PREFACE 



About two years since, the author turned his attention to 

 Agricultural Chemistry, with a view to prepare a text-book 

 on scientific and practical Agriculture. His particular ob- 

 ject was, to furnish facilities for the introduction of Agricul- 

 ture, as a branch of study, into some of our academies and 

 high schools. This design has been steadily pursued ; al- 

 though, at the time of commencing his investigations, the 

 subject was involved in so much obscurity and uncertainty, 

 that he often despaired of being able to prepare a book, which 

 would be of any real service to those for whom it was in- 

 tended. 



The late works of Liebig, Daubeny, Johnston and Dana, 

 together with the Geological Reports, in most of the States, 

 have thrown a flood of light over the whole subject ; and 

 although we cannot affirm that all is known which it is de- 

 sirable to know, still, many fundamental principles are estab- 

 lished ; and we have the materials for constructing the most 

 important and useful science of modern times. 



The avidity with which the public mind have seized every- 

 thing which promised to throw light on the art of husbandry, 

 is an encouraging indication, that it begins to appreciate the 

 vast importance of the subject. 



The fact, that many gentlemen of education and fortune are 

 resorting to this primitive art, as a means of pleasure or for 

 scientific purposes, still further shows, both the dignity of the 

 employment, and its power of aflTording those simple and 



