436 Answers lo 
of the requisite knowledge and information, or arrange his proofs 
under the guidance of one more thoroughly conversant with the. 
subject than himself. Had these experiments been skilfully con- 
ducted, no such conclusion could have been drawn. It would 
have been found that magnesian earth alone is inimical to vege- 
tation, and that it detracts from the fertility of even the most 
fertile soils in proportion as its quantity bears to the mixture. 
Hence the comparative inferiority of all magnesian lime as a 
manure. 
Many parlour experiments are undertaken, more with a view 
to give a gossamer support to some favourite hypothesis, than by 
a diligent investigation to prove the instability of a visionary 
theory. The mere theorizing philosopher is not the individual 
to conduct so interesting and delicate an inquiry: his ignorance 
of vegetable ceconomy may give false results, from which he may 
draw the most erroneous conclusions. He who undertakes to 
elucidate this department of natural science, ought to be a prac- 
tical horticulturist, a botanical amateur, thoroughly acquainted 
with the habits, ceconomy, and habitat of every plant. If such 
an individual had been the conductor of these experiments, he 
would have proved that, although these earths supposed ‘* abso- 
lutely unfruitful,” either per se or mixed in any proportions, 
were not sufficiently fertile to give birth to plants that would 
flourish in garden soil, still they were capable of giving life to 
some more humble and har dy race, and that there was no rea- 
son for pronouncing such a doom. Before coming to such a 
conclusion, an intelligent mind has ouly to cast a thought over 
the globe, to be satisfied that every zone, as well as every soil, has 
plants exclusively its own. 
As well may a theorizing philosopher, or parlour experimenter, 
look for the Lapland Lichen on the Libyan shores, or the great 
Aloe.under the frozen snows of NovaZembla, as expect that am 
the natives of rich and fertile soi!s should ever show their germs 
in earths they scorn as beneath the pride of their families’ luxu- 
riance. 
How would the West Indian smile at the grave tale of such 
experimenters, when viewing the now productive cultivated fields 
that but a few years before presented nothing to his forefathers’ 
eye, but the hard unsubdued surface of a porous, calcareous 
rock? Eyen this as yet unpulverized calcareous earth was found 
under a skilful experimenter not absolutely unfruitful. But did 
the cultivator of this hitherto barren petrifaction ever think of 
planting on its obdurate surface his plantain, his corn, or his 
cane? No! Why? Because to these this rock would have been 
found *¢ absolutely unfruitful.”” But into the pores of the rock 
this scientific cultrvator insinuates the seeds of the Guinea grass. 
The 
