PREFACE. 



In publishing these pages, I have two objects in view 

 the assistance of those who need advice and the in- 

 struction of my foreman on the farm, that he may under- 

 stand the reason why he is required to do certain things. 

 But how should I know any better than he does, the laws of 

 vegetable life, and the best course to pursue to obtain re- 

 munerative crops ? 



He is supposed to be practically acquainted with the 

 whole Art of Agriculture. Now, the fact must be plain 

 to every one, that no man, in his short life, by his own 

 experience and observation, can become master ot this 

 Art, because it takes a whole year to try one experiment. 

 From this fact, his progress in knowledge must be very 

 slow indeed. 



Well, then, besides the actual trials on the farm, to 

 improve his mind, the next best thing to do, is to study 

 carefully the recorded experience of other farmers and the 

 writings of the able investigators of the chemistry of 

 plant life. To do this with profit, he should be acquaint- 

 ed, to a certain degree, with every science which has shed 

 any light upon the subject. 



, the working farmer is generally too much en- 

 1 to acquire this knowledge. Well then, if he w T ill 



please to lay aside all prejudice against me, we will read 

 for him, and report a few ot the grand truths, which we 

 find scattered through the- vast toine of other times, and 

 the periodicals of our own rushing busy century. 



