x INTRODUCTION.

happens that the experimenters are incapable of accomplifhing their objects, or draw

fach conclufions as can be fafely depended upon; fo various and fo inyolved are the circumfances that influence the refults of experimental attempts in this fcience. In this way, however, it is remarked, a fort of experience is begotten and tra: fmitted -n the art which is difficult to be rejc&ted; but which, if adopted, mutt often inevi- tably lead to error and difappointment in the practice of the farmer. Befides, this, 4s well as other fciences, has been greatly embarrafled and retarded by details of imaginary experiments and difcoveries, which are very apt to. impofe upon the minds of thofe who are not very well informed concerning rural affairs*.

There is likewise, it is added, in the bufinefs of agriculture much confufion in- troduced by the difficulty which even the beft judges frequently find in making their decifions, where a number of circumftances and caufes are combined, concerning thofe which are effential and neceflary to particular operations and procefles, from fuch as are merely accidental and of little import.‘The want of correctnefs too, in regard to the abfolute expenfe incurred in accomplif{hing various operations in refpect to any particular object of bufbandry, and the difficulty in many inflances of pre- ferving the products of different trials diftin@, have had a tendency to impede the advancement of the art; as from fuch inaccuracy the farmer is frequently incapable of afcertaining, with any degree of exactnefs, either the fum which he has expended or the value of the produce which he has obtained; confequently he cannot be in a fituation. to eftimate the advantages of fuch operations or pro- cefles, from which the profeftion remains where it was before the commencement of his attempts. The want of accuracy and precifion in matters of this kind has alfo led to the introduction of an extremely pernicious fyftem of proceeding in different inftances, which is that of making conclufions by a fort of guefs-work. Nothing ean however be more fallacious than this mode of deciding; becaufe a perfon under fuch circumftances is almoft certain to be influenced by fome preconceived opinion refpeing the particular object of his decifiont. Facts collected and af{certained in this way, as they can but feldom have any folid bafis, muft of courfe greatly retard the progrefs of agriculture. The conclufions that are drawn by means of experiment are even frequently liable to objection, and hence the imprevement of the profeffion is not fo much promoted by this method as many perfons may fuppofe. In making fuch experiments as are to elucidate and explain the facts in

* Anderfon’s Recreations, Vol. I. ¢ Ibid.

oa-_—-

a ee eee

Ie