HOW TO MAKE A GEOLOGICAL MAP. 
27 
that at this early period the practical value of a map, show- 
ing the areas occupied by each rock at the surface, was sur- 
mised. The first really practical map of the geology of 
England and Wales was that of William Smith, which was 
completed in 1815, after a labour of more than twenty years. 
This now forms the basis of the Grreenough Greological Map, 
published by the Greological Society of London. The geological 
survey of the United Kingdom, which was commenced about 
the year 1832 by Sir Henry Be la Beche, formed a new era in 
the history of geological maps. Of small maps of England, 
Scotland, and Ireland, we have those of Phillips, Murchison, 
Eamsay, Grriffith, Jukes, and Greikie, but we need say no more 
about these. They pretend to no great minuteness or accuracy 
of detail, and are merely intended to give a general idea of 
the rocks exposed at the surface, so that practically speaking 
they will admit of but little improvement. Our Greological 
Survey Map, however, is on the scale of one inch to the mile ; 
a few sheets are published on the scale of six inches to a mile, 
and here we find that detail which it would be impossible to 
show on a smaller map, and which it is often hard enough to 
show on the one-inch scale. It is these which are intended to 
serve as practical guides to the miner and the quarryman, the 
architect and the engineer, and the agriculturalist. It is to be 
feared, however, that these do not avail themselves of the maps 
to any very large extent : certainly very few of our agricultural 
population ever heard of a geological map ; and to judge from 
their general reception of the geological surveyor who is found 
wandering about in a mysterious way over their lands, they 
acknowledge but little respect for the science. “What be 
doin’ of?” a small farmer would say. “ Oh, making a map of 
the different rocks and soils,” one would reply. “ Eocks and 
soils ! I thought you was after the rabbits. You can’t come 
trespassing over these fields like that. Who be ye doin’ it 
for ? ” “ It’s a Grovernment survey ; I am at liberty to go any- 
where,” would be the usual reply. “ Groverment survey, 
indeed,” says the farmer ; “ Groverment be always a doin’ 
summut queer.” While on this subject we may mention that 
returning one evening from field-work, we sat resting a few 
moments on a gate and laid our map-book on the adjoining 
post. Being absorbed in reflections not geological — for it is a 
relief to think of other things after a hard day’s work in the 
field, where all one’s attention is required — we arose and walked 
home to our humble village apartments, leaving our maps 
behind us. We soon discovered the loss, as we disencumbered 
ourselves of hammer, compass and clinometer, and at once 
hurried back to the scene of our recent reverie. No maps 
were there ; it grew dark, and we returned home sad and dis- 
