10 AMERICAN HUSBANDRY. 



The introduction and establishment of the New 

 Husbandry in England required many years for its 

 accomplishment ; a long series of experiments ; the 

 writings of many distinguished men ; and the exam- 

 ple of individuals of known science and skill. There 

 were old and deep-rooted prejudices to overcome ; 

 the dread of innovation to encounter ; the habits and 

 usages of ages to break up and eradicate, before the 

 improvements, which have proved so essential and 

 vital to the prosperity of that kingdom, could be fix- 

 ed on their present secure basis. Men bred to the 

 business of farming are proverbially reluctant to 

 submit to changes affecting their modes of proceed- 

 ing ; and when some of the proposed methods were 

 found to conflict entirely with the courses which 

 they and their fathers had pursued, it is not surprising 

 that such novelties were regarded with suspicion and 

 distrust. Perseverance, however, triumphed over 

 opposition ; and good sense, aided perhaps by national 

 necessities, frowned down illiberality and persecu- 

 tion ; and a return to the old systems of cultivation, 

 it is now universally admitted, would bring speedy 

 ruin, if not absolute starvation, on the whole nation 



The United States have received their agriculture, 

 as well as their codes of morals and laws, from what 

 may well be designated the " Fatherland ;" and al- 

 though the revolution destroyed the sense of servile 

 imitation and dependance that was before so opera- 

 tive, still the changes that were gradually going on 

 in Great Britain were not without their influence on 

 the fanning systems of this. There was a mateii&l 



