179^. LITERARY INTELLIGENCER. IQ-^ 



Many more caufes might be affigned for the preva- 

 lence of error ; but it is more properly the bufinefs of 

 the. preacher than the moralijl to pointthem out. 



Candidus. 



Of Gypfum or Plajier of Paris as a Mani/re, 



It is about a dozen of years fince this fubftance was 

 difcovered to operate as a powerful manure, in certain 

 circumllances, in France : But hnce the noife it made 

 at the beginning, we have heard little more of it. Moft 

 of our readers have of late heard from the public paper*, 

 of the wonderful etFefts that have refulud from the ufe of 

 it in North America. Some trials of gypfum, as a ma- 

 nure, have been made in England, without the defired 

 fuccefs ; one by Mr. Arthur Young, and iwo other e::- 

 periments by Sir Richard Sutton. But though thcfe; 

 failed, there feems to be no rcafon to doubt, from the 

 fafts Hated below, that in certain circumfiances, this 

 fubftance afts in a moft powerful manner as a manure. 

 It is of much importance to the practical farmer, to 

 know what are the peculiai-ities of foil, and circum- 

 llances of crop that will infure him fuccefs ; but thefe 

 can only be afcertained by fair and accurate experiments, 

 made with care, and reported with fidelity. In the 

 mean time, from what has already happened, let our 

 young farmers be warned to moderate their expeclations 

 of fuccefs, until they fliall have tried it oa their owu 

 fields in fmall quantities, fo as that tlie failure cannot, 

 materially affedt their intereft : But the accounts that fol- 

 low are fo well attelled, as to pi'ove a fufficient induce- 

 ment, I fhould imagine, to make every fpirited larraer 

 try it on his own foil, without trufting to the report ot' 

 any other perfon. 



In agriculture, perhaps, more tlian any other fcience, 

 men ought to be extremely cautious in drawing general 

 conclufions from particular faifts, as our knowledge is 



Vol. I. f Pp 



