22 AMERICAN HUSBANDRY. 



the first application of manures, nnd making the 

 ground clean by the crop and the hoe. 6th. The 

 improvement of animals iiy skilful crossing and se- 

 lection, the scientific application of these principles 

 belonging exclusively to the moderns. 7th. The 

 originating new and valuable varieties of vegetables, 

 by crosses or as seedlings, many of which, among 

 the roots, fruits, and grains, have superseded in cul- 

 tivation the original stocks from which they sprung. 

 8lh. The invention of many new labour-saving ma- 

 chines, and the improvement of most others used in 

 agriculture. In this respect the processes of agri- 

 culture in use at present are far superior to those of 

 the ancients, adding both ease and facility of execu- 

 tion to many farming operations formerly of the 

 most tedious and toilsome kind. Eds.] 



CHAPTER II. 



COMPARATIVE AGRICULTURE OF ENGLAND AND AMERICA. 



Importance of Agriculture to the Country. — Adaptation of Eng- 

 lish Agriculture to the United States. — Necessary Variations. 

 — Difference of Climate. — Its effect on our Agriculture. 



Agriculture, a subject always of surpassing in- 

 terest to the United States, as constituting her great 

 source of real wealth, and furnishing employment 

 to more than two thirds of her inhabitants, has late- 

 ly, from a conjunction of peculiar causes, been in- 

 vested with a paramount importance, but not more 

 so than, in our opinion, is strictly its due. Agricul- 

 ture is tlie art of arts ; or, rather, it is a science 

 to which all others are in a degree subservient. 

 Chymistry adds to its resources and directs its ad- 

 vances ; printing records its progress, and scatters 



