AGRICULTURE WITH CHEMISTRY. 169 



that such ashes owe their fertilizing powers to the vitri- 

 olic salts they contain, it may be a matter of prudence 

 and ceconomy to apply the salts themselves, as a few 

 hundred weights will sufTice for an acre of ground. 



By discoveries which have been made in preparing 

 these salts, they could be afforded at a cheap rate, were 

 the present high duties on sea salt, and the refuse liquor 

 of salt works, taken off, so far as might relate to these 

 purposes. A regulation of such infinite consequence to 

 the improvement and more complete cultivation of the 

 lands in Britain, is of itself a sufficient apology for call- 

 ing the attention of the Legislature a second time to so im- 

 poitant an objeclof relief and encouragement to the agri- 

 culture of these kingdoms. Should measures so essential 

 to the future prosperity of the country be disregarded, 

 the inhabitants of this Island ought not to be surprized if 

 France should hereafter take the lead in the cultivation 

 of the earth as she has lately done in other valuable im- 

 provements ; to effcdl which, the total abolition of the 

 gabellc, or duties on salt, has, or more properly speaking, 

 will give her agriculture great advantage over the rest ot 

 Europe. 



y SANDY 



