126 European Agriculture and Riiral Economy. 



undertaking too great for an individual to accomplish as one \\ould desire 

 that it should he done. It must satisfy me, I hope it will satisfy my friends, 

 that I have, with unceasing anxiety, sought to execute it as well as I 

 could. It was not to be expected that I should give a complete system of 

 agriculture ; but I have constantly endeavored to collect and present that 

 information which would be most useful ; and to convey it in a simple and 

 practical form. I have omitted many circumstances, because they are well 

 known. I have given full details wherever I thought they were required. 

 As to iny opinions on any subject upon which I have treated, I can only 

 answer that they are my own ; that I am quite ready to yield them, when I 

 find, upon further information, reason so to do ; and, above all, that my 

 opinions or judgments do not encroach upon the personal right of indepen- 

 dent judgment and opinion in any and all others. 



European agriculture lays under many burdens, from which the United 

 States are free, and I pray may long remain so. The weight of taxation 

 in most of the countries of Europe is very oppressive. The unproductive 

 classes are numerous to an excess. Immense standing armies ; govern- 

 ments enormously expensive, and in a great measure irresponsible to the 

 people ; ecclesiastical establishments, and their attaches, demanding large 

 contributions from labor, and returning, in many cases, little more in value 

 than the bishop's blessing in ^sop's fable, are all to be sustained from the 

 soil, and by the labor, of those who cultivate it. In their present exemption 

 from these burdens, tlie farmers of the United States are greatly blessed. 

 May they duly appreciate their singular advantages, than which none great- 

 er ever fell to the lot of man in his social condition. To them we may ap- 

 ply ihe beautiful line of the immortal poet — 



O ! ter beati AgricolfE, si sua bona n6rint.'' *— pp- 596-598 



We fear, if this was not the closing number, some of Mr. 

 Colman's readers would "stop their subscription," for in 

 these days — to recommend the culture of the grape for the 

 manufacture of wine, would bring down, upon the writer, the 

 indignation of some of our philanthropists, who look upon 

 the grape as the remote cause of all the intemperance of 

 the age. We, however, agree with Mr. Cohnan, and we 

 trust we may see that time arrive, when the importation of 

 wine will be among the things that were. 



The work forms two volumes, of upwards of 500 pages 

 each, illustrated with many fine copper-plate engravings — 

 printed on superior paper, and in a neat bold type — and will 

 form a valuable acquisition to the library of every farmer. 



* TJirice happy farmers, if they only knew their Lle.ssiiigs. 



