542 Chronicles of Science. [Oct. 



7. GEOLOGY AND PALEONTOLOGY. 



{Including the Proceedings of the Geological Society arid Notices 

 of Recent Geological Worlcs.) 



Mr. Egbert Hunt has contributed a tiglily vsuggestive and in- 

 teresting paper to the ' Bath and West of England Agricultural 

 Journal'* on "The Economic Geology of Devonshire and Corn- 

 wall in 1868." In it the author points out that, although other 

 districts may exhibit greater varieties in their geological forma- 

 tions, yet there are few in which the roch-conditions are so 

 peculiarly adapted to the production of that high fertility which 

 distinguishes Devonshire, or the varied and valuable metalliferous 

 deposits of Cornwall, Mr. Hunt gives a brief sketch of the va- 

 rious deposits which characterize the two counties, and proceeds 

 to show the intimate connection which exists between the rocks 

 beneath and the fertility of the soil above. He thinks that the 

 agriculturist might study with advantage the geologically-coloured 

 map of a district, and learn from it which are the more and which 

 the less productive tracts ; but he points out that elevation above 

 the sea, exposure to prevailing winds, drainage-lines, &c., must also 

 be taken into account. 



The author contrasts the soils lying on the Lias, the New Eed 

 Sandstone, the slaty series (Devonian and Carboniferous), and espe- 

 cially to those derived from the decomposition of eruptive rocks 

 and granites, as yielding good crops of ordinary farm-produce, and 

 favourable to the growth of grass and potatoes. He mentions the 

 beneficial results witnessed by spreading " China-stone," a semi- 

 decomposed talcose granite, in small pieces over a field of wheat, 

 and suggests that we may yet add many new fertilizers to the list 

 of artificial manures ofi'ered to the farmer. He afiirms that the 

 relations of geology to agriculture are not yet in a satisfactory con- 

 dition ; but that, in addition to the maps now issued, showing the 

 boundaries of the rock-formations, we need maps of the surface, 

 showing the variation and distribution of soils. He also adds the 

 welcome mteUigence that Government has organized measures for 

 accomplishing this end. 



Turning from agriculture, Mr. Hunt proceeds to describe the 

 mineral resources of the district. Commencing with fuel, he states 

 that 1368 tons of the Bovey Tracey lignite are annually used at 

 the Bovey Potteries, besides the district consumption. These beds 

 belong to the Miocene age, and are only a little older (geologically) 

 than our peat-mosses and peat-bogs, which can also be cut and 

 utilized as fuel. None of the four million tons of coal, drawn 



* Vol. xvi. 



