VI ADVERTISEMENT TO 



could have induced me to engage in so arduous 

 an attempt. Indeed, the labour and difficulties 

 attending it, have gone far beyond every idea I 

 could have formed of them. To execute the task 

 in a satisfactory manner, it seemed to me neces- 

 sary, personally to examine several of the more 

 improved districts in Scotland, to converse with 

 the farmers in their own fields, to explain to them 

 distinctly, not only the general objects I had in 

 view, but also the particular facts I wished to as- 

 certain ; and to obtain from them, not hasty an- 

 swers, to questions suddenly put, but details, ma- 

 turely considered, and carefully drawn up. The 

 reader has now an opportunity of examining the 

 result of the whole investigation. The Author 

 claims the merit only of collecting, condensing, 

 and digesting, the important information which 

 was most liberally furnished. The credit of the 

 knowledge which this Work may contain, belongs 

 entirely to the intelligent and public-spirited 

 Farmers from whom that information has been 

 derived. 



I trust that there are several observations con- 

 tained in this Work, which will prove of service 

 in those districts of England, where the cultiva- 



