Hints for a Theory of the Earth. 33 



produce from fourteen to eighteen tons of green vegetable 

 matter, and about three tons of lime: this, when decompoled 

 by the above procefs, will yield a(hes fufficient to manure 

 four acres, the value of which I eftimate at fomething under 

 four pounds; the clover, according to the value of land here, 

 I will fay two pounds, which, take the average of the king- 

 dom, is too much. The lime I will alio fay two pounds; 

 but that will vary, according to the diftance it is to be 

 fetched. Take them together, I think will be about the 

 average value. Now if this is the cafe, and as far as I have 

 been able to try it I find fo, how valuable rauft it be to the 

 community in general ! If it anfwers the purpofe, I (hall feel 

 myfelf much obliged by the Society making it as public as 

 they poffibly can. 



The vegetables fhould be ufed as foon after they are cut 

 as poffible, and lime as frefh from the kiln as the diftance 

 will allow of j as on thofe two circumftances depends the 

 goodnefs of the compofition. 



VI. Agenda, or a Collection of Obfcrv ations and Researches 

 the Rejiilts of which may ferve as the Foundation for a 

 Theory of the Earth. By M. DE Saussure. From 

 Journal des Mines. No. XX. 



W 



HEN about to contemplate objecls fo complex as 

 thofe that muil be ftudied to found on observation the bans 

 of a theory of the earth, it is indifpenfibly neceflary that we 

 mould pfevioufly form a regular plan ; prefcribe for ourfclves 

 a certain order; and minute down, if I may ufe the expref- 

 fion, the qucftions which we with to propofe to nature. As 

 the geologift commonly ftudies and obferves while travelling, 

 the lead diuraclion may deprive him, perhaps forever, of an 

 interefting object. Even without interruption the objects 

 of his ftudy are fo various and fo numerous, that fome of 

 them may cafily cfcape his notice. An observation which 

 Vol. III. D appears 



