A&UTCULTURAL MUSEUM 27t) 



"^^^a^er - . . - . ,^ Paris*. 



Sil-x ------ a-A 



Alumine ... ^ - 28 



Carbonate of lime - - - 3 



Oxyd of iron - - - - 5 



Decomposing vegetable matter - 4 

 Loss - - ■ - - - 3 



XX Advantages of Imppiovements made by chang- 

 ing THE Composition of the EaRthy Pauts of. 

 Soils. 



From thcgf^at difference of the causes that influence 

 the prodiiclivenoss cf lands, it is obvious that in the pre"- 

 sent state of science, no present sj'stem can be devisee! 

 for Ihcir improvement, independent of experiment ; but 

 there are few ca^es in which the labour of anal». tieal trials 

 will not be amply repaid by the certainty wilh which 

 they denote the best methods of amelioration ; and this 

 will particularly happen wh«'n the defect o.'" composition 

 is found in the proportions of theprimiiive earths. 



In r,upplyirig animal or vegetable manure, a temporary- 

 food only is provided for p!ants, which is in all cases ex- 

 hausted by means of a certain number of crops ; but 

 when a soil is rcudered of the best possible constitution 

 and texture, with regard to its earthy parts, its fertility 

 inav be considered as permanently established. It be- 

 comes capable oi attracting a very large portion of vege- 

 table nourishment from the atmosphere, and of producing 

 its crops with comparatively Ultl,- labour and expense. 



We understand, that a vein of Coal, fine and fertile, 

 has been discovered in Chestei field, about 3 miles from 

 the banks of the Appamattox, and about twenty above 

 Petersburg. Report says that it was principally traced 

 by the means of the compass from the course of the rich 

 veins on the Jame? River. It will undoubtedly prove, 

 in various lights, a considerable acquiNition to the town 

 of Petersburg. May not the same veins extend north- 

 wardly to tile other waleiingcoursrs. 



Richmond Enguirei\ 



