Primrose McConnell's The Agricultural Notebook

First published in 1883, this is the 18th edition of this single reference source for both students of agriculture and agriculturalists. It contains current information on all aspects of the business of farming and has been thoroughly revised to reflect recent changes in agricultural practices. Many of the chapters such as health and safety and computers have been given a new approach by authors who have not previously contributed to the "Notebook", and a chapter dealing with alternative enterprises has been added.

The Twentieth Edition takes The Agricultural Notebook into its third century; it has been thoroughly revised and updated to reflect the considerable changes in agricultural and rural practices and policies which have taken place since publication of the previous edition. The book is divided into four parts: Crops, Management, Animal Production, and Farm Equipment. New sections added to this edition include: 1) A Marketing Perspective on Diversification, 2) Organic Farming, and 3) Farming and Wildlife.

Since the first edition was compiled by Primrose McConnell in 1883, The Agricultural Notebook has become established as the standard work of reference for all those in the farming industry. With each edition it has evolved and changed in such a way as to provide agricultural scientists, students of agriculture and related subjects, farmers, farm managers and land agents with an abundance of current information on all aspects of the business of farming.

Many comments received from lecturers and students who have used previous editions of the book have been taken into account in producing the twentieth edition. The thirty contributing authors have fully updated chapters, a new clearer layout has been adopted and much new information is included in easy-to-use tables and figures.

The Agricultural Notebook is an essential purchase for all students of agriculture, countryside, and rural studies. Professionals such as farmers, land agents, agricultural scientists, advisers, suppliers to the agriculture industry and all those with a connection and interest in the agricultural community will find a huge wealth of information within the book’s covers. All libraries within universities, colleges and research establishments where agricultural and rural sciences are studied and taught should have multiple copies of this important new edition on their shelves.

Richard Soffe is Senior Lecturer based at Seale-Hayne, University of Plymouth, UK.

Cover illustration reproduced with the kind permission of the Faculty of Land, Food and Leisure, Seale-Hayne Campus, University of Plymouth.