ir DEDICATION. 



hour's farm was not more productive, replied, " because he has 

 booked it to death." These prejudices exist chiefly among those, 

 whose minds are unenlightened, and views unexpanded by that 

 useful knowledge, which is only to be acquired by reading. It 

 must be conceded that almost all improvements are derived from 

 the records of practice and observation ; and when we have rea- 

 son and experience to support, and plain facts to confirm, we 

 may become less tenacious of the rules of our fathers, believing 

 that it may be the reserved privilege of the children, to acquire 

 the skill of producing two spires of grass where their fathers pro- 

 duced but one. It is a remarkable fact that the first planters 

 bequeathed to their posterity a greater number of orchards, in 

 proportion to their population, than ate now to be found in the 

 old colony ; and it is no less notorious that the children have 

 substituted a poisonous liquor for the salutary beverage, which al- 

 most exclusively cheered the hearts of their virtuous ancestors. 

 The views of men are often materially affected through mere in- 

 dolence of temper, no less than through the cloud of prejudice. 

 Averse to the labour of reading and inquiry, they adhere perti- 

 naciously to the routine of their predecessors, and treat with equal 

 contempt the lessons of experience, and all suggestions of im- 

 provement. It is not, however, desirable that former modes ot 

 practice in husbandry should be abandoned until it shall be 

 incontestably proved, that a system more adapted to our circum- 

 stances, and in all respects of superiour utility, can be found- 

 ed on the surest basis. It is not to be required of our farmers to 

 subject themselves to the expense and uncertainty of novel expe- 

 riments ; but he who possesses capital and leisure, and who, in 

 the spirit of investigation, shall put in execution a hundred new 

 projects, although in ten only shall he be successful in the acqui- 

 sition of useful knowledge, will be entitled to publick praise and 

 respect. These pages contain no speculative or visionary pro- 

 jects, nor recommend any untried experiments. Although a por- 



