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clear : if the soil does not contain a sufficient quantity of the 
particular earthy matters which enter into the bulk of animals, 
that soil cannot continue to fatten cattle. Amocs" the sub- 
stances especially required, alumina is not one. The soil 
yields little or no alumina to animals ; but among those 
which it does yield, I may mention one substance contained 
in milk, and in the bones of animals, which is constantly 
required. It is a fact, that after land, containing a nearly 
invariable quantity of alumina, has ceased to be capable of 
large production, the addition of bone-dust restores fertility 
to it, and enables it to fatten cattle. This fact is well known 
in various parts of Cheshire. I do not mean to advance 
this in opposition to anything which Mr. Thorp has stated 
in regard to the value of soils which contain more or less 
of alumina, above or below 5 to 9 per cent.; but I state this 
point to show those gentlemen who have heard his paper, 
that there are other ingredients necessary, and that these 
must be present in a good pasture. Mr. Thorp has directed 
the attention of his audience to the Lias, and has stated 
that the best pasture lands are those which rest on the Lias. 
If there is any one geological formation richer than another 
in the earth of bones, it is the Lias. I need not point your 
attention to the oro^anic remains of huf?e animals found in the 
rocky strata of the Yorkshire coast. Many of these rocks are 
full of the fragments of bones, particularly near Whitby and 
Scarbro'. These must exist in the land which, as 3Ir. Thorp 
has stated, is capable of producing good pasture, or rather 
of fattening cattle, and yielding plenty of milk, and so far 
this confirms the views which I have advanced. 
It is only by a combination of efforts. Gentlemen, that we 
may hope to arrive ultimately at true principles, and then 
we may expect that agriculture, like other arts, will advance 
until it takes its station along with them. We see in Leeds, 
Manchester, Sheffield, and other large towns, the manufac- 
