IV INTRODUCTION. 



those important branches, the erection of convenient 

 farm-buildings, the improvement of useful instruments 

 of cultivation, or the management of live-stock ; and 

 above all, those minute operations, on the due execution 

 of which the success of the farmer in a great measure 

 depends, had never been so distinctly pointed out. 

 Hence the superiority of the present era for such an 

 attempt. 



If the publication of such a work became advisable, 

 it was peculiarly incumbent on the Author to undertake 

 the task. It was on his suggestion, that the Govern- 

 ment of Great Britain established a Board of Agricul- 

 ture and Internal Improvement, under whose auspices, 

 the greatest exertions were made, to induce the proprie- 

 tors and occupiers of the soil, not only to make experi- 

 ments in husbandry, but to communicate their disco- 

 veries to the new institution. The agricultural circum- 

 stances of every district in the kingdom, were then se- 

 parately and distinctly examined. A multitude of coun- 

 ty reports, drawn up according to one uniform plan, by 

 men of talent and experience, were published * ; and 

 various other works, on specific subjects connected with 

 agriculture, were likewise printed under the direction 

 of the Board. 



But to enable any person to undertake such a task as 

 the present, it was not alone sufficient that he had ac- 

 cess to books, however numerous, or however valuable 

 the information they might contain. It was necessary 

 for him to associate with practical farmers ; to discuss 

 with them the various subjects connected with agricul- 

 ture ; to survey their farms ; to witness, on the spot, 

 their most important operations ; to examine also the 



* The Report of the state of the several counties of England, 

 amounted to forty-seven volumes octavo> and of Scotland to thirty 

 volumes more. Seven volumes of Communications to the Board, and 

 a number of other works on specific subjects, were likewise published 

 by that institution. In short, no subject had ever before been so 

 thoroughly sifted. 



