1840.] Asiatic Society. 1145 



but little known, and new ones it is possible may be discovered. The uses of some 

 of them (Bismuth, Cobalt, and Nickel) are probably only limited by their prices, 

 and what they, or other metals now almost considered as curiosities, might become, 

 if more abundant, the history of Chrome fully testifies. 



" XIII. Alum, Soda, Borax, Amber. — Specimens of the Alum-slates of Europe, of the 

 .Soda earths of Egypt and India, of the Borax and Boracic acids of Italy and Thibet, 

 and of the Indian ambers, are also desiderata. In reference to one of these only, 

 I may mention that I have ascertained that the soda earths of India may be purified 

 and discoloured by a very simple process, and thus great tracts of land now barren 

 and valueless, may yield crops as valuable as the barilla-fields of Spain, or the kelp- 

 shores of Scotland. 



** XIV. Agricultural Geo/o^i/.— ^Captain Tuemeniieere's report adverts so ably to 

 the now well recognised importance of this branch of the science, that no remarks of 

 mine in this respect are necessary. The collection contains a few specimens of 

 soils from Cornwall, but there are no labels or descriptions with them. Capt, 

 Tremenheere informed me, that on account of his hurried departure, he was no 

 able to find his notes, but hoped to be able to send them to me. I have had the 

 pleasure of contributing, from my own cabinet of soils, about forty specimens of 

 Cotton, Sugar, Tobacco, and Tea soils ; many of which are analysed. These are from 

 America, the Mauritius, Singapore, various parts of India, &c.; and I am advised by 

 Mr. Stikeman, Secretary to the East India and China Association, that through the 

 active assistance of Lord John Russell and Sir John Cam Hobhouse, a chest of 

 West India Sugar soils is now on its way to me on the ship " Lord Melbourne," 

 for the purpose of comparative analysis with those of India and the Mauritius. 

 A great desiderata here are Sugar soils from the valley of the Mississippi, and from 

 Demerara 5 for it is evident, that for Bengal the analogy mainly to be looked for is 

 that between soils forming, as here, the alluvion of rivers. The volcanic soils are 

 more likely to prove guides for those of Central and Western India. It should 

 be borne in mind that we require for India not only the soils for tropical productions, 

 but those also for the productions of temperate climates. At this moment, for 

 example, one of the most valuable acquisitions we could obtain, would be a few 

 specimens of soils from the hop gardens of Kent and Sussex ! as a guide to the 

 gentlemen who are so zealously endeavouring to introduce that valuable plant.* 

 In this department, then, nothing can come amiss to us ; for we may always dispose 

 most advantageously of every thing. I forbear, for the sake of brevity, entering 

 into the list of what we principally require. 



" XV. Mineral Manures. — The Mineral manures, from the peat of the jheels, so 

 extensively used in India, to gypsum, which is now the main support of a large 

 portion of the agriculture of the older American states, though its use is unknown 

 here, should not be omitted in our collection. The kunkers of all kinds might, 

 there is no doubt, be often available as a valuable manure, if their use as such 

 was known. 



* Specimens of the soils of the best slieep-pastures from Eiiglanil, Germany, Spain, and particu- 

 larly New South "Wales, would be also valuable guides ; for it is certain that the (luality of wool 

 depends as much on the soil as on the grasses. 



