INTRODUCTION". 15 



They generally give a brief description of 

 their experiments, and the benefits derived from 

 them, as shown in the improved condition and 

 fertility of their lands. The information thus 

 given is very good as far as it goes, but as these 

 experiments are generally made without a clear 

 knowledge of the defects intended to be remedied, 

 or of the nature of the materials employed, they 

 must naturally be risky : they may succeed or 

 fail. As experiments so made must naturally 

 cause a great waste of time and money, the 

 value of practical knowledge is apparent. 



The farmer to work intelligently should know 

 what is the best and cheapest means to effect a 

 desired end, and this cannot be done until he is 

 fully acquainted with the chemical and physical 

 defects of his soil, and the nature and properties 

 of those materials that he can procure to correct 

 them. There is no operation of the farm that 

 cannot be performed so intelligently as" the 

 burning of limestone to produce quick lime, and 

 the subsequent application of this lime to hasten 

 the decomposition of dead vegetable substances 

 in the soil, and give food to plants. It is not 

 our intention to insult the good sense of our 

 practical farmers by any labored defence of 

 Avhat is termed book farming. The prejudices 

 supposed to exist against valuable information 

 that can be given on this subject in books urn 



