58 
Library of Usefiil Knowledge. — The Farmer's Series. 
The Horse. Nos. 1 and 2. 
The object of this Society is most important and laudable. We 
have, however, doubted whether, in the selection of subjects or 
their execution, this object has been kept sufficiently in view, or 
rather, we are persuaded that not one farmer or cottager in a 
hundred has felt interested in the majority of the subjects, or 
understood one hundredth part of what he read. 
v The Society seems at length aware of the path which it should 
have pursued, and the great and glorious purpose which it 
should have accomplished, and it thus introduces “ The Farmer’s 
Series” of the work:-— 
“The Farmer’s Series will consist of treatises upon subjects most interest¬ 
ing to persons employed in the various branches of agriculture, and to 
those, generally, who reside in the country. It naturally begins with con¬ 
sidering the Animals which constitute the most valuable part of the farmer’s 
property;—their origin;—their different breeds; — their structure;—the 
most economical, and profitable, and humane method of treating them;— 
and the art of rendering their services more extensive and permanent, and 
their health and comfort more secure. It is hoped that these volumes will 
contribute to the amusement, the improvement, and the profit of the farmer 
and the cottager; and better the condition both of himself and of the ani¬ 
mals intrusted to his care. They may afford him a pleasant companion at 
his winter’s fireside,-—a useful counsellor when employed in the labours of 
his station,—and a help to raise his mind to a serious but delightful con¬ 
templation of the objects w hich Providence has spread around us for our 
admiration and our use. 
“ Under this first great division will be considered those animals which 
aid the power of man—the horse, ox, ass, mule, dog;—those which supply 
food and clothing—horned cattle, sheep, swine, goats, poultry, rabbits, 
bees ;—those which are hurtful—the fox, weazel, rat, mole, insects. In 
treating the subject of domestic animals, their history, various kinds, struc¬ 
ture and habits, feeding and treatment when young, management when 
worked, and diseases, will be successively considered. 
“ The General Principles of Agriculture will form the other great division 
of this series; and under this head will be treated w hatever relates to the 
nature of soils and manures—the rotation of crops—farm-buildings and 
machinery—sheep-farming and dairy-farming, so far as these may not have 
been considered under the head of sheep and cattle—potatoes and spade 
husbandry—wood and timber. 
“ There is a class of subjects which, though not exclusively interesting to 
country people, belong more to them than to others; brewing, baking, 
washing and bleaching, land-measuring, road-making, bridge-building, 
quarrying, lime-burning, &c. These will be discussed in treatises occa¬ 
sionally introduced in the progress of this series. 
“At the head of those animals which have been domesticated by, or ren¬ 
dered useful to, man,—whether we regard his noble form, his great saga¬ 
city, or the manner in which he is connected with our profit and our plea¬ 
sure,—stands the Horse.” 
It would be premature to speak of the execution of the work 
from these two Numbers, which are merely introductory. We 
