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 scoré 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, Bement, 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. 
