THE 



CODE OF AGRICULTURE. 



CHAP. I. 



PARTICULARS TO BE CONSIDERED, BEFORE A FARMER CAN 

 UNDERTAKE, WITH PRUDENCE, THE OCCUPATION OF ANY 

 EXTENT OF LAND. 



THOUGH agriculture is capable of being reduced to simple 

 principles, yet, on the whole, it requires, a greater variety of 

 knowledge, than perhaps any other art('). In addition to 

 the information and extensive experience which must be ac- 

 quired by a farmer, to enable him to cultivate the soil with 

 success, or to manage his stock with profit, it is necessary for 

 him, before he can undertake with prudence, the occupation 

 of any extent of land, deliberately to consider the following 

 important particulars : The climate ; The soil ; The sub- 

 soil ; The elevation ; The aspect ; The situation ; The 

 size ; The tenure ; The rent ; and the other burdens af- 

 fecting the farm. These preliminary points, it is here pro- 

 posed briefly to illustrate. 



SECT. I. Climate. 



BY the term Climate, is meant in popular language, the 

 nature of the weather, the temperature, and the atmos- 

 pherical phenomena, peculiar to any particular district or 

 country. 



It is much to be regretted, that sufficient attention is rare- 

 ly paid by the farmer, to the peculiarities of the climate in 

 which his operations are carried on. Unless the plan he fol- 

 lows, be adapted to the weather which his crops are likely 

 to experience, every exertion will often terminate in disap- 

 pointment. The system that is proper for dry and warm si- 

 tuations, is not suitable for those that are cold and wet ; and 



