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jthls fubjed ; and the advantage of above 

 five thoufand acres of iminclofed vv^old 

 land, not far from my houfe, has afforded 

 me a fpacious field of experiment ; Nor has 

 the utmoft care on my part been wanting 

 to explore the natural advantages and pro- 

 perties of the foil, to examine the defedts 

 of its prefent ftate, and to apply the moft 

 .obvious remedies ; for I am not of thofe 

 ^refiners who chufe to deviate from the 

 beaten path, in fearch of an ingenious 

 difcovery, when, by clofe attention, remedy 

 may be found much nearer home. It is 

 acknowledged that nature does nothing in 

 vain ; and I cannot help thhiking, that 

 .every foil either contains within itfelf a 

 remedy for its original barrennefs, or at 

 leaft that no large tradt of country is defti- 

 tute of fome peculiar produdions adapted 

 to its fertilization, fo as to render it tit for 

 the produdlion of vegetables, and the fup- 

 port of animals : Thus has bounteous Pro- 

 vidence difpenfed its blefTmgs with an equal, 

 as well as liberal hand : The bleak mountain . 

 and barren rock contain the precious ore 

 and fparkling gem, whiift the fertile plains 

 and vallies are covered with wood, or pro^ 

 duce corn and herbage : Every part of 

 nature is conducive to the fupport, eafe, 

 and happinefs of man ; but as the exertion 

 of the mental faculties, as vrell as bodily 

 labouf) is requifite fof the well-being of the 



hum^n 



