114 Fossil Remams in Maryland, 



tion within the reach of all, why should not agriculture awaken, 

 put forth its energies, and partake of that spirit of improve- 

 ment that is working its magic in all other departments ? Why 

 does it not avail itself of that knowledge of the nature of the soil, 

 which chemistry gives ? those tabular statements of the wea- 

 ther and climates, which naturalists furnish ? those philosophical 

 investigations into the nature and habits of plants, which have 

 been presented ? and that labour-saving spirit that seems to know 

 no limits in other branches of business ? Why should all our 

 capital improvements fly the open fields, where culture exists, 

 and be realized only in cabinets and manufactories ? — Agricul- 

 ture follows the old dull routine, and its products lumber on to 

 market in heavy carts, whilst all other branches move on, aided 

 by a thousand inventions, with ease and despatch. That field, 

 whence our food is derived, and on which our very existence de- 

 pends, lies neglected, whilst we cultivate luxuries to a morbid 

 excess. Every thing is cheapened but human food ; every thing 

 becomes annually more attainable, but the necessaries of the 

 table. If this disproportion between the arts and agriculture con- 

 tinues to advance, we are destined to live in a sort of splendid 

 pauperism : enjoying the luxuries of fine houses and furniture, we 

 shall enjoy every thing to satiety but bread. W. 



FOSSIL REMAINS, FOUND IN ANNE ARUNDLE COUNTY, 



MARYLAND. 



A PARAGRAPH having appeared in the public papers, stating 

 that some very curious fossil remains had been found in the State 

 of Maryland, by Dr. J. S. Owen, the Editor addressed a letter 

 to that genfleman, containing a set of queries. Dr. Owen, with 

 great promptitude, has answered them in a most intelligent man- 

 ner, and has added to the value of his communication, by enabling 

 the Editor to examine the fossil remains themselves. 



They prove to be the dorsal vertebra of a small whale, and 

 the caudal vertebra of a larger one, together with the fragments 

 of some of the ribs. The shells, which have reached us in a very 

 mutilated state, are the Pecten Jeffersonius, Turritella Plebeia, 

 of Say, and Venerecardia Blandingi of T. A. Conrad,* to- 

 gether with other well known tertiary shells. The deposit in 

 » Journal Acad, of Nat. Science, Vol. VI. part 2, p. 229. 



