104 



Henry Briggs, Esq., of Overton, near Wakefield, then 

 read the following paper : — 



ON RENDERING AVAILABLE FOR AGRICULTURAL PURPOSES, 

 A VARIETY OF MINERAL SUBSTANCES AND REFUSE FROM 



MINES, HITHERTO CONSIDERED OF NO VALUE. BY 



HENRY BRIGGS, ESQ., OF OVERTON, NEAR WAKEFIELD. 



The advantages to be gained by the employment of Che- 

 mistry in the service of Agriculture, are now so generally 

 acknowledged, that I need not apologise for calling your 

 attention to the subject. Surrounded as we are by element- 

 ary bodies, and their combinations, the properties of which 

 are little known, it becomes a most important object to attain 

 a more accurate knowledge of their effects, with a view to 

 making the best use of them; and if we are aware that the 

 elements essential to the growth and proper development of 

 vegetables, lie hidden in the great masses of refuse from 

 mines and other works, which are, alone and in quantities^ 

 most prejudicial to the husbandman, it must be an interesting 

 inquiry, well worth patient investigation, to ascertain whether 

 this refuse, by being employed in a proper manner and in 

 moderate quantities, may not have a contrary effect, and confer 

 a benefit instead of an injury. The well known fact that the 

 most wholesome food when used alone^ and for a continuance, 

 is unable to sustain life ; and also that a valuable medicine, 

 improperly administered, or in too large a quantity, becomes a 

 poison, will illustrate my meaning. This subject is so impor- 

 tant, that I wish greater chemical knowledge than I possess 

 had been applied to its investigation; but as I firmly believe 

 no effort in the cause of truth, or for the advancement of 

 knowledge, is lost or made in vain, I should think myself 

 wrong in hesitating to lay before you a small amount of in- 

 formation, merely because it is not larger; and I will hope 

 that some one who has greater power, may have as warm an 



