X INTRODUCTION. 



corded, that it may be retained, and be in no danger ot" being 

 lost, as a great deal has been in the world. It should also be 

 remembered that things which are well known by some may 

 be quite new to others ; especially to young persons, and to 

 all those who have newly turned their attention to husbandry. 



The writer has had more zeal and courage in attempting to 

 promote improvements in agriculture, since the happy termi- 

 nation of the late struggle for independence than before. Our 

 holding the rank of a free and independent nation allows us to 

 consider the country as indisputably our own, and ourselves as 

 monarchs over our farms. Nor does it appear probable, that 

 we shall soon meet with any thing that will give us a material 

 interruption, in pursuing the arts, or enjoying the blessings of 

 peace. If great improvements were now to be made, we 

 might have reason to hope we should enjoy the benefits of them 

 through life, ai>d that posterity would not be deprived of 

 them. 



But the most forcible reason for our cultivating this art, is the 

 indispensable necessity of it, to enable us to live as becomes an 

 independent people. The alarming effect of the present low 

 state of husbandry is, that we are necessitated to import much 

 of our food, and clothing, while we are incapable of making 

 proportionable remittances in the produce of the soil, or in 

 any thing else. As a good system of national government is 

 now established, I see no reason to doubt but that a spirited 

 attention to husbandry and manufactures, accompanied with a 

 more general practice of frugality and economy, would put us 

 on a respectable footing ; so that such a foundation would be 

 laid for our increasing wealth, that we should be able, in a 

 short time, to cancel our publick debts ; and might reasona- 

 bly hope ere long to become an opulent, respectable and very 

 powerful nation. 



As to the present edition, its appearing so soon after the 

 first is occasioned by the rapid sale of the book, arising from 

 the general acceptance it has obtained ; and the increasing de- 

 mand could not otherwise be supplied. 



The author has taken the opportunity to correct a great 

 number of small errors. Some few things are suppressed in 

 this publication. The diction in many parts is much improv- 

 ed. iVTany articles are more largely, and more accurately 

 treated of than they were before ; and a number of new and 

 important ones are added, with a view to render the work a 

 more complete directory for husbandmen. And that the vege- 

 tables that are treated on may be known to persons in other 

 countriee, as well as in remote parts of our own, where they 



