AGRICULTURE. 
of large tracts occupied only by men of em- 
barrassed means. The supply of present 
exigencies preclude those comprehensive 
and remote views on which the success of 
the art most materially depends, and un- 
thrifty savings and corroding cares are substi- 
tuted for the liberal expenses and delighted 
hopes, which must attend the skilful appli- 
cation of comparative opulence. 
Finally, as the art of husbandry is particu- 
larly intricate and comprehensive, and those 
engaged in it are generally persons of slight 
education, secluded in a great degree from 
mutual intercourse and comparative obser- 
vation ; ignorance may very justly be consi- 
dered as an obstacle to its improvement, 
perhaps the most operative of all. Instead 
of being collected like artists in cities, and 
possessing opportunities for animating cu- 
riosity, and benefiting by communication, 
they are scattered over the surface of the 
country, and have cultivated generally the 
same lands, and the same prejudices as their 
ancestors, for a series of generations. Un- 
less there be among the number of those 
engaged in this artj a certain proportion of 
persons of intelligent and educated minds, 
capable of turning the experience of them- 
selves and others to advantage, and deriv- 
ing assistance to agriculture, from the dis- 
coveries of other sciences or arts, it would 
be vain in any country to expect its rapid 
approach towards that perfect standard to 
which every human effort should be referred. 
That the proportion of such characters has 
considerably increased of late years in this 
country, is an observation no less true than 
pleasing ; and in the class of persons engaged 
in agricultural pursuits, it may be safely 
affirmed there exists much less tenacity of 
prejudice, a far greater disposition to re- 
search, and openness to conviction, than 
were to be found in any former age. Even 
though, in some instances, old and absurd 
routines of practice may have been main- 
tained with more constancy through the 
hasty projects and absurd expenses of some 
innovators, whose failure has checked tire 
spirit of improvement, and unjustly involved 
in one common ridicule all deviations from 
ancient custom; these effects, however much 
to be regretted, are only partial, and infor- 
mation is still making its way into the most 
remote recesses, and the most stubborn 
minds. With a view to lessen the darkness 
and intricacy yet connected with the sub- 
ject, to prevent random speculations and 
ruinous projects, with their ill consequences 
of every kind, it may be observed that it is 
VOL. I. 
of the very first importance that persons en- 
gaged, particularly on a large scale, in the pro- 
fession of agriculture, should keep correct 
accounts of all their transactions, and of all 
their profits and losses. The advantages of 
clear accounts are obvious in every other 
occupation of life. Persons who are engag- 
ed in speculations of merchandise, to any 
extent, and who are known not to attend to 
this department, are always supposed to be 
in dangerous circumstances. Agriculture 
seems by many to be considered an exception 
to all other species of business; that it may 
be engaged in without preliminary study, 
and is capable of being properly conducted, 
even to a large extent, without any regular 
accounts, necessary as these are admitted 
to be in other situations. With respect to 
experimental agriculture no correct conclu- 
sions are to be drawn, but from correct and 
minute details. Suppositions drawn from 
general observation are of no utility, or 
deceive rather than inform. The difficulty 
of keeping accounts, which, however, com- 
monly neglected, it is allowed never ought 
to be so, is certainly not inconsiderable. 
The mode must often be regulated by the 
nature of the farm. The possessor of open 
fields, where scraps of land belonging to 
others are intermingled with his own, can, 
with extreme difficulty only, keep an ac- 
count of every part, which, however, it is 
justly thought of the first importance to do 
in general, as the knowledge of what every 
field has paid in certain circumstances is 
the only basis for correct decision on its ap- 
plication. Small fields are from this, as 
well as from other causes, extremely incon- 
venient. They are not only inconvenient 
in preparation, and attended w ith much loss 
in borders and ditches, but they derange 
the accuracy of accounts if they are not 
fully noticed, and occupy a great portion of 
the time of the farmer if they are. When 
all the produce of several fields is thrown 
together, which is far from an uncommon 
case, some objects very interesting to be 
ascertained must be left entirely to conjec- 
ture ; and when a comparison is made by 
guesses, the conclusion formed must be to- 
tally invalidated as authority. The separa- 
tion of crops is therefore an important ob- 
ject with a view to accounts, and is essential, 
indeed, to their being kept with accuracy. 
For the rent, tithes, and parochial rates, three 
separate accounts should be kept, but the 
amount of all should be divided on every field, 
for which an account should be kept accord- 
ing, to the real contents of it. A distinc- 
G 
