14 ' INTRODUCTION", 



Deeply impressed with these views, and feel- 

 ing a strong inclination to contribute, as far as 

 lies in my power, to the success of so noble -a 

 design, I was induced, in compliance with the 

 repeated solicitations of the late President of the 

 Board of Agriculture, to undertake the task of 

 drawing up the Agricultural Survey of the Coun- 

 ty of Fife. How far I have done justice to the 

 subject must be left to others to determine. 

 Notwithstanding my best endeavours to render 

 the performance as correct as possible, I am 

 sensible that it labours under many defects, and 

 that it will have occasion frequently to appeal 

 to the candour and indulgence of the public. 

 Facts I have stated, partly from my own know- 

 ledge, but principally from the communications of 

 others, whose acquaintance with the state of the 

 county was more intimate and extensive than 

 mine could possibly be. The observations in- 

 terspersed through the work, relative to differ- 

 ent points in husbandry, are partly the, result of 

 experience, and partly hazarded as matters of o- 

 pinion, which may be adopted or rejected as 

 they shall appear to be well or ill founded. 

 Many errors and mistakes will, I doubt not, oc- 

 cur to the intelligent reader ; but I flatter my- 

 self, that these will be found to be neither so nu- 

 merous, nor of such magnitude, as materially to 

 affect the conclusions aimed at, as the great and 

 ultimate object of the present agricultural inves- 

 tigations. 



