance of the sub- 

 ject treated at this time so bears upon the happi- 

 ness and prosperity of our people and nation, that 

 it becomes an impelling motive for its publication. 



We do not make the claim that for this volume 

 we have even written a truth not yet uttered, but 

 believe we have placed an emphasis upon many 

 truths pertaining to the business of farming that 

 has not been previously placed, which, according 

 to Drummond, is ample justification for perpetra- 

 ting another book upon a long suffering public. 



In this volume we have simply recorded the 

 knowledge gathered from long experience, careful 

 observation, and intense study of the subjects 

 treated, and we have attempted to state this knowl- 

 edge thus gathered in a simple, untechnical way, 

 so that any one can read, be interested, entertained 

 and profited thereby. 



Bacon said, ' ' Some books are to be tasted ; oth- 

 ers swallowed; and some few to be chewed and 

 digested." We are hoping that this shall prove 



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