Miyazaki Yasusada was born into a samurai family of Hiroshima in Aki and served the Kuroda house of Fukuoka in Chikuzen. But around thirty he gave up his post, moved to Mebaru village in Chikuzen, and took up the hoe to till the fields himself. For nearly forty years after that, he worked in the soil alongside the villagers, growing crops and improving methods. The Complete Book of Agriculture gathers that experience into one.
In Book 1, "General Discussion of Farming," Yasusada first sets out the right attitude toward farming. In summary:
Farming is the foundation of the state. The food and clothing people live by all come from the fields. So working hard at farming is noble work that feeds everyone in the realm.
What matters first in farming is knowing the "season." Miss the time for sowing, transplanting or harvest by even a day, and the yield changes greatly. One must judge the season of heaven carefully.
Next is knowing the "land." There is rich soil and poor soil, wet soil and dry soil, and crops suited to each. One must judge the nature of the soil and plant the right crop.
Most important of all is the strength of "people." However good the land, if it is neglected it goes to ruin. Plow deep, fertilize well, weed, and adjust the water. It is the diligence of farmers that brings a rich harvest.
Following these principles, Yasusada writes concretely about how to till soil, how to make and apply fertilizer, how to choose seed and how to bring in water. The book's value lies in this: it records not desk learning but what he had confirmed with his own hands.