254 



animals deprived of all vegetable food, (to take an instance 

 from the subjects we have treated,) mineral substances 

 could afford them no support ; and by feeding solely on 

 each other, animal life would, (as we have seen,) be 

 gradually exterminated; organized bodies would be con- 

 stantly passing into the state of inorganic matter, without 

 any provision for a fresh supply. 



All, however, whether relations of necessity or merely 

 of convenience, combine to illustrate the perfect adaptation 

 of the various kingdoms of nature to each other, and the 

 unity of design, the wisdom and the benevolence, which have 

 presided over their creation. 



THE EVENING MEETING. 



The Chair was again taken by John Waterhouse, Esq., 

 when the following Paper was read 



ON LIME AND ITS USES IN AGRICULTURE. BY HENRY 

 BRIGGS, ESQ., OF OVERTON, NEAR WAKEFIELD. 



It has been truly said, that what is called Earth or Soil 

 is a most heterogeneous compound, and when analyzed is 

 found to comprise matters of the most opposite characters, — 

 neutralizing and combining with each other, when in due 

 proportions, so as to form one harmonious whole. The 

 first grand division which may be made in soils, is, into 

 the inorganic and organic constituents, or such as have been 

 derived from the disintegration of the rocks forming the 

 crust of the earth, and such as have been produced from 

 the decay of vegetable or animal matter. In most fertile 

 soils the former (inorganic) constitute 95 per cent, or even 

 more, of the whole bulk, leaving only five or less per cent, 

 of organic or vegetable matter. The chief inorganic con- 

 stituent of the soil is sand, forming in much fertile land 



