XIV TO THE PRACTICAL READER. 



in farming, and of value to those who believe (as, happily, 

 a yearly increasing number do believe) that the road to 

 surer and greater profit lies through the door that Science 

 and Common Sense the guardian angels of Agriculture 

 hold open to them. 



It has not been possible to do much in this direction, for 

 the subject is a very extended one, but I think that many 

 a young farmer, if he will consider well the principles that 

 are laid down under the headings of " Plants," " Soils," and 

 " Manures," will at least feel a desire to learn more of the 

 simple truths which lie at the foundation of his practice. 



I am sure, also, that it is not too much to say, that a 

 careful study of the directions and the reasons for Tile- 

 Draining will richly repay any occupier of cold, wet land 

 for the purchase of the book. 



This is a subject which, in this country at least, is still in 

 the very early infancy of its progress. Not one acre in ten 

 thousand of the land that it would pay well to drain in the 

 best manner, has yet felt the benefit of the operation ; and 

 not one farmer in a thousand has the faintest conception of 

 the fact, a fact that ample experience, here and in Europe, 

 has fully demonstrated, that he can no more afford to 

 farm an undrained heavy soil, than a carpenter can afford 

 to work with a dull tool. 



I have introduced another novelty into the work, under 

 the head of " The Dry Earth System." This is a bantling 

 that has raised its head within a very few years, and is only 

 now coming to be recognized at its full value ; but it is 



