iioith. regard to the Cultivation of Exotics. 17 



of the former in the first instance ; superabundance to this would 

 be carried off by the drainage at the bottom, making room for 

 a fresh supply of water, imparting a farther elevation of temper- 

 ature, till the whole became ultimately on a par with the rain, or 

 very nearly so. 



This process might be greatly accelerated by stirring the sur- 

 face, or inverting it, when well heated by the sun's rays, so as to 

 turn up a fresh portion to their influence. A considerable heat 

 might be worked in by this means, even to the depth of the upper 

 roots of the plants, and farther than that penetrated by the rain ; 

 but, the presence of the latter being necessai'y in other respects, 

 it becomes a useful and appropriate conveyer of heat to a 

 greater depth among the roots than could be accomplished in 

 the open ground otherwise than by its soft insinuation. 



It is hoped that the preceding remarks will be the means of 

 directing attention to the necessity of an approximation of ter- 

 restrial and atmospheric temperature as regards the cultivation 

 of exotics^ and particularly that of the vine; and also to the use 

 of water as a medium by which an increase of terrestrial heat is 

 speedily communicated, when the former is properly applied, 

 that is, when it is of a higher temperature than the substances 

 with which it is brought in contact; and to the negative injurious 

 consequences which follow its application at a low temperature. 



It is presumed that it will not be transgressing the limits of 

 this Magazine, to mention some of the advantages which the 

 agriculturist, and, consequently, mankind in general, may derive 

 from operations of culture, when conducted on principles that 

 are founded on a knowledge of the laws of nature. These laws 

 produce the effects attempted to be exhibited in the preceding 

 observations; for such they may properly be termed, being penned 

 from the result of actual observation, and, therefore, not to be 

 considered as mere theory. 



The wastes of Britain might be made to support all the un- 

 employed able-bodied poor; and also to repay the advance of 

 capital necessary in the first instance, before any return could be 

 expected. The return must result from a judicious system of 

 drainage, keeping in view the principles I have stated. There 

 are places so low, that drains will not act; yet human ingenuity 

 might easily surmount this difficulty. There are, however, 

 many slopes to which this objection is not applicable, wliich are 

 yet declared to be so cold^ that grain, &c., will not succeed on 

 them, and, therefore, not at all likely to repay any expenditure. 

 We will select a sample of such a situation, and that a very un- 

 favourable one; viz. the sloping base of the north side of a hill. 

 It is wet, and so cold, from the de&cent of snow-ivaterf-om the 

 upper part of the hill, that mosses, natives of the frigid regions, 

 greatly abound on it. It is evident the first proceeding must 



Vol. XIII.— No. 82. c 



