iv PREFACE. 



of agricultural Implements both in timber and iron. There is no Implement or 

 machine mentioned in this work which will not be found on sale, or may not be 

 made to order, in the establishments of these gentlemen, in the best manner, and at 

 an equitable charge. 



For important assistance in the Veterinary Part of this work, our best thanks are due 

 to an eminent professor. Through the kind assistance of this gentleman we have been 

 enabled to bring together a body of useful information on the anatomy, physiology, 

 pathology, breeding, rearing, and general treatment of the horse, the ox, the sheep, and 

 other domestic animals, even to dogs and poultry, such as we can safely assert is not to 

 be found in any other single volume on Agriculture. 



It may be necessary to mention, as a key to this work, that such technical terms as are 

 used in a more definite sense than usual, or such as practical readers in the country, or 

 mere general readers, may be supposed not familiar with, are explained in a Glossarial 

 Index (p. 1241.) ; and that the abridged titles of books are given at length in an appro- 

 priate catalogue, (p. viii.) The systematic nomenclature of plants adopted is that of our 

 Hortus JSritdnnicus, with some exceptions which are noted where they occur. In the 

 specific names of the more common animals, we have followed Turton's edition of the 

 Systema Nature of Linnams ; in those of insects, we have followed modern authors : such 

 chemical, mineralogical, and geological terms as occur, are those used by Sir H. Davy 

 in his Agricultural Chemistry, and by Professor Brande in his Geology : the weights and 

 measures are always according to the standard of Britain, and the temperature to that of 

 Fahrenheit's thermometer, unless otherwise expressed. Systematic names of animals, 

 vegetables, and minerals are accented, and their derivations indicated, in the manner 

 adopted in the Gardener's Magazine and in the Magazine of Natural History, as ex- 

 plained in a separate article, (p. vii.) 



The recent changes which have taken place in the market value of currency, render 

 price a criterion of much too temporary a nature to be employed in any work which 

 aims at general and permanent utility. For this reason we have in this Encyclopedia 

 generally avoided money calculations, preferring to indicate the value of objects or 

 operations by the quantity of materials and labour requisite to produce them, or by 

 stating their cost relatively to the cost of other articles. 



We have also avoided entering on the subject of state policy, as to the relative pro- 

 tection of agriculture and manufactures, or of the protection of the home against the 

 foreign grower of corn. Natural prices will always be safer for the farmer than arti- 

 ficial ones ; and with low prices the farmer has the chance of deriving a greater benefit on 

 an extraordinary rise, and sustaining less loss on an extraordinary fall. If the prices of 

 corn were one half lower than they are, neither farmers nor proprietors would find their 

 comforts diminished ; for the value of manufactures and importations would fall in pro- 

 portion to that of agricultural produce. Price, it is true, is not always value ; but they 

 are never materially different for any length of time. 



The first edition of this work was written in the autumn and winter of 1822-3, and 

 published in June, 1825. In this second edition, commenced in January, 1828, and 

 completed in January, 1831, will be found very considerable additions and improvements, 

 including nearly 500 new engravings. Of these engravings nearly 200 are more useful 

 figures, substituted for others considered less so ; and the remainder, consisting of nearly 

 300 are entirely additional. A catalogue of all the engravings in the work arranged 

 systematically is also given (p. xxxii. ), for more convenient reference, when the purpose 

 of the reader is a choice of implements or machines. 



The principal additions to the letter-press of this edition have been made at the 

 suggestion of our much esteemed friend Mr. Cleghorn, of Edinburgh, late editor of 

 the Farmer's Magazine, formerly published in that city ; and, in consequence of the 

 assistance procured by the Proprietors, on our recommendation, from Mr. Swainson, the 

 eminent naturalist. The fonner gentleman perused an interleaved copy of* the Ency- 

 clopaedia, and suggested on the blank pages whatever he thought wanting ; indicating at 

 the same time the books or other sources which might be consulted for the purpose of 

 supplying these wants. Mr. Swainson most obligingly took the trouble of writing 

 some paragraphs in the Agricultural History of South America (p. 200.), and the whole 

 of the article on Insects (from p. 1112. top. 1121.), with some other sentences and para- 

 graphs in different parts of the work, not always considered of sufficient importance to 

 be marked with his signature. Dr. Trail, of Liverpool, on our suggestion to the Pro- 

 prietors, examined the chemical and geological departments of Part II. Book III., and 

 was good enough to send us some corrections and additions, most of which are indicated 

 by the letter T. With the exception of the additional engravings of implements before 

 mentioned, Mr. Swainson's article on Insects is by far the most valuable addition which 

 the Encyclopaedia has received ; and it is but doing justice to him to state, that he is 

 the only gentleman among the List of Contributors (p. vi.), who took the trouble to 

 write out his additions in such a manner as to accommodate them to the portions of the 



