PREFACE TO FIRST EDITION. 



THIS work is simply an arrangement of every-day Colonial Experiences 

 in Bush Life, Stock Raising, Farming, Gardening, Dairying, Fruit Pre- 

 serving, and kindred subjects. Throughout, the leading effort is to connect 

 the systems of Agriculture, including Stock Farming and Gardening, as 

 followed in the Old Land, with what is gradually proving to be the best 

 practice in Australia. In arranging the work the author had no beaten 

 track to follow There were no similar works to help him. The track of 

 the settler in new country, whichever branch of life he may choose, is 

 rugged at best, and the assistance that can be given by those who have 

 travelled in advance and earned experience on the journey, cannot fail to 

 be serviceable. 



Although the bulk of the contents of this volume were written with a 

 view to their ultimate publication in book form, there is no desire to sup- 

 plant any of the valuable works at the disposal of the agricultural reader. 

 The author could wish that such guides as those of Lindley, Loudon, Stephens, 

 Johnston, Burn, Morton, Youatt, Gamgee, Oliver, Wright, Mechi, and the 

 several excellent journals that devote space to agricultural subjects, were 

 more extensively studied by his fellow-workers. The object in view is to 

 furnish a connecting link between the practice of the Mother Country and 

 America, as laid down in the standard works, with the practice found 

 most suitable here. In treating of grain crops, for instance, the desire is 

 merely to connect the seasons and the necessary alterations in detail with 

 the practice followed in older countries. The same system is followed in 

 the articles upon Stock Farming and Fruit Growing. Each chapter, at the 

 same time, being, as a rule, sufficiently full to form a comprehensive guide 

 in itself. 



The articles upon Budding, Grafting, and other means of propagation, 

 will, it is trusted, tend in no inconsiderable degree to the cultivation of 

 Fruit throughout the country. With the aid of the illustrations given, 

 and directions as to proper time and condition for operating, with ordinary 

 skill and care, there need be comparatively little difficulty in budding or 

 grafting the better sorts of fruits upon the suitable stocks available. 



Machinery, implements, and the various mechanical appliances that 

 do much to simplify labour and reduce the expenses of colonists, have 

 received considerable attention. In the use of machinery, horse, and 

 steam power, the author feels assured, comes the surest way out of the 

 labour difficulties that beset colonists in every pursuit they enter upon. 



Throughout there has been an effort to avoid semi-scientific terms, 

 and to make the work acceptable and useful to those engaged in all the 

 departments of agriculture, and to residents in the country districts gene- 

 rally. To what extent he has succeeded, the reception of the work will 

 prove ; and with this understanding the author places " The Semi-Tropical 

 Agriculturalist and Colonists' Guide " at the disposal of the public. 



Enoggera, Queensland, March, 1875. 



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