IV 



mation, separating it into two parts a brief outline 

 or review of the experiment up to date ; and a sketch 

 of the systems of cultivation that have been adopted 

 with the best results, intending my Review for circu- 

 lation, only, among Planters and such others in India 

 as take an interest in Agricultural experiments. I 

 had no idea of writing a book. Indeed, like most 

 officials in India, my public duties occupy so much of 

 my time as to preclude the possibility of my bestow- 

 ing such care and attention on any leisure occupation, 

 as is necessary to ensure its being well done. Every 

 line almost of these pages has been written between 

 dinner and bedtime. What was written at night, 

 was sent unrevised to the press in the morning, a 

 private press, in which there is but one compositor of 

 English, a Bengali. I do not make these remarks 

 with a view to disarm criticism. No attempt has 

 been made in these pages at fine writing ; and the 

 honest writer never fears fair criticism. 



At the same time, a book so written, and so printed, 

 cannot but exhibit many defects, and I am con- 

 scious that this Review is disfigured by more than 

 a full complement. To appear in public in slippers 

 is always disagreeable, and though the more edu- 

 cated and polite the company, the more certain 

 it is to be indulgent and considerate, the necessity 

 for explanation will still remain, and iience this 

 apology. 



