SKETCH Ok 



CHAPTER II. 



ON THE PRACTICAL DETAILS OF THE .SCOTCH 

 SYSTEM OF HUSBANDRY. 



JL HAVE always been of opinion, that however myste- 

 rious the science or art of Agriculture has hitherto been 

 considered, yet that it might be reduced to a few simple 

 principles, and in many respects brought to almost mathe- 

 matical precision. The reason why that has not yet 

 been effected to the extent of which the subject was ca- 

 pable, is, either that real practical men have rarely pu- 

 blished the result of their experience and observation on 

 agricultural questions, or that those who have written 

 their sentiments, have seldom entered sufficiently into de- 

 tail, so as to explain what may be called * the Mysteries 

 " f Agriculture^' or those minute operations, on the 

 due execution of which its success must in a great mea- 

 sure depend. Besides, it is only within these few years 

 that a judicious and economical System of Agriculture 

 has been extensively carried into practice, or the prin- 

 ciples on which it ought to be conducted has been tho- 

 roughly ascertained. By the improvements, however, 

 which have lately been introduced into that art, (which 

 the minute inquiries carried on under the auspices of 

 the Board of Agriculture, have fortunately brought 

 to light), the principles are established, on which the 

 territory of any country, at least of one possessing a 

 soil and climate similar to Great Britain, may be culti- 

 vated with profit and success. 



It may easily be supposed, that a person engaged in so 

 many other occupations, could not have acquired suffi- 



