PREFACE. vii 



them, furely deferves the attention of 

 men, who are willing to facrifice their 

 amufement to their information. This 

 is in other words faying, that the Hate 

 of common husbandry, in all its varia- 

 tions and connections ought to be well 

 underftood. Of little confequence ir.uft 

 precepts, maxims, and directions for a 

 better conduct appear, unlefs we really 

 know the evils that are to be remedied, 

 and the practices that are to be con- 

 demned. Without this necellary know- 

 ledge, the recommendations of the mofl 

 ingenious fpeculative author, muft be 

 almoft ufelefs; and the labours of the 

 experimentalift, want much of the ap- 

 plication which is to render his fads 

 important. The object of every writer 

 in rural ceconomics is to make hufban- 

 dry better. But before they attempt 

 that, fhould they not know what it is ? 

 This idea has often made me, in read- 

 ing books of agriculture, lament that 

 the firft chapter of every practical work, 

 was not a plain detailed account of the 

 common management in the pariiTi or 



neigh- 



