TXTR0DU CTION.

xi

ffhis fcience which are doubtful or not well undcrftood, much knowledge, care,and circumfpedlioti is conftantly neceftarv on the part of the experimenter, to guardSgainft every thing t hat may in the leaf! degree influence the retult: for if thispoint be not carefully attended to, very different conciufions may be drawn fromthe fame experiment. The farmer, from his not having been accuftomed to thataccuracy and precifion which is requifite in this mode of inquiry, is often butindifferently prepared to avoid errors, which may be produced by a variety ofnnfufpedted caufes, which conflderably influence the refults of his trials. Orithis account the inductions that are drawn from the experimental attempts ofeven real farmers can feldom be fo fully depended upon as may at ’firff tight befuppofed : where due care and attention are bellowed, this is, however, the beftand moft certain means of increafing our knowledge, and extending the boundsof the art.

The want of a better and more complete knowledge of the different branchesof fcience which are intimately connected with that of agriculture, among practicalfarmers, has not been lefs prejudicial to the improvement of hufbandry, by theincorredtnefs and inattention which it may have cauted in the afeertaining of par-ticular fadls and circumftances in the profeffion itfelf, than by the prejudice andattachment which it has engendered to particular cuftoms, practices and methodsof management. The minds of thofe who ought to have been the moft capable ofenlarging the bounds of agricultural knowledge have frequently by this meansbeen fettered, and kept from taking any new or particular views of the variousobjedls and operations of hufbandry. And this is perhaps one of the caufes offarmers having proceeded fo much in the fame track fince the commencement of(he art.

That agriculture is capable of being advancedto a conflderable ftate of improve-ment, by a more corredt and general application of fuch principles and reafoningsas are borrowed from other fciences with which it is connefted, is extremely pro-bable from the fuccefs and progrefs that has been made by the little that hasbeen already done in this way, as well as from what may have been obferved totake place in confequence of fuch application in other arts.

After this curfory view of the principal caufes which appear to have impeded theadvancement of agriculture as a fcience, we may proceed to thofe that operateagainft its extenfion and improvement as a practical art. Impediments of thiskind are however fo exceedingly numerous and complicated, that it is not intended