O F S A N D. 53 



vidence feemsto have ordered it fo, to incite ourinduflry. Every 

 tide, at certain feafons, cafts up vafl heaps of nitrous fands, arid 

 a great variety of fhells, which feem to invite us to remove them, 

 to fertilize our ftubborn foils in our fields and gardens with their 

 prolific falts. In that part of the coaft, where there is no lime- 

 ftone, the neglect is inexcufable, and we cannot efcape the 

 charge of indolence, efpecially as the expence is eafy, and it lies 

 at our very doors in feveral places. Drifted fand is fteril, and of 

 no ufe, the falts being evaporated, or warned away with the 

 rains. But fuch fand as is turned up by the tides after fea- 

 ftorms, mixed with fhells, would richly reward our labour. This 

 fea-manure has been practifed in the north of Scotland with great 

 fuccefs for barley and oats, the feed producing fome feventeen, 

 and fome eighteen fold, as has been attefted by a curious and 

 obferving Scotchman, of excellent fenfe and veracity (a). 



Our gardens might be greatly enriched with Rher-fand, being 

 the lighteft and richeft of the meadow-foils, wafhed away with 

 the floods, but few perfons are at the pains of ufmg it. 



Ordinary fands, of various colours, we have in great quan- 

 tities, but they are of no ufe that I know of, except in mafonry, 

 and in making garden-walks. 



(a) Sir Geo. Makenzy> Ph. Tr. 



C H A P. 



