IV PREFACE.

sions to the character of an Agricultural Lawgiver.”(Farmer's Mag. vol. xviii. p. 78.) The Code, however, has great merit as a collection of useful precepts on Farming; but not being a cemplete view of its subject; and the Complete Farmer being obsolete, there remained ample room for a performance such as we have undertaken.

This work, which we have termed an Encyclopedia of Agriculture, on account of its comprehensiveness, professes to embrace every part of the subject; and what has never hitherto been attempted, a general History of Agriculture in all countries, and a condensed survey of its_present state in every county of the British Isles. We have adopted a systematic arrangement as by far the best for instruction, and also as best admitting of compression; and we have at the same time supplied a copious General Index to render the whole of the easiest access as a book of reference. All this could only be accom- plished by avery copious page, and the liberal use of engravings. By these means, much verbal description is avoided, ideas more forcibly expressed, and such a body of useful matter included in one volume as, by the system of detached copperplate engravings, and ordinary letter press, would have occupied half a dozen, and been high priced in pro- portion.

Throughout this work, we have kept in view the following objects: in Parr I., to depict Agriculture in the most universal sense, by giving a view of that of all countries; in Parr II., to depict the principles on which the operations and results of the Agriculture of all countries are founded; and in Parts III. and IV., to apply these principles to that particular Agriculture which is practised in Britain, and similar climates. In pursuing these objects, we have aimed at language sufficiently free from provincial or obscure technology to be understood by all classes of readers. In depicting the Agriculture of Britain, we have held up to view that of the northern counties of Northumberland, Berwickshire, and East Lothian as examples, in most things, to the other parts of the empire. In addressing landlords, superior agents, valuators, and patrons, to point out the advantages of equitable and liberal conduct to their te- nants and dependants; in discussing the duties of land stewards, bailiffs, and other serving agriculturists, to recommend habits of order, vigilance, and economy; and finally, submitting to all classes of readers, the advan- tages of enlightening the minds and ameliorating the condition of the operative classes, by facilitating the attainment of instruction: pointing out the evils of early marriages; increasing the comfort and improving the appearance of their cottages and gardens; and, especially, by repaying their labor to a certain extent in productions calculated for their chief support.(See§ 3841. and 44.96.) For in our opinion the peculiar comfort of all those engaged in agriculture as a profession, from. the laborer to the gentleman farmer, wiil ever consist more in the possession within themselves of the essential means of comfortable existence, than of

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