300 
SCOURING LANDS OF CENTRAL SOMERSET. 
between the parishes of Edington and Stawell. Both these 
waters are known to possess scouring properties; I was 
therefore particularly anxious to examine them. I further 
took samples of scouring land situated in the parish of 
Cossington; likewise hay from scouring land at Me are, 
and hay from peaty land does not scour. These different 
samples and a soil from scouring land on the estate of Sir 
Alexander Hood at Shepton Mallet, as well as a peat soil at 
Meare, kindly sent to me by Mr. Poole, were carefully ex¬ 
amined in my laboratory. The whole investigation into the 
causes of scouring so prevalent on certain pastures in 
central Somerset engaged my liveliest attention. 
The analytical proofs, which require to be mentioned in 
support of the views entertained by me at present on the 
subject of this, report, may be conveniently incorporated in 
the examination of the leading theories to which allusion 
has been made. 
For the sake of brevity, the hypothesis which supposes 
something injurious to vegetation to predominate in lias 
clays may be termed the Geological Theory. This will 
claim our attention in the first place. In the next place the 
Drainage Theory requires examination; and the rest may 
be considered together under the general head of Herbage 
Theories. 
Examination of the Geological Theory . 
The question whether or not there is anything injurious or 
abnormal in lias-clay soils admits of a direct solution, which 
must be sought in the analysis of soils pre-eminently dis¬ 
tinguished by scouring properties. Accordingly, an analysis 
has been made of such a soil from Mr. Rugg’s farm, in the 
parish of Cossington. The following results were obtained : 
Composition of Scouring Land from Mr. Eugg’s Farm , 
Cossington , August , 1861. 
Moisture 
• • 
. 473 
Organic matter and water of combination 
. 16-57 
Oxides of iron and alumina 
. 14-26 
Carbonate of lime 
. 5-25 
Carbonate of magnesia . 
. 3-67 
Alkalies 
. 1-04 
Insoluble siliceous matters 
. 54-48 
100-00 
A second sample, taken from another part of the same 
field, yielded the following analytical results: 
