90

Many have imagined that it diminishes andconsumes the soil; but repeated experience hasshewn the contrary. I need only mention thatof Colonel St. I.eger, in Yorkshire , related byMr. Young in the 1st volume of his EasternTour, p. 182; It is well known that clays andloams are rather hardened than consumed byheat. However, unless fresh seeds be com-mitted, the soil will be unproductive for a num-ber of years ; the coaly principle may also beexhausted by too many crops.

OF GYPSUM.

This manure was discovered by Mr. Mayer,a German clergyman of uncommon merit, inihe year 17 6'8 : it has since been applied withsignal success in Germany , Switzerland , France ,and America . If in England it has not been somuch approved of, it must be because the cal-careous principle prevails there almost univer-sally : clayey lands are most improved by it.The time for spreading it is February or March,and then it is to be thinly strewed on the landat the rate of about eight bushels to the acre: