224 REV. W. THORP, B.A. — AGRICULTURAL GEOLOGY, ETC. 
limeing one sort of soil and not liineing another sort, for planting or 
sowing thinly rather than closely, and in short for all the various pro- 
cesses and operations, must be pronounced to know little more than 
half his own business. I think therefore no more important subject 
can occupy the attention of the agriculturist than an enquiry into the 
reasons why the chief processes of agTiculture are more successful in 
some instances than in others, for if these reasons are once discovered, 
and the facts connected with them established beyond controversy, 
like many of the facts in practical chemistry and practical mechanics, 
then the farmer will have a sure guide in his operations, and will be 
as superior to the old farmer of hap-hazard experience as the modern 
mariner with his compass is to the mariner of olden time, who dare 
not advance out of sight of land for fear of losing himself in the path- 
less ocean." In order, however, to discover the reasons why one 
mode of farming is better than another, it will be necessary to ascer- 
tain the difference of the circumstances under which these different 
modes are performed, and the aptly acknowledged principles to 
local circumstances ; for on a comparison of several modes of farming, 
it may be found that each has been made under a diversity of soils, 
sub-soils, climate, manures applied, and crops produced ; so that it 
becomes requisite to study the agriculture of particular districts in 
relation to those phenomena ; or in other words to apply to the 
investigation of the subject the cognate sciences of Geology, Chemistry, 
and Physiological Botany. The several formations between the Lias 
and the Diluvium of Holderness are described, and the characters of 
the soils are explained ; this part of the subject being illustrated by 
sections of the rocks, and a map enlarged from that of the Rev. W. 
Harcourt published in the Annals of Philosophy, Vol. XI.., p. 435. 
An exhaustive enquiry into the nature of the growth of plants, and 
the sources from whence their substance and nutriment is derived 
follows ; and numerous analysis of soils from various parts of the 
district made by Mr. J. Spencer, are dealt with. The rarity of crops 
from different parts of the East Riding are next considered, and com- 
pared with crops from similar formations in other parts of England. 
Then follows some suggestions for improvement, and especial stress 
is given to the necessity to cultivate additional green crops ; for we 
