vi Preface, 



not agriculturists. They possess? and should bestow, the means 

 of promulgating encouragement and information, to those 

 who are engaged in the labours of the field. It has been ac- 

 knowledged, through all ages, that husbandmen peculiarly 

 require instruction, and fostering care. The greatest charac- 

 ters of either ancient or modern times, have felt, and prac- 

 ticed upon, this important conviction. We make no obser- 

 vations querulously, or reproachfully ; persuaded as we are, 

 that many of our intelligent and respectable fellow citizens 

 only require their attention to be called to the subject. If 

 we repeat such remarks, the reiteration flows from our sen- 

 sibility to their truth. It is also prompted by our mortify- 

 ing experience of the necessity which curtails and chills our 

 efforts, under the want of the aid our fellow citizens have it 

 in their power to furnish, with ease to themselves, and ad- 

 vantage to their country. 



A Pattern Farm, — a Veterinary Institution, — a 

 Manufactory of Agricultural Instruments, — and a 

 Ware-Koom in which to exhibit and vend them, — and to 

 receive and show Models of all new or useful Implements, — 

 a Repository of the best griiins, grass-seeds, and those of 

 esculent rootSf — seeds of hedge plants, as well as those for 

 OrchardistSf and cultivators oi fruits, — distributions of cheap 

 Treatises or Selections, on Agriculture, and all sub- 

 jects connected with it, as school books, and among hus- 

 bandmen who will not buy expensive publications, — were 

 some of the greater and less objects we aimed at. The 

 whole of these would now have been in progress, if not in 

 complete operation. But our voice has been too feeble, and 

 our influence too limited, to elicit private munificence, or 

 legislative patronage and endowment. 



To those who, from insensibility to the true point of the 

 subject, or disinclination to afford assistance, in any way, 

 assert, that « farmers are doing well enough ; — -and must 

 make their own progress ;" — we have nothing to say. We 

 wish them, however, more just and liberal sentiments -, and 



