2i8 Renjleiv sf H'mis to Agriculturrfis, .Maf 



theory, by attempting to point out the t^^d t^i i^ix^ ferment a^ 

 tioH produced by various manures, as lime, yard mucky excreinent 

 human and brutal, marl, blood, urine, bones, fcrapings of roads, 

 fawings or timber, together witli flefh, filh, and fea weed. Here, 

 however, the ignorant author allows the change continually to 

 be put upon him by the fmiilarity of founds. If he can only find 

 that the word fermentation is ever applied to the alterations which ' 

 any of thefe bodies undergoes, no matter whetlter the vulgar or 

 Icientific fermentation *, immediately his ebullition or effervefcencc, 

 dilengaging air, occurs to his imagination ; the production of 

 v/hich air he has aflerted to be the true vegetable pabulum. 

 ^ Thus in the London 'prentice car, 

 Tke bells found Whittington Lord Mayor. ' 

 If carbonic acid, too, can be properly mentioned as interfering, 

 in any manner, in the changes of fuch bodies, the efFe£t is the 

 fame upon our author •, — here is my pabulum — here, therefore, 

 rnuft there be a beneficial efFe£l upon vegetation. Accordingly, 

 whether a mild alkali, coming in contact with an acid, fends out 

 its carbonic acid, or whether a cauftic alkali abforbs into itfclf 

 the carbonic acid— ftill, as this acid, alias fixed air, is fomehow 

 concerned in the tranfaCtion, vegetation muft of neceflity be pro- 

 moted •, for this air is the veritable pabulum. Probably the Not- 

 tingham vegetables are fo clever and alert, that they can even 

 catch a refrefliing gulp of this air ;;; traujitu ,• whether in its paf- 

 fao-e tOy or its pafiage from. 



Perhaps our readers may think that we have allotted too much 

 fpace to the difiedion of fuch a jejune performance. In the au- 

 thor's own words (page 42.), * the reader's curiofity is perhaps, 

 by this tim.e, fufficiently difappointed, even if his patience be not 

 entirely exhaufted. ' 



We {hall clofe our remarks, by juft obferving that we would 

 not have dwelt fo long upon fuch a futile fubje6t:, were it not 

 that thefe Hints cany with them an impofing appearance, that 

 might miflead the Unwary to beftov/ attention, where they can 

 reap no poiTible information upon any one point. The author 

 has formed to himfeJf a Johnfonian, Ibnorous ftyle ; he feems 

 to have obtained that fmattering of the fcieiices connected with 

 liis fubje6l, which has initiated him into, and enabled him to 

 mouth, with a fort of mock dignity, the fcitntific phrafes ; and 

 without fuch an analyfis, he might have palled for fome time 

 incognito. For it is not always that 



* Fools are known fr^r looking wif.- ; 

 As men fliOot woodcocks by their eyes. ' 

 We had almofl forgotten one remark that occurred in the per- 

 ufal, but which was fuggelled anew by the pamphlet happeniug 



ty 



