Traité de la culture des terres, suivant les principes de M. Tull, Anglois. Nouvelle Edition Corrigée et augmentée. Vol. 1 & 2 (out of 6).

Paris, Hippolyte-Louis Guérin & Louis-Franncois Delatour, 1753. 8vo. Uniformly bound in two contemporary full calf bindings with four raised bands and richly gilt spines. Old paper-label pasted on to top of spines. Ex-libris pasted on to pasted down front end-paper. Light wear to extremities, internally very nice and clean. (2), 384 pp. + 6 folded plates" (4), 454, (2) pp. + 9 folded plates.

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Second revised and enlarged edition of one of the most famous treatises published by the great French agronomist Henry Louis Duhamel du Monceau (1700-1782), in order to introduce Jethro Tull's innovative methods to France. Tull is considered to be one of the early proponents of a scientific – and especially empirical – approach to agriculture. He helped transform agricultural practices by inventing or improving numerous implements. ""The first half of the eighteenth century had witnessed the beginning of a technological renaissance in agriculture, chiefly in England, where it was notably celebrated in the writings of Jethro Tull. Although the ideas of Tull and Duhamel enjoyed substantial popularity among a progressive group of French landowners, the opposition - either in the form of active criticism or in the passive inertia of an almost medieval agrarian society - was too strong for France to enjoy the rapid agricultural changes which occurred in England and, shortly after, in Scotland. However, enough progress was made for Duhamel to receive recognition for his pioneering work (the present) during his lifetime."" (DSB)