viii PREFACE. 



Petki was also an honorary and corresponding member of many societies, 

 and Agricultural Counsellor of the Prince Von Lichtenstein, and his valuable 

 work on Sheep forms part of the German Farmer's Encyclopedia. 



Of Carl Spremgel, the Botanist, Mineralogist, and Chemist, it is less ne- 

 cessary to speak, as he is probably more known in this country. He was, in 

 1837, Professor of Agriculture, and Editor of an Agricultural Journal of great 

 celebrity, on the continent of Europe, and his works exhibit much research, 

 as well us clear intellect and discriminating judgment. 



A necessity exists, where these works are published, for much of the infor- 

 mation contained in them beyond merely aiding the farmer in tillage. These 

 calculations are the basis of a standard of valuations of land, &-c., for the as- 

 sessment of taxes. A soil or product ranks at a fixed rate, and with this all 

 are compared and valued, and the computation readily made. All therefore 

 feel it important to possess such information, and were there a like discrimina- 

 tion in our own country, in preparing the assessments, much of the present 

 hap-hazard estimate, so productive of unequal justice, would be prevented. 



Our farmers are slow to believe the importance of these things; yet much is 

 doing by Agricultural Societies and works among us to instruct the people. 

 A few in every section of the country are laying the results of their experi- 

 ence and knowledge before the public, and a great advance has been made 

 within a few years. 



The subject of manures has engaged the attention of many scientific and 

 practical men, and a new field of mysteries has been brought under the hand of 

 experiment, by which the most interesting and striking results are developed. 



Analyses of the soils have been made, and the theory of growth and decay 

 brought out and illustrated with great beauty and simplicity. The same is 

 the case as respects the materials for fodder, and it was melancholy to read, 

 the past winter, of so many cattle starving in Ohio and Michigan, when by a 

 slight knowledge of the many substitutes and modes of preparation, their 

 owners might have avoided the loss. 



As to the present volume, it is true, that many of its details do not apply 

 with exact accuracy to this country, as our habits, manners, and modes of 

 farming, implements used, products and prices of labor, and standards of weight 

 and measure, are so widely different from those in Continental Europe. Still 

 I doubt not that even these details may answer a valuable purpose, by suggest- 

 ing the application of similar rules, and that they may be so modified, that 

 even as practical results they may be most useful. The weights and meas- 

 ures are mostly reduced to the English standard, and tables from the best 

 authorities are added, by which any one may further verify them. I have 

 added, too, an Index which may render the use of the work more easy, and thus 

 enhanced its value. 



Should this work meet with favor from the public, I hope, by availing myself 

 of several other valuable treatises not to be found in our language, to render 

 future portions of Burger's Manual yet more deserving of patronage by the 

 friends of Agriculture. There is a mine of riches on this subject, on which 

 the first stroke has scarcely yet been struck. 



New-York, July, 1843. THE TRANSLATOR. 



