AGRICULTURE, is the science which explains the means of making the earth produce, in plenty and perfection, those vegetables, which are necessary to the subsistence or convenience of man. Its practice demands a considerable know ledge of the relations subsisting between the most important objects of' nature. It is eminently conducive to the advantage of those actively engaged in it, by its tendency to promote their health, and to cherish in them a manly and ingenuous character ; and every improvement made in the art must be considered as of high utility, as it facilitates the subsistence of a greater proportion of rational and moral agents ; or, if we suppose the number to he imincreased, furnishes them with greater opportunities than could he pos sessed before, of obtaining that intellec tual and moral enjoyment, which is the most honourable characteristic of their nature. 'The strength of nations is in proportion to their skilful cultivation of the soil ; and their independence is se cured, and their patrotism animated, by obtaining from their native spot all the requisites for easy and vigorous subsist ence.
Not only to raise vegetables for the use of man, but those animals also which arc used for food, is obviously therefore part of the occupation of the husband man ; and to assist him in his operations, other animals are to he reared and fed by hint, to relieve Isis labours by their strength and endurance of exertion. in cold and comparatively infertile climates, the services of these creatures arc par ticularly important, if not absolutely in.
dispensable, and their health and multi plication become, consequently, objects of great and tmremitted attention.
The period of the introduction of agriculture into Britain is unknown. Pliny observes that, at the time of the Roman invasion, the inhabitants were ac quainted with certain manures, particu larly marl. During the possession of the island by the Romans, great quantities of grain were exported from it, and it can not be doubted that, as in various other respects, the rude inhabitants derived ad vantage from their enlightened conquer ors; they were eminently benefited by their agricultural experience. Amidst the series of contests and confusions which fol lowed the final abandonment of Britain by the Romans, the art and practice of hus bandry must be presumed to have become retrograde. From the Norman conquest,
however, it derived fresh vigour, as a con siderable number of Flemish farmers, by this revolution, became proprietors of British estates, and introduced that know ledge of the means of cultivation, for winch their own country had been long distinguished.
Before the sixteenth century few data arc afforded, with respect to the details of agricultural practice in this island. At this period it derived a valuable impulse from the exertions of Fit zherhert, a judge of the common pleas, whose treatises on the subject were read with avidity, and, while they abounded in instruction, ex cited a taste and emulation for the pur suits of husbandry. Sir Hugh Platt fol lowed this path of genuine patriotism with great assiduity, modesty, and public advantage, treating particularly on the subject of manuring. Gabriel Plattes held out to his countrymen the light of genius, guided by experience. Captain Myth, in 1652, published a judicious treatise, containing directions tor water ing lands. And Hartlib, the friend of Milian, in a work called the Legacy, sug gested the establishment of a national in stitution for the encouragement of' hus bandry, and stimulated to the practice of it a number of country gentlemen, whom the violence and changes of the times had reduced to a situation, in which they found it requisite to avail themselves of all means and resources to extricate themselves from comparative impoverish ment. Evelyn and Jethro Tull were, at a somewhat later period, of eminent service, in directing the attention of their contem poraries from the grossness and pollutions of voluptuousness, to this most valuable department' of art; the former, by his treatise on plants; the latter, by his re. commendation of the practice of drill husbandry. Since their successful and in genious efforts, a series of valuable ex pe rimentalists and writers have performed to their country. very essential service, by communicating the most useful informa tion, and exciting a spirit of acute re search and unwearied exertion.