PREFACE. 



WE commenced this little manual with the intention of making 

 the most useful compilation possible, within the space allowed us, 

 from the great number of larger works on the subjects treated to 

 which we had access. In the progress of our work, however, we 

 found occasion to depart, in some degree, from our original plan, 

 and introduce more new matter and re -write and condense more 

 that is, in substance, derived from others, than we at first in- 

 tended ; but our claims on the score of originality will not be 

 large. If the matter and arrangement of our book shall prove 

 acceptable to the public, and serve the purposes intended, we 

 shall be satisfied. The humble merit of having presented, in an 

 attractive and available form a mass of useful information, prac- 

 tical hints, and valuable suggestions, on a number of important 

 topics, is all that we purpose to insist upon. This the great pub- 

 lic, for whose good we have labored, will, we are sure, readily 

 accord to us. 



We have given credit in the body of the work, whenever prac- 

 ticable, to the authors from whom we have derived aid in the 

 various departments of our labor ; but we here gladly make an 

 additional record of our indebtedness to the works of Youatt, 

 Martin, Stuart, Randall, Wingfield, Dixon, Beinent, Browne, 

 Quimby, etc. The Country Gentleman, the American Agriculturist, 

 the Southern Cultivator, and other agricultural papers, have been 

 examined with satisfaction to ourselves and with profit to our 

 readers. 



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