182 Bibliography. 



of other orders. There follow most important chapters on manure, 

 the composition of animal manure, the essential elements of manure, 

 bone manure, the supply of nitrogen by animal manures, mode of ap- 

 plying urine, value of human excrements, which, with some conclu- 

 ding remarks, finish the first part of this unique volume. We must 

 here conclude our remarks, without attempting the least analysis of 

 the second part, which is devoted to a discussion on the chemical pro- 

 cesses of fermentation, decay, and putrefaction. 



To some, the style of this work may seem somewhat obscure ; but 

 it will be found, on a re-perusal, that great condensation, brevity and 

 terseness have been mistaken for obscurity. It presupposes a good 

 degree of chemical knowledge on the part of the reader, and for that 

 reason needs elucidation by notes, for the advantage of those who do 

 not possess that knowledge. But we can truly say, that we have never 

 risen from the perusal of a book with a more thorough conviction of 

 the profound knowledge, extensive reading, and practical research of 

 its author, and of the invincible power and importance of its reason- 

 ings and conclusions, than we have gained from the present volume. 



13. Report on the Geological and Agricultural Survey of the State 

 of Rhode Island, in 1839 ; by Dr. Charles T. Jackson, Mem. Geol. 

 Soc. of France, &c. Providence, 1840. B. Cranston & Co. 

 1. Some notice of the Geological portion of Dr. Jackson'' s Report. 



The labors of Dr. Jackson in other years have been favorably no- 

 ticed in our reviews of his reports on the geology of Maine and Mas- 

 sachusetts in previous volumes of this Journal. The territory which 

 is the subject of the present memoir, is the smallest but one, of the 

 twenty six states of our federal union, and we cannot therefore ex- 

 pect to find in it all that variety which characterized the reports of 

 the same author previously alluded to. This report is naturally divi- 

 ded into two parts, the geological and the agricultural. We will be- 

 gin with the consideration of the former. 



It is introduced by a sketch of scientific geology, which, with ofii- 

 cial correspondence, occupies 45 pages ; the genei'al and local geology 

 of the State fills 140 pages ; the account of the analysis of soils and 

 manures, 64 ; the farm reports, 40 : there are fourteen wood cuts in 

 the text, seven in distinct pages, a folded geological map of the State, 

 colored for the formations, and a second folded sheet containing four 

 colored cross sections; besides ample tables, exhibiting in a condens- 

 ed form the results of the analyses of soils.* 



* The typography is good, and the paper white, but far too thin, — a common fault 

 with American boolis, especially as the paper is made chiefly of cotton. 



