7 
Introductory Paper, 
more vigorous and successful exertions, both in widening 
the limits of cultivation, and augmenting the fertility of 
the land already cultivated. 
Tasmania abounds in minerals, and in those chiefly 
which experience has shown to be of most importance for 
economical purposes. Iron, coal, lime, and sandstone 
are found in great abundance. The first has not been 
worked at all; and the second but very partially and im¬ 
perfectly. Very little attention, we believe, has been paid 
to the application of lime for the improvement of land; 
and scarcely any to the adaptation of particular kinds of 
lime, or the limes of particular districts, to particular soils. 
Every one must see what beneficial results might, arise 
from the diffusion of sound scientific views upon these 
important subjects, and what a powerful impetus might 
thereby be given to the evolution of those mighty re¬ 
sources which the liberal hand of Nature has treasured 
up in the bosom of our Island. 
There is a more general point of view which may serve 
to set the importance of circulating scientific information 
under such circumstances in a still stronger light. It 
may be laid down as a maxim, that every country has, 
both in its climate, its geographical situation, and in 
almost every important relation to the constitution and 
happiness of man, a peculiar character—an idiosyncrasy_ 
of its own. 
This peculiarity of character in a country implies_ 
and, indeed, naturally tends to produce—a corresponding 
peculiarity in the customs and manners of its inhabitants. 
It especially determines the channels in which their in¬ 
dustry and skill ought to flow, and the rules and methods 
by which they may be most successfully applied. The 
maximum advantage will obviously be obtained when the 
available industry is most perfectly adapted to the pecu¬ 
liar circumstances in which it has to be employed; or, 
