No. 4. 



The Dhyining Rod. 



109 



under very different forms; each mutually 

 transmutable into the other by the mere un- 

 assisted operations of nature. 



Hence it seems to appear, that the wisdom 

 and g-oodness of Providence have established 

 the means of supporting and upholding- tiie 

 present system of the universe, till timo shall 

 be no more, by constant, uniform, uninter- 

 rupted powers or laws, which act unceasingly 

 for the mutual conservation of the whole. — 

 Every atom of matter, whether animal or 

 vegetable, seems to teem with life, yet con- 

 tains within itself the seeds of corruption and 

 decay. In that state it enters into a new 

 system of organization, and becomes the prin- 

 ciple of regeneration and rejuvenescence, 

 which annually returns at the appointed sia- 

 sons, when all appears charming, sprightly, 

 and gay. 



To this theory it may be objected, that ve- 

 getation may be successfully promoted by 

 vegetable manures, without the least assist- 

 ance from animal substance of any kind. — 

 Every one knows that'it is common to manure 

 the ground by ploughing in green vegetables, 

 such as buck-wheat, clover, &c., which often 

 succeed well without any other help what- 

 ever. This objection falls short of its object ; 

 it only proves, that profitable crops may be 

 obtained without the cultivator's using animal 

 substances under that form ; but the theory 

 supposes, that every vegetable is replete with 

 principles derived from animal substances, 

 and only differs from them in being more sub- 

 tilized and refined. 



It is equally certain, that vegetation may 

 be powerfully promoted, without laying on or 

 providing any manure at all. The horse- 

 hoeing system of husbandry depends entirely 

 upon reducing and pulverizing the soil. It 

 cannot be reasonably supposed, however, that 

 the spade and hoe, or plough and harrow, or 

 cultivator or scarifier, convey any fertilizing 

 principles. These operations, which are found 

 to render our lands so surprisingly fertile 

 when judiciously performed, only prepare the 

 soil for the easy entrance of those fertilizing- 

 principles with which the atmosphere is abim- 

 dantly replete. The atmosphere is the grand 

 magazine, the great receptacle of putrid ex- 

 halations, vv^hich incessantly fly ofi' from all 

 animal substances, the living as well as dead ; 

 and by their specific levity mount up into the 

 air, from whence, being condensed, they re 

 turn indews, rain, snow, &c., and impregnate 

 the soil as deep as it hath been duly pulver- 

 ized. 



It seems very evident then, that whether 

 the husbandman manure his fields from the 

 dung-heap, or by ploughing in green vegeta- 

 bles, or by duly exposing it to the unceasing 

 influence of the atmosphere ; the principles 

 of vegetation which he bestows in either 



case, are essentially and substantially the 

 same. They all equally originate from pu- 

 trid animal substances. That from the dung- 

 heap is indeed by far the strongest, it having 

 not gone through its last stage of digestion and 

 putrefaction; in this gross and impure state, 

 it sometimes poisons and kills, and thereby 

 defeats its intended purpose. It in general, 

 however, when discreetly used, gives great 

 luxuriance and an enlarged size to the stalks 

 and blades ; but luxuriance is not fruitfulness : 

 indeed, they are seldom if ever compatible. 

 This holds good in all kinds of grain as well 

 as fruits. Alanure, imperfectly digested, or 

 used in too great abundance, often defeats the 

 views and hopes of the planter ; he may reap 

 a great burthen of straw and very little grain. 

 The same thing may happen from green ve- 

 vetable manure, unless it be ploughed in time 

 enough to undergo a thorough fermentation, 

 and at the last ploughing be intimately 

 blended with the soil. But of this there is 

 no danger in the last-mentioned method of 

 cultivation; for the principles of vegetation 

 derived from the atmosphere, by thoroughly 

 pulverizing the soil, are so perfectly digested, 

 subtilized, and refined from the impurities of 

 the former, that unhealthiness or a surfeit is 

 not to be apprehended, especially as it is not 

 given all at once like the former, but admin- 

 istered from time to time as the skilful hus- 

 bandman may see necessary. 



I should now proceed, according to my pro- 

 position, to consider of the easiest and most 

 effectual means of promoting vegetation, 

 in support of, and consistent with, the above 

 principles ; but as I apprehend that would run 

 this paper to an inconvenient length, I must 

 postpone it for some future communication. 



Observer.— -No. XX. 



THE VIRGULA. DIVINA, OR DIVINING ROD. 



" Convince the understanding, and it is impossible for 

 the judjrment to withhold its assent." — Chief Justice 



Tilglimai. 



I do not wish to interfere in the controversy 

 between Dr. Horton and James Pedder. — 

 Some of my thoughts were penned for the 

 Cabinet before they took the field. I have 

 therefore a common right to sail upon the high 

 seas, but intend to do so under a neutral flag, 

 alil:c respective of the rights of the belligerant 

 powers. The better to preserve a strict neu- 

 trality, I sliall neither qffirin or deny tlie effi- 

 cacy attributed to tlie divining rod — or to those 

 who are supposed to possess the faculty of em- 

 ploying it. 



My object shall be to call the attention of 

 the reader away from mere assertions — hasty 

 opinions — and false pretensions, to the consid- 

 eration of the natural phenomena which the 



