Retrs{pec? of Domeftic Literature—Agriculture. 585 
We could enlarge this li of medical 
works, by enumerating afew others of 
inferior importance; but we mult proceed 
_ to 
AGRICULTURE. 
Within the fait fix months the prefs has 
fent forth feveral works of confiderable 
Jabour and ulefulneis, on agriculcural 
{ubj--cis. 
Dr. Dicgson’s ¢* PraGical Agricul- 
ture’ aftords a complete view of the 
theory and practice of m ders bufbandry. 
Formidable as this work appears, from 
its magnitude, we acvile no one to be de- 
terred from encountering ir, who is defi- 
rous of rei himfelf acquainted with 
the principles of agriculture as a ference, 
of ils prasiice as an art. We have 
ee the work with care, and therefore 
fel entitled to fpeak confidently of its 
‘value. That it is acompliation, mutt 
not be brought forward as a depreciating 
circuindance ; if Dr. Dickfon had con> 
fined himiclf toa particular depart:nent of 
agiiculture, he might, perhaps, have been 
jucitied in recording merely the refult of 
his own perional obfervations and ex; eri- 
roents. ~Thefe, numerous as they may 
be, and probably are, muff, it is clear, 
have been very in-ufficient for the purpote 
of laying dewna Sele fyftem of agri- 
cultu: e, in allits various branches. This 
_could only be efeGied, by a laborious re- 
ference to the innumerable works, many 
of them tedious in the extreme, which 
treat on fome or other department of ru- 
raleconomy, and by coilecting inform2- 
tion on the feveral fubjetts from thefe 
widely {cattered materials. Dr. Dickfon’s 
work is, of itfelf, an < agricultural library ; 
and the practitioner who refers to it will 
but feldom have occalion to extend his re- 
fearches for infiruction, on whatever fub- 
ject, connected with hufbandry, he may 
feek it. 
Agriculture has, of late years, rifen 
Into eminence from its intimate connection 
with other tciences, more particularly 
chemiftry and mechanics, the principles 
of which are now conitantly applied to it. 
The refult of this application has been, 
that numerous alterations and improve- 
ments have been introduced in the differ- 
ent branches of the art of hufbindry, and 
@ great variety of new, but {cattered facts, 
opinions, and conclufions, 
brought to the attention of the agricultu- 
rit, Dr. Dickfon ftares, in his preface, 
that it has been the obj<& of his work, 
Not merely to reduce fuch detached fatts 
Into order, but, at the fame time to 
biing the practical details ani conclufions 
MONTHLY Mac, No. i124. 
have bcen> 
into a more intimate connection with the 
principles on which they depend; and, in 
this way, afford a more connested and fy 
tematic view of the various particulars 
that intereft the cultivators of the ground, 
whether inthe nature of implements, the 
economy and convenience of buildings 
and roads, or in the raifing of different 
kinds of field-crops; the cultivating and 
iceding down meadows and palture lands, 
and the me nagement of various forts of 
live ftock. Dr. Dickfon has arranged his 
work into thirteen feciions: the firlt treats 
of the implements of hbufbandry;. ali 
which, from thofe of the moft imple me- 
chaniim, the hoe and the roller, to thofe 
of the moft complicated, the drill and the 
threfhing-machine, are deleribed, toge~ 
ther with the various advantages fe IC 
of different conftrucétions ; and very neatly 
executed engravings are given of a all thofe 
which experience has fhewn to be cf mott 
general ule. The fecond leétion treats cn 
the beft conftruéticn of farm- houfes, and 
offices in general, fuch as granaries, fta- 
bles, cow-houfes, dairies, &c. The third 
feéiion is on farm cottages, of which feve- 
ral plans are given, with eltimates of the 
expences of building them, Seétion the 
fourth 5 on inclofing of land. This fec- 
tion comprehends fome very ufeful in- 
ftruétions on the formation and manage- 
ment of fences, diiches, ga‘es, live and 
dead hedges, &c. with numerous expla- 
natory diagrams. The fifth fection treats 
on the conitrn@ion and reparation of 
roads, and examines, by an obvious afh- 
nity of fubje&, into the beft forms of cart 
and waggon wheels. The fixth fection 
treats on foils: explains the manner in 
which they are formes, andthe caufes of 
the variations in their qualities. The 
feventh is on manures, afubjeét of great 
obfcurity: the confticuent principles of 
them are explained, and the manner in 
which they contribute to the fupport of 
plants. Dr. Dicklon has divided into 
clafles thofe which are derived frem the 
decompefition of animal fubftances, ve- 
getable, foflil, and faline: manures from 
tne combination of diiferent fub4ences 
are next confidered; the means of aug- 
meating and preferving them are next ex- 
plained, and, lattly, the moft judicious 
mode, and propereft time for the applica. 
ticn of them. Draining is the fubjeét of 
the eighth feStion: the different methods 
are illuftrated by diagrams of draining 
boggy lands, hilly lands, mines, quarries, 
and pits. Seétion the ninth; on paring 
and burnin Seétion the Pee ; on fal. 
lowing of Jand: this fubject embraces 
4G much 
