INTRODUCTION. xX

felf, to lofe no time in publifhing his fecret. Among other good effects that will refult from this meafure, it will totally preclude all farther altercation refpecling the merit of this difcovery, between him and myfelf, or others.

Tul fuch publication appears, it may not be improper in me to obferve, that another body. of men, who have had good opportunities of infor- mation, have thought proper to adopt a conduét re{pecting this particular, very different from that of the prefident of the board of agriculture. The gentlemen who compofe the fociety of agricul- ture at Altringham, near Manchefter, in the county of Lancafter, having determined to en- courage the draining of land by means of tap- ping, Judged that a refpect for their charaéter required them, in this cafe, to a&t with the ftri€- eft impartiality: and thinking it would be of ufe to thofe who were to attempt it, to know the principle on which fuccefs depended, as well as the mechanical| practice of the art, the fociety offered a premium to thofe who drained the greateft quantity of land according to the prac- tice followed by Mr. El lkington, on the prince ip é S explained by Dr.-Anderfon, in a book called e

_fays relating to agriculture and rural ae