FIGURE or THl PLANtT SATURN. 



:;',r-?Ftia(ieiw';n about once in fourteen years, and converted into 

 ■'' J^^Ij^lTarcoal, for the u(e oi the iron works. Tliis is done by 

 Ihiv^wing th« branches into large heaps; which are theu 

 covered with green tur^^ and (et on lire. Thcfe piles of 

 yvood continue burning for feveral days, in confequence of 

 which, the roots in the ground beneath them are completely 

 .,-j, Ijp, vf bajred ; and the pit-ftead, as the place is called, has no, 

 '. ;. :, -verdure left upon it. The lofs however is repaired in the 

 ' '' ' courfe of a few years by nature herfelf, where art does not 

 interfere, and the fpot is clothed with a fre(h coat of herbage, 

 coniitting of herbs remarkable for their lize and flourifliing 

 appearance. This inftance of vigorous vegetation on ground 

 that has been completely burned, in all probability, is occa- 

 fioned by the texture of the foil ; which is adapted to retain 

 moifture, and admit the air; unlefs we luppofe the incorrup- 

 tible fubftance of charcoal to afford a fpecies of manure. 

 . The preceding hints may perhaps incite fome of your readers 

 toftudy the natural hifiory of fairy-rings with greater diligence, 

 efpecially to fearch after the true caule which blafts tbefe cir- 

 cles; for when this is difcovered, we (hall be able to re-clothe 

 them with fuperior verdure, on rational principles. 



I remain, &c. 



JOHN GOUGH, 



... 11. 



.ri; T:s Sli 



jBifis yd I Ohfervations on the fmgular Figure of the Vianet Saturn, By 

 .i.vvio.; WiLLi.^M Herschel, il.Z). i^.iJ. 5.* 



ExamiDation of HERE is not perhaps another obje6t in the heavens that 

 the (hit^ngphe- prefents us with fuch a variety of extraordinary phenomena 

 pran« SatJn! as the planet Saturn : a magnificent globe, encompaffed by a 

 fiupendoas double ring : attended by feven falellites : orna- 

 mented with equatorial belts : comprelTed at the poles : turn- 

 ing upon its axis: mutually eclipfing its ring and fatellites, and 

 eclipfed by them: the mod diflant of the rings alfo turning 

 upon its axis, and the fame taking place with the farlheft of 

 Uie fatellites: all the parts of the (yftem of Saturn occafionally 



* PhilofophlcalTranfaaionsjl 805. 



refle(5lir? 



