Part 1

Transcriber’s Notes

Texts printed in italics have been transcribed between underscores; texta between ~tildes~ and =equal signs= represent spaced and bold face text respectively. Small capitals have been replaced with ALL CAPITALS; ^{th} represents a superscript th.

More Transcriber’s Notes and a list of changes made may be found at the end of this text.

Horse-Hoeing Husbandry:

~OR~,

An ~ESSAY~ on the ~PRINCIPLES~

~OF~

Vegetation and Tillage.

Designed to introduce

~A NEW METHOD OF CULTURE;~

~WHEREBY~

The Produce of Land will be increased, and the usual Expence lessened.

Together with

Accurate ~DESCRIPTIONS~ and ~CUTS~ of the Instruments employed in it.

By ~JETHRO TULL~, Esq; Of Shalborne in Berkshire.

The ~FOURTH EDITION~, very carefully Corrected.

To which is prefixed,

A New ~PREFACE~ by the ~EDITORS~, addressed to all concerned in ~AGRICULTURE~.

~LONDON~:

Printed for A. MILLAR, opposite to Catharine-street in the Strand.

M.DCC.LXII.

THE

PREFACE.

As Mr. Tull’s Essay on Horse-hoeing Husbandry has been published some Years, it may be presumed that the World hath by this time formed some Judgment of his Performance; which renders it the less necessary for the Editors of this Impression to say much concerning it. For every Man who has attended to the Subject, and duly considered the Principles upon which our Author’s Method of Culture is founded, is an equal Judge how far his Theory is agreeable to Nature: Though it is but too true, that few have made sufficient Experiments to be fully informed of its Worth.

How it has happened, that a Method of Culture, which proposes such Advantages to those who shall duly prosecute it, hath been so long neglected in this Country, may be matter of Surprize to such as are not acquainted with the Characters of the Men on whom the Practice thereof depends; but to those who know them thoroughly it can be none. For it is certain that very few of them can be prevailed on to alter their usual Methods upon any Consideration; though they are convinced that their continuing therein disables them from paying their Rents, and maintaining their Families.

And, what is still more to be lamented, these People are so much attached to their old Customs, that they are not only averse to alter them themselves, but are moreover industrious to prevent others from succeeding, who attempt to introduce any thing new; and indeed have it too generally in their Power, to defeat any Scheme which is not agreeable to their own Notions; seeing it must be executed by the same Sort of Hands.

This naturally accounts for Mr. Tull’s Husbandry having been so little practised. But as the Methods commonly used, together with the mean Price of Grain for some Years past, have brought the Farmers every-where so low, that they pay their Rents very ill, and in many Places have thrown up their Farms; the Cure of these Evils is certainly an Object worthy of the public Attention: For if the Proprietor must be reduced to cultivate his own Lands, which cannot be done but by the Hands of these indocile People, it is easy to guess on which Side his Balance of Profit and Loss will turn.

This Consideration, together with many others which might be enumerated, hath induced the Editors to recommend this Treatise once more to the serious Attention of every one who wishes well to his Country; in hopes that some may be prevailed upon, by regard either to the public Good or their own private Interest, to give the Method here proposed a fair and impartial Trial: For could it be introduced into several Parts of this Country by Men of generous Principles, their Example might, in time, establish the Practice thereof, and bring it into general Use; which is not to be expected by any other means.