/.\/-A'f>n('('//(Ky. 3 



The arciimulatimi of wealth from llic xast iiuTi-asc and improvement of 

 manufactures and eommcrec th(> belhr (hHiision of information, and lh<- 

 increased pc^pulation hav(> all contributed to this ettett. Indixiduals 

 engaged in the pursuit, whose education and habits recpiircd a larger 

 income foi their indulgence than could be afforded from the profits of a 

 small farm, engaged in the occupation of much larger areas, extending 

 even to over one thousand acres. From none of these facts, however, 

 have arisen any splendid discoveries, for such are not to be made in 

 agriculture ; there never can arise, so far as I can foresee, any Newton or 

 Watt in this art. but these enlightened cultivators have effected and are 

 accomplishing all that modern advantages can be expected to perform. 

 They have occasioned the collision of opinion, they have stimulated 

 the desire for improvement, and the\- have promot'-d the general 

 communication of its requirements. 



The improvements which were m due time effected to remedy 

 deficiencies, consisted of a series of moves each depending on the other. 

 Two things were desirable, to increase the extent of culturable soil for 

 grain crops ; and to raise sufficient food for cattle and horses all the year 

 round; now these desirable points involved a thorough change in the 

 practice of husbandry. How was it possible to break up and profitably 

 cultivate indifferent soils, much of which had hitherto been considered 

 beyond all hope of improvement, without an abundant supply of manure, 

 and ho\v could the manure be procured without keeping large herds of 

 cattle, for which there was evidently no means of subsistence ? To over- 

 come these difficulties it was found necessary in the first place to 

 introduce what are called green crops, that is, crops of artificial grasses, 

 including clover, turnips and other roots and plants, for by having a 

 proper supply of these substances, two important ends were gained, the 

 support of stock for manure, and the alternation of green with grain 

 crops, thus at once enriching the land, and relieving it from the 

 scourging obligation to raise corn successfully. On these main points, 

 then, along with plans for drawing off by artificial drainage, the surplus 

 water lodged in or upon the soil, hang the great agricultural improve- 

 ments of modern time. 



As to the literature on the subject, a prejudice has hitherto existed 

 among farmers against the agricultural knowledge contained in books, 

 but there are signs that these stagnant cultivators are gradually 

 disappearing. Ignorance is always bigoted and obstinate, and it is the 

 same mental sterility which made them formerly jealous of all new 

 practices. I heartily rejoice at this, and hope to see them more and mon- 

 a class of reading men. Practice must always be their chief tutor, but it 

 is invariably found most correct in its details when founded upon some 

 scientific knowledge. Foremost, then, among the primary circumstances 

 which caused the change was the publication of numerous and valuable 

 contributions to agricultural liter.iture during the eighteenth century, and 



