EXP 



EXP 



127 



ledge of the multifarious branches 

 of it in our minds. It is needful, 

 also, to teach us the easiest meth- 

 ods of performing a thousand things 

 which depend on circumstances so 

 minute, that they were never com- 

 mitted to paper, and scarcely are 

 thought to be worth mentioning. 



But experience, however neces- 

 sary, is not all that is needful to 

 make an accomplished farmer. — 

 Observation is equally necessary. 

 And without argumentation, none 

 will be fit for any thing greater than 

 going on in the most beaten tracks. 

 None ought to conclude from their 

 having had the longest experience, 

 that they have the greatest degree 

 of knowledge : For some will learn 

 more by experience in one year, 

 than others will in forty. Theory 

 and practice should certainly con- 

 cur, to render persons skilful in 

 husbandry, or in any other profes- 

 sion. An early apprenticeship is 

 as necessary to the attainment of 

 this arr, as any other ; as socne 

 have been convinced, who have 

 entered on farming when they were 

 past the meridian of life. 



EXPERIMENTS, trials of prac- 

 tice in husbandry. It is greatly to 

 be wished, that more of these were 

 made in this youni'^ ociintry, where 

 the knowjt Jj ■ * tignculture is yet 

 in its inta.icy. Experiments made 

 in other countries are not to be re- 

 lied on, as proofs of the utility of 

 one mode of culture in preference 

 to another, in this country. There- 

 fore, we should not trust to the 

 experiments of Europeans, but 

 make experiments for ourselves. 

 Till this is done, we are not to look 

 for great improvements in husban- 

 dry. 



It may be true, that he who makes 

 a new experiment is in some haz- 

 ard of losing more or less by it. — 

 Therefore, 1 would not press it up- 

 on farmers in indigent or low cir- 

 cumstances, to venture upon any 

 thing of the kind, unless it be in 

 very small matters, or on a small 

 scale ; for the failure of one year's 

 crop would almost reduce them to 

 beggary. They would do well, 

 however, to compare the profit of 

 one crop with another, reckoning 

 the cost laid out upon each ; and 

 of one course of crops with anoth- 

 er ; and the success of different 

 manures on the same, or on differ- 

 ent soils. Thus they may find 

 which of the old methods is to be 

 preferred, by a small degree of at- 

 tention, without any risk, which is 



a matter of some consequence. 



For we need to learn what meth- 

 ods to drop, or discontinue, as well 

 as what to adopt or bring into use. 

 Gentlemen of large estates, who 

 can bear some considerable loss 

 without feeling it, in case they fail 

 of success, are the persons that 

 should try new crops, or new ways 

 of raising old ones. Love of their 

 country should prompt them to it ; 

 for there is no reason to doubt but 

 that our husbandry may admit ofa 

 variety ofimportant improvements. 

 It is wished that an enterprising 

 spirit were more excited, th&t we 

 might have reason to hope for great 

 improvements in husbandry. — 

 There is an extensive field for ex- 

 periments ; and making them might 

 be a good and laudable amusement 

 to persons who have leisure. — - 

 Trench ploughing, which has nev- 

 er yet been attempted in this coun 



