^236 AeKlCULTUKAr- MUSEuk 



-Tlic cdifor is li.v^py in tlic opporlnnii v of preselitinfj {6 

 the public " The L.ucuhr-dtioni> oi Sylmi'ius on soils.'* 

 They are written by a farnim" of cfnisidorabie ae- 

 quh'emcDts and observation, wlio resit!:s in one of the 

 lower Co^irjtics of Marylaiul — ft is huped tliat hiii 

 iaudablc cxaniple will b.ave mauy followers. 



Luc'jJJ'iATioN OS son.?. N o. 1. 



The extent of the surface of a continent is so vast 

 the regions it einbra;3es are so nu;-neroiis, and the kind* 

 of soil in each region are so many, and the resources of 

 individuals are generally so few, that most men a^'c de- 

 terred by the magnitude of the task from ever giving a 

 latitude to their retieetions on Soils. W^hen they observe 

 the great apparent variety of So;! imaiediatel.y in theii' 

 viciiiity, or on a single farm, it appears a vain antl IVu.t- 

 less tusk, to attnmpt to examine the various qiuihtie^ 

 that are to be iVnr'd in a great division of the giobc. 

 Yet with tile very limited knowledge of the subject al- 

 ready acquired, a classiiication into a f'^w grand divisi- 

 ons, has ah'cady been attempted ; nor i:^ t'le task so dif- 

 ficult as at first it would seem. Tiie outlines of the great 

 divisions of soil, are drawn by thf* h.and of nature, in 

 a strong, bold, a:u] conspicuous manner, and may, at 

 iany time, be observed by the naturalist, and far-.ner, 

 suilicicntl}' skilled, and ardent in the pursuit of know- 

 ledge, to undertake the neei'ssary fatigue. The attempt.^ 

 (for snch they must properly be called,) that have been 

 already made, liowver imperfect, liave greatly contri* 

 buted to throw light npon the subject, and to eonda-t 

 the cnterprizing mind to further knowledge. With tho 

 sa'.rie good intent, I mean to methodize and state whatT 

 little I have read up;)n soils iii g.-neral. in my hours of 

 study whc!J my [)!antation work was done, or have 

 learnt by observaii>n in riding thri»ui;h tbf country — • 

 1 feel no fear of b 'ing deemed presum ituuus in e.vpress* 

 i:ig my thoughs uj)on this subject, whatc-cr m;;y bt its 

 magnitude, arid liowever few and ini-.on^iderable my ob- 

 s.-rvutions may be, provided f can tlirow »he smallest 

 ray of light upon a subject, so very useful to all men. 



