32 
Jetliro Tall : his Life, I^imes, and Teaohin(j. 
with the text, Gobbett's edition ; ^ but Cobbett leaves out all th^ 
implement matter as obsolete. The explanatory plates in the 
earlier editions, however, and in the Oentlem'in's Magazine, 1764, 
are excellent. This, in his own woi'ds, is what TuU proposed to 
himself when he began to write his book ; but a glance at the 
table of contents, as printed in the foot-note, will show that 
the work, as was well said at the time, " ripened under his 
hands " : — 
" I. In treating of roots, it is proved that they extend hori- 
zontally to a much greater distance from the s':em than it is 
commonly thought ; and that they ai'e in this, and in all other 
respects, by nature, adapted to receive the benefits of horse- 
hoeing husbandry. 
" II. The natural and artificial pastures of plants are 
described. 
" III. It is shown how this artificial pasture is raised by dung 
and by tillage, and what difierence there is between the one and 
the other means of raising it. 
" IV. That deep and proper hoeing is a sort of tillage that can 
supply the use of dung; and that it is for want of this tillage 
that few plants are brought to their full perfection. 
" V. The rules for putting this husbandry into practice are 
shown, as far os the author's experience reacheth. 
" VI. All the particular instruments necessary for that 
purpose are described in cuts by the inventor, with directions 
how to make and use them." 
" My readers," TuU says, " will not accuse me of breach of 
promise for having exceeded my proposals." 
To treat adequately of Tull's science, to recognise in his 
thoughts and operations the germs of subsequent discoveries, 
would tax the ability of a consummate scientist. The science of 
chemistry and that of vegetable physiology, especially chemical 
science, is advancing almost daily and by rapid strides. The 
science of Tull and his forecasts, the fiash of intuitive genius, 
the results of imperfect experiments conducted continuously, but 
with inadequate appliances, are — and tliis cannot bo too often 
repeated — to be judged by the standard of his own day, not of 
' In Cobbett's edition the table of contents is tlnis :— Preface by Mr. Tull ; 
chap. I., of Roots; II., of Leaves; III., of Food of Plants; IV., of Pasture 
of Plants; V., of Dung; VI., of Tillage; VII., of Hoeing; VIII., of Weeds ; 
IX., of the Virgilian llusbandrv; X., of Turnip.s; XI., of Wheat; XII., of 
Sniuttiness ; XIII., of lilight ; XI V., of Saint-foin ; XV., of Lucerne; XVI., of 
Change of Si)ecios ; XVII., of Change of Individuals; XVIII., of Ridges; 
XIX., of the Diifcrcncc between the Old and Now Husbandry ; Addenda to 
the llorsc-hocing Husbandry ; Notes to the Preface, 
