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~. [Illustration] ~_LONDON_~: Printed for A. MILLAR, opposite to _Catharine-street_ in the _Strand_. M.DCC.LXII. [Illustration] 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.