PREFACE.

I understand well enough that one learns from good and expert husbandmen French: "laboureurs." In the 17th century, this referred to higher-status peasant farmers who owned their own plows and teams, rather than simple day-laborers. the way to cultivate the earth well: but will those who refer us to them alone not confess to me that even among the most experienced, there are diverse judgments? And that their experience cannot be good without reason? Should one rather search through the brains of every countryman and reconcile their opinions—which are not only different, but very often contrary—than read in a book reason joined with practice, so as to apply it with judgment according to the subject, through the help and skill of Science and Usage gathered into one? Does this same reason not serve as a book to the countryman? Certainly, to do something well, one must first understand it well. It costs too much to redo work that is poorly done, and especially in Agriculture, in which one cannot miss the seasons without great loss. Now, whoever trusts in a general experience, based only on the reports of husbandmen without knowing why, is in danger of making irreparable mistakes and often wandering across the fields French: "à trauers chãps." An idiom meaning both literally across the farmland and figuratively going astray or losing one's way. based on the credit of these uncertain experiences: just like the Empirics Historically, "Empirics" were medical practitioners who relied solely on observation and trial-and-error without understanding underlying biological theories; the term was often used pejoratively to mean "quacks.", who likewise alleging experience, often mistake the heel for the brain, using the same plaster for all diseases. And who does not see that the experience of unlettered husbandmen is greatly aided by the reason of learned writers on Agriculture?

BUT what use is it, someone will say, to search in books for what you can find at home through your common sense, or from your sharecropper French: "mettaier." A tenant farmer who pays rent with a portion of the crops. through the same natural skill? Such a conclusion could be made of all the Liberal Sciences. For the seeds and principles of all things are in the soul of Man, who can learn from books of Philosophy only that which he has known since his mother's womb—but as a confused and enveloped knowledge, which needs to be brought forward by some artifice In this period, "artifice" or "art" refers to a systematic method or technical skill, rather than something "fake.". Books of Physics French: "Phyſique." Here meaning Natural Philosophy or the study of the natural world. teach the causes and effects of Nature; Ethics, the means of living well and happily; Economics French: "l'OEconomique." Derived from the Greek oikonomia, meaning the management of a household or estate., how to lead the family; Politics, the State. Man is indeed born with the principles necessary for the knowledge of these Sciences, but who would deny without vanity that these beautiful things are better cultivated in the soul of Man by the teachings of learned writings, than by relying only on oral discourse, as if on a cabala French: "cabale." Referring to a secret or oral tradition passed down by word of mouth, as opposed to systematic, written study.? Art is a collection of experience, and Experience is the judgment and use of Reason. To this end serve the writings of the Learned: that which is infinite and uncertain through the search for various judgments becomes finite and certain through the Rules of Art, fashioned by long observation and experience of things necessary to this life.