iv PREFACE. 



sions to the character of an Agricultural Lawgiver." (Farmers Mag. 

 vol. xviii. p. 78.) The Code, however, has great merit as a collection 

 of useful precepts on Farming ; but not being a complete view of its 

 subject ; and the Complete Farmer being obsolete, there remained ample 

 room for a performance such as we have undertaken. 



This work, which we have termed an Encyclopcedia of Agriculture, 

 on account of its comprehensiveness, professes to embrace every 

 part of the subject; and what has never hitherto been attempted, a 

 general History of Agriculture in all countries, and a condensed survey 

 of its present state in every county of the British Isles. We have 

 adopted a systematic arrangement as by far the best for instruction, 

 and also as best admitting of compression ; and we have at the same 

 time supplied a copious General Index to render the whole of the 

 easiest access as a book of reference. All this could only be accom- 

 plished by a very copious page, and the liberal use of engravings. By 

 these means, much verbal description is avoided, ideas more forcibly 

 expressed, and such a body of useful matter included in one volume 

 as, by the system of detached copperplate engravings, and ordinary letter 

 press, would have occupied half a dozen, and been high priced in pro- 

 portion. 



Throughout this work, we have kept in view the following objects : 

 in Part I., to depict Agriculture in the most universal sense, by giving 

 a view of that of all countries ; in Part II., to depict the principles on 

 which the operations and results of the Agriculture of all countries are 

 founded ; and in Parts III. and IV., to apply these principles to that 

 particular Agriculture which is practised in Britain, and similar climates. 

 In pursuing these objects, we have aimed at language sufficiently free 

 from provincial or obscure technology to be understood by all classes 

 of readers. In depicting the Agriculture of Britain, we have held up 

 to view that of the northern counties of Northumberland, Berwickshire, 

 and East Lothian as examples, in most things, to the other parts of the 

 empire. In addressing landlords, superior agents, valuators, and patrons, 

 to point out the advantages of equitable and liberal conduct to their te- 

 nants and dependants ; in discussing the duties of land stewards, bailiffs, 

 and other serving agriculturists, to recommend habits of order, vigilance, 

 and economy ; and finally, submitting to all classes of readers, the advan- 

 tages of enlightening the minds and ameliorating the condition of the 

 operative classes, by facilitating the attainment of instruction : pointing 

 out the evils of early marriages; increasing the comfort and improving the 

 appearance of their cottages and gardens ; and, especially, by repaying 

 their labor to a certain extent in productions calculated for their 

 chief support. (See 3841. and 4496.) For in our opinion the peculiar 

 comfort of all those engaged in agriculture as a profession, from the 

 laborer to the gentleman farmer, will ever consist more in the possession 

 within themselves of the essential means of comfortable existence, than of 



