"Vl. INTRODUCTION. 



and reduce to handy size, the voluminous productions 

 on this important subject; so that it will require neither 

 much expense to purchase, nor time to read. 



The present is a peculiarly interesting era in the 

 agricultural history of our country. The prejudices 

 which have so much, and so long existed against the 

 introduction of improvements are rapidly disappearing, 

 and giving place to general inquiry and the adoption of 

 the most approved modes of cultivation. 



Agriculture has within a few years undergone a ma- 

 terial change, not only by the progress made in^ the 

 knowledge of the art itself, but also by the introduction 

 of many new implements of husbandry, calculated to 

 facilitate the operations necessary in the cultivation of 

 the soil. This change is evidently owing to the spirited 

 exertions and publications of individuals, as well as to 

 the mass of useful and experimental knowledge, which 

 Agricultural Societies have, with a laudable zeal and at- 

 tention, given to the public. With the view of more 

 generally diffusing this desirable knowledge, the editors 

 have been encouraged to attempt the following publi- 

 cation, in which they will endeavour to be as concise as 

 may be consistent with a proper elucidation of the im- 

 portant matters treated. From attentive observation we 

 are satisfied there is a great deficiency of American pub- 

 lications on this subject. European works on Agricul- 

 ture, are perhaps more common in this country ; but 

 they are not perfectly adapted to a region so different- 

 ly circumstanced. " Though English writers may be 

 perused by the judicious to great advantage, yet local 

 circumstances so widely differ in the two countries, it 

 would be unadvisable, and periiaps ruinous, for our 

 farmers to adopt the methods of culture in gross, which 

 they recommend to their countrymen." In compiling 

 this Compendium, therefore, we shall have recourse iiwt 



