xiv 



being carried beyond the limited science and 

 experience of Canadian farmers, with prospects 

 of success amounting almost to an absolute 

 certainty. Neither on the style or arrangement 

 of his book will he presume to trouble the 

 reader with a single remark, but, sensible as he 

 is of its being defective in both points, he throws 

 himself upon the public candour. His object 

 is to convey information that he feels assured 

 is wanted, and he has to lament the scope of 

 his, abilities being incompetent to second his 

 wishes to the utmost extent, by finishing the 

 sketch with a more masterly hand, or as most 

 likely it would have been done by any person 

 whose occupations have permitted him to devote 

 more time to literary pursuits. Three and twenty 

 years of his life have been passed in the service 

 of government, both in its civil and military 

 branches, wherein the duties have almost al- 

 ways been of too active a description to afford 

 much of the quiet and repose, so necessary for 

 the attainment of science, and such a maturity 

 of knowledge as prepares a writer for launch- 

 ing himself upon the ocean of public opinion 

 with a fair chance of acquiring fame. To such 

 a hope, the ignis fatuus that has deluded so 

 many, he conscientiously disclaims any preten- 

 sion, but an honest, though humble zeal to 



