On the Converfion of Grafs Lamh into Tillage. 16'^ 



to man. The traditional and empirical fcicnce of metals now 

 gave way to the (cieutiticai principles of chemiftry, which 

 were derived from the Arabians. 



Agricoiawas the firftof the learned writers on this fubje^f; 

 and for lus extraordiuarv learning and prartical erudition 

 in his treatifes De Re jSIetalllcd et de Re Fofilium he is 

 juRly entitled to the firft place among the chemical metal- 

 lurgies who have fince appeared. H. K. 



XXX. On the Converfion of Grtjfs Land into Tillage, ^c* 

 To the Editor of the Philofopbical I\Iagazine, 



SIR, 



w. 



ITHOUT offering you anv apology for intruding 

 upon your time, I take ihe liberty offending vou an abftradt 

 o{ a paper to which the utmoft confequence is attached from 

 its fubjeft, and written by a man whofe name is too well 

 known amongft thofe fkilled in agriculture to need any com- 

 mendation. 



The elTay is divided into three chapters, and each chapter 

 is divided into lecilions. The prefcnt communication is an. 

 abllraef of the firft chapter. 



Mr. Clofe lets out in this chapter by faying (which is an 

 undoubted truth) that agriculture is the parent of commerce, 

 but that it has made a very flow progrefs, conlidering its uti- 

 hty and the advantages we derive from fuch a beautiful fci- 

 ence. The obftaclcs which are fuppofed (and juftiv too, I 

 firmly believe) by Mr. Clofe to the improvement of agricul- 

 ture, are tithes : the diftlcilty and expenfe of inclofing wafte 

 lands: expenfive and injudicious leafes : want of knowledge 

 in the pracilical farmers : the great increafc of the poor-rates ; 

 and a want of that energy which formerly charadlerized the 

 agricultur;il labours of this ifland. 



Mr. Clofe conceives it would be much more to the advan- 

 tage of the farmer, and not in the lead injurious to the clergy, 

 if fome mode of paying the latter were deviled infiead of 

 taking their income as it is done at prefcnt, which is one 

 great check to the improvement of agriculture. 



The tithes (liould be valued throughout the kingdom by 

 fome able perfon or perfons, and, after a proper valuation has 



* From a paper <m the fubjeft by tlic Rev. H. Clnfe, of IJordle, near 

 T,yminy,ton ; publifticd ia the CommiiniCtttions Lo the Board of Agricul- 

 tmt, vol. lii. part j. 



M 4 been 



