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TO THE READER.

the rites of the Israelites , chap. xv. &c. acquaints us) were not onlyobliged to instruct and inform their children of the wonderful things God had done for their ancestors, together with the precepts of the moral law,feasts, and religious ceremonies, but taught them likewise all that con-cerned Agriculture, joined with lefsons of perpetual practice, in whichthey were, doubtlefs, exceedingly knowing, whilst, during so many ages,they employed themselves almost continually in it: And though nowa-days this noble art be for the most part left to be exercised amongst usby people of grofser and unthinking souls, yet there is no science whateverwhich contains a vaster compafs of knowledge, infinitely more useful andbeneficial to mankind, than the fruitlefs and empty notions of the greatestpart of speculatists, counted to be the only eruditi and learned men. AnIsraelite , who, from tradition of his forefathers, his own experience, andsome modem reading, had informed himself of the religion and lawswhich were to regulate his life, and knew how to procure things neces-sary ; who perfectly understood the several qualities of the earth, plants,and places agreeable to each sort, and to cultivate, propagate, defendthem from accidents, and bring them to maturity; that also was skilledin the nature of cattle, their food, diseases, remedies, &c. (which thosewho amongst us pafs for the most learned and accomplished gentlemenand scholars, are, for the most part, grofsly ignorant of, and look upon asbase, rustic, and things below them,) is, in this learned author’s opinion,infinitely more to be valued than a man brought up either in wranglingat the bar, or the noisy and ridiculous disputes of our schools, &c. Tothis sense the learned Modena. And it is remarkable, that after all thatwise Solomon had said, “ that all was vanity and vexation of spirit,”among so many particulars he reckons up, he should be altogether silent,and say nothing concerning husbandry; as, doubtlefs, considering it themost useful, innocent, and laudable employment of our life, requiringthose, who cultivate the ground, to live in the country, remote from city-luxury, and the temptation to the vices he condemns. It was indeed aplain man, a potter by trade; but let no body despise him because apotter, (Agathocles, a king , was of that craft) who, in my opinion, has givenus the true reason why husbandry, and particularly planting, is no more im-proved in this age of ours, especially where persons are lords and ownersPalifsy, le of much land: “ The truth is,” says he, « when men have acquired anylenittiche 6 " “ considerable fortune by their good husbandry and experience, (forgetting