LIBRARY OF USEFUL KNOWLEDGE, 



THE FARMERS SERIES. 



INTRODUCTION. 



The Farmer's Series will consist of Treatises upon subjects most inter- 

 esting to persons employed in the various branches of agriculture, and to 

 those, generally, who reside in the country. It naturally begins with con- 

 sidering the Animals which constitute the most valuable part of the farmer's 

 property; — their origin; — their different breeds; — their structure; — the 

 most economical, and profitable, and humane method of treating 

 them ; — and the art of rendering their services more extensive and 

 permanent, and their health and comfort more secure. It is hoped that 

 these volumes will contribute to the amusement, the improvement, and the 

 profit of the farmer and the cottager ; and better the condition both of 

 himself and of the animals intrusted to his care. They may afford him a 

 pleasant companion at his winter's fire-side, — a useful counsellor when em- 

 ployed in the labours of his station, — and a help to raise his mind to a 

 serious, but delightful contemplation of the objects which Providence has 

 spread around us for our admiration and our use. 



Under this first great division will be considered those animals which 

 aid the power of man — the horse, ox, ass, mule, dog — those which supply 

 food and clothing — horned cattle, sheep, swine, goats, poultry, rabbits, 

 bees — those which are hurtful — the fox, w^azel, rat, mole, insects. In 

 treating the subject of domestic animals, their history, various kinds, 

 structure and habits, feeding and treatment when young, management 

 when worked, and diseases, will be successively considered. 



The General Principles of Agriculture \\\\\ form the other great division 

 of this series ; and under this head will be treated whatever relates to the 

 nature of soils and manures — the rotation of crops — farm -buildings and 

 machinery — sheep-farming and dairy-farming, so far as these may not have 

 been considered under the head of sheep and cattle — potatoes and spade 

 husbandry — wood and timber. 



There is a class of subjects which, though not exclusively interesting to 

 country people, belong more to them than to others ; brewing, baking, 

 washing and bleaching, land-measuring, road-making, bridge-building, 

 quarrying, lime-burning, &c. These will be discussed in treatises occa- 

 sionally introduced in the progress of this series. 



At the head of those animals which have been domesticated by, or ren- 

 dered useful to, man, — whether we regard his noble form, his great saga- 

 city, or the manner in which he is connected with our profit and our 

 pleasure, — stands the Horse. 



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