Planis growing on their superincumbent Soils. 411 
the soils of our globe, yet the grand framework of rocks, 
which so appropriately mark out the limits and define the as- 
pects of countries, also largely influences, if it does not deter- 
mine invariably, the vegetable productions assigned to them. 
Nor is it unreasonable to hope that the two growing sciences 
of geology and botany may be thus connected: for what is 
there more unsuited to each other in the rock and its vegetable 
tenant, than in the phenomena of Iceland crystal and the arch 
of an aurora; in the magnetic power of an iron ore, and of an 
electrical machine? ‘The progress of science tends not to 
confound by multiplying facts, but to reduce the number of 
general laws, by showing how the extremes of nature illustrate 
the same simple pr inciple. 
The truth or falsehood of any position may be proved in 
two ways: by reason or experience. Let us examine the 
position of the author in both of these lights. 
1. From the common principle of reason, to which Dr. Mur- 
ray appeals, it must follow, that since plants have no necessary 
connection with the soil in which they grow, we might expect 
every soil to produce, with fair ndvantaes of elimnaite and 
moisture, any given vegetable spontaneously and abundantly : 
a conclusion which i is manifestly at variance with fact. It would 
follow also, that at equal elevations, and in equal climates, the 
same vegetable productions might be expected: this also is 
contrary | to exper lence. Districts as near as possible to each 
other are found to differ most materially in their spontaneous 
productions; and invariably, when undisturbed, this difference 
is in proportion to the variation of strata. On the north and 
south sides of Manchester the soil is clayey and sandy; yet 
the soils are not more apposite than the prevailing grasses of 
the meadows. An experienced eye can discern the preeminent 
spikes of crested cynosure in every well-kept meadow between 
Manchester and Stockport; scarce one root of which has found 
its way (though the winds prevail towards that quarter) into 
the pastures on the Cheetham side, devoted to the soft Alope- 
ctrus, and the rich tufted Phléum. 
Little would it reward the industry of the collector to trace 
every neighbouring denudation of the new red sandstone, with 
the meadows and copses covering it, in search of the saxifrages; 
the parnassia; the bee, the males or the spider orchis ; the ae 
grant marjoram; or the rich tints of the blue and red snap- 
dr agons. He may continue his search from Lancaster to 
Liverpool, and across Cheshire, Lancashire, and Derbyshire, 
to within a few miles of Matlock, and still without success. 
Let him, then, but set foot on the mountain limestone, and he 
will find them all in rich profusion. 
EE 2 
