48 VALUE OF AGRICULTURAL MAPS. 



rural affairs, and where, nevertheless, much land is still 

 in course of being doubled or tripled in value by the 

 application of thorough-drainage alone. 



It thus appears that, although geological maps are of 

 great value in giving general notions of the agricultural 

 character and capabilities of the countries to which they 

 refer, yet purely physical conditions may for the pre 

 sent render such indications untrue for very extensive 

 areas. An actual survey or inspection of a country, 

 therefore, becomes necessary for this, among other rea 

 sons, that the indications of geology may be tested, and 

 the real present worth of the land on the several forma 

 tions ascertained. Agricultural maps might from such 

 inspections be constructed, which would show by dif 

 ferent colours the actual present capabilities of the 

 several parts of their surface, and the future or possible 

 capabilities ; and these maps would serve the triple 

 purpose of exhibiting -first, The actual condition and 

 capability of the soils at the time when the map was 

 constructed, forming thus an important historical docu 

 ment ; second, The possible or attainable capability and 

 thus stimulating at once to improvement, and indicating 

 the means by which it is to be effected ; and, thirdly, The 

 relation which exists between geology and agriculture, 

 and generally, therefore, the relation which science bears 

 to this important art. It was under this persuasion that, 

 to a &quot; Report on the agricultural capabilities of New 

 Brunswick,&quot; which I drew up at the request of his 

 Excellency the Governor of the Province, and of the 

 Provincial Legislature, I attached, along with a geo 

 logical map, a map also of the soils of the province, 

 and their capabilities, as complete as my means of 

 acquiring information enabled me to make it. Such a 

 mmp of our own islands would be not only a most inte 

 resting document, historical, statistical, and suggestive, 

 but would be the means of stimulating many to exer- 



