Xll TO THE PRACTICAL READER. 



Certainly all that I have hitherto seen have been sadly in- 

 complete. 



Finally, I quite accidentally became acquainted with Mr. 

 Courtney's Manual, and I found it much more nearly what 

 it professes to be than any book that I had hitherto seen, 

 for, although he very modestly complains of its incomplete- 

 ness, it is undoubtedly much more thorough and accurate 

 than are most works of its class. 



The idea occurred to me, that by bringing my experience 

 in the use of such books to bear upon the completion and 

 amendment of Mr. Courtney's work, I might render a good 

 service to the thousands who have almost daily occasion to 

 consult a book of this character ; and in some degree 

 make up for the loss that the community sustained in his 

 death, although I cannot hope to bring to the task either 

 the patience or the experience that constituted his great 

 merit as a compiler. 



It would be presumption to claim that, even in its en- 

 larged and corrected condition, this book is complete, and 

 all that could be desired, for there are more subjects of quite 

 general interest to farmers and mechanics than could be 

 properly catalogued in a book of this size. All that is 

 claimed is, that so far as it goes it is correct ; and that it 

 goes as far, and in as many directions, as is compatible 

 with its size and purpose. 



The importance of having such a book as this always at 

 one's elbow is very much greater than would at first sight be 

 supposed by one who has not known the convenience of it. 



