Analyses of Books. 71 



are accurately described. The annual consumption of coal in the 

 Glasgow markets, it is stated, amounts to 870,000 tons. But one 

 of the most curious facts detailed, is the discovery, by the author, of 

 a bed of coal in basalt, near Dairy, in Ayrshire. 



This bed is 4 feet thick, and is situated some hundred feet below 

 the summit of Beadlanhill, which is elevated 903 feet above the sea. 

 Its specific gravity is 1-317. Colour brown ; it is very hard. Burns 

 with a lively flame, and leaves 25-77 per cent, of earthy matter. It 

 contains vegetable impressions differing from any that have hitherto 

 been described, as derived from the coal furmation. They appear to 

 be/ucoides. The only other locality, where it is believed, coal has 

 been found in basalt, is at Fairhead, in Ireland, but no fossils have 

 been observed in it. 



The latter part of the second volume, consisting of above 200 pages 

 is devoted to rules for the analysis of mineral substances, including 

 stony minerals, metaUic alloys, and mineral salts. This portion of 

 the work is worth the attention of geologists as well as mineralogists, 

 as it must be obvious to every one, who casts his eye over the vague 

 speculations of too many of our present geologists, that without the 

 application of chemistry, mineralogy, and natural history, geology is 

 but a name. 



II. — The Agricultural and Horticultural Annual for 1836, §c. 

 Simpkin and Marshall, London : Baxter and Son, Lewis, 8vo. 



The object in projecting this publication was " to record the expe- 

 rience of the most practical men in their researches and experiments, 

 and to collect what was valuable and new." Accordingly we find, 

 that this object has been completely fulfilled. An excellent selection of 

 articles has been made from various sources, which affords a most 

 gratifying view of the recent labours, of our farmers, gardeners, and 

 botanists. We find besides, several useful original communications. 

 A plan for securing corn ricks from mice, detailed by Mr. Jenner can- 

 not fail to be acceptable to agriculturists. The rick should be built 

 nearly perpendicularly and cut round about 2 feet high from the 

 ground, slanting from the top to the bottom about 18 inches. The 

 part that is cut is plastered over with mortar made of clay, and the 

 whole white-washed. This plan is practised in Norfolk, and proves 

 completely successful. 



In an excellent paper taken from the Gardener's Magazine, we 

 learn, that from 1801 to 1810, 04 trees and shrubs were introduced 

 into this country ; from 1811 to 1820, 374 were introduced ; and 

 from 1821 to 1830, 318. If we compare former centuries with the 

 present, the activity displayed during the short period which has 

 elapsed of the latter, appears quite astonishing. The number of trees 

 and shrubs introduced in the Kith century was only 80, 17th 131, 

 18th 44">, and in the first 3 decades of the 19th 899 ! The total 

 number of foreign trees and shrubs introduced into this country may 

 be about 1400 up to the present time. 



John Fraser a native of Invernesshire, and John Lyon a son of 

 Mr. Lyon of Gillogie in Forfarshire, were two very active collectors. 

 But there is none who has contributed more to the decoration of our 



