duhamel's work originally consisted of five volumes, which were published at different times. mills didn't translation this work as a whole. he translated only such experiments as seemed to him most instructive in the then modern practice of farming, either according to the old or new method. mills explained in the preface, that "duhamel and his correspondents have set the world an example which has long been wanted, and greatly desired by all who have the good of their country at heart, and are in the least sensible of the importance of agriculture. they have given us a series of experiments in this most useful art, continued for several years together, with accuracy and judgment, and related in a clear, distinct, manner."