xxiv PREFACE. 



Hufbandry is an art that has hitherto 

 owed lefs to reafoning than i believe 

 any other. I know not of any difco- 

 veries. or a fingle beneficial practice that 

 lias clearly flowed f.omthis fource. But 

 every one is well acquainted with many 

 that have been the refult of experiment 

 and regiilered oblervation. There is 

 no people exifting fo backward but have 

 ibme good practices to copy, as well as 

 errors to avoid- To defcribe both is to 

 give a chain of connected ta&s that 

 mull:, in the end, prove ufeful to fuch 

 as will read and digeft them with at- 

 tention and reflection : but I am ready 

 to admit that this is a ftudy very far 

 from amufing*. The repfifters of fuch 

 journies, as I have employed a great 

 deal of time and expenfe in making, 

 muft necefTarily be exceedingly dull to 

 thofe who read for pleafure: fo disa- 

 greeable, that they will certainly throw 

 down the volume with as muft difguft 

 as they would tables of arithmetic. 

 The flattering circumftance of a fuc- 

 eefsful publication is not thus to be ex- 

 pected. The prefent age is much too 

 * idle 



