THE PLOUGH: A JOURNAL OF AGRICULTURE AND RURAL AFFAIRS, Most Respectfully Dedicated to the Noblemen, Gentlemen, Yeomen, Agriculturalists, and Breeders of the United Kingdom [Vol. I. January to June, 1846]

First edition. Vol. I. January to June, 1846. ***Please note that this volume is illustrated with ten only of the eleven listed black and white engravings. Missing illustration of the H.R.H. Prince Albert's Short Horned Ox opposite the title-page. Many tables throughout. ***Good in dark green cloth-covered boards. Original, slightly chipped red gilt title label to spine. Bottom corner of front board has light water mark not affecting front paste-down. Edges of boards rubbed. Head and tail of spine rubbed. Corners of boards bumped and rubbed. Pages browned and sporadically lightly foxed. No inscriptions. Spine tight. ***iv prelim-pages plus four-page index to the first volume to the fore plus 711 text-pages including tables to rear. 210 x 146 mm. ***'At the commencement of a new year, and of what may be viewed as a new era in Agriculture, this Periodical is offered to public notice. ***While retracing the progress of husbandry, in order to justify the above assertion, we need not go further back than to the later years of the eighteenth century; for then it was that Sir John Sinclair by his exertions "led to the formation of the Board of Agriculture," of which he was the first president. Till that period, though the cultivation of the land was not neglected, and was in many instances carried on upon improved principles, by spirited individuals, it was marked by no trace of science. Early, however, in the present century, that eminent chemist Sir Humphry Davy, was invited to deliver courses of lectures before the Board of Agriculture; and these he published, under the title of "Elements of Agricultural Chemistry;" a work replete with sound and practical views of the subject. This most excellent work went through several revisals and new editions, and now remains a stock-book, justly appreciated for its science, and by no one more so than by Dr.Justus Liebig, the renowned chemist of Giesson. ***But Davy was in advance of his age. He was not appreciated by the sons of the soil, who continued to plod on, in the old empirical path of routine. ***in the mean time, population was increasing by rapid strides; the war had ceased, and every effort that practical husbandry could exert was tasked to furnish subsistence for the increasing millions. ***In 1839 the English Agricultural Society, formed upon the model of the Highland Society, held its first public exhibition in Oxford. Shortly after, the first part of its "Journal" was published, and from that time the agricultural press of England began to be the repository of admirable essays and communications, all tending to stimulate the most noble exertions, and by their intelligence to prove, beyond a doubt, that the art itself was destined, ere long, to assume its place among the sciences. ***The great work of Leibig was now announced, and created a wonderful sensation. The author himself came among us, and was received with acclamation. By some of his principles and views were assailed; but, with new editions of his work, some corrections were made, which by their frankness and candour, silenced objections, and exalted the name of the author. "The Royal Agricultural Journal" has subsequently become the repository of practical results, and of sound theoretic deductions.' (Quote from introduction).' ***An antiquarian first edition of interest to historians and collectors of books on agriculture, farming, husbandry, breeding, cattle and crops. The volume contains section on potato disease, tables of Railway Share Lists, Official Railway Traffic Returns, Corn markets, Paris Stock market etc. ***Only two copies listed on COPAC in Britain: one in The British Library, and one at Southampton University; none listed on WorldCat. Extremely scarce. ***For all our books, postage is charged at cost, allowing for packaging: any shipping rates indicated on ABE are an average only: we will reduce the P & P charge where appropriate - please contact us for postal rates for heavier books and sets etc.…