him to the Society. This very ingenious and useful implement possesses the powers of making an indent or furrow for the seed; of depositing the seed within that channel, and covering it instantaneously in a more effectual manner than can be done by the harrow or rake. Its construction is simple and cheap; and it can be expeditiously worked, on any soil, by a man or boy.

The Society are much indebted to the same Gentleman for some very accurate Observations upon the Nature of Blight, the destructive effects of the Aphis, and the means of obviating the sudden changes to which our climate is subjected, and by which Vegetation is impeded.

Mr. Lester, of Northampton, has introduced an implement, named a Cultivator, which, from its powers of contraction and expansion, may probably be very useful in working rough fallows after ploughed crops, and reducing the

soil to a greater degree of pulverization than can be effected by repeated ploughings and harrowings in the common method.

The advantages of the Drill over the Broad-cast husbandry, in the culture of Turnips, is further elucidated by the Rev. T. C. Munnings, whose paper upon that subject points out a number of minutiæ apparently necessary to the success of the crop; amongst which it is particularly recommended to cover the seed with earth instantly when sown. The method which he suggests for the preservation of Turnips on the land, by means of ploughed ridges, as food for cattle during the winter season, claims public attention. Mr. Munnings has presented the Society with his DrillMachine for sowing Seed.

Mr. Eccleston, of Scarisbrick, who has for many years been very attentive to Agricultural pursuits, has obliged the Society this Session by his Observations

on a method of Draining Boggy Land; and presented an implement which forms an outlet for water when retained in peat-earth, by the spongy texture of the vegetable surface growing within the ditches.

It was an observation of the celebrated Swift, that" whoever could make two ears of corn, or two blades of grass, to grow, where only one had grown before, would deserve better of mankind than the whole race of politicians."

The

same remark may be extended, with propriety, to other vegetable products; and the merit acknowledged of Mr. Ashton, of Woolton Hall, who has lately converted one hundred and thirty-three acres of waste sandy land, unproductive of herbage, to a valuable plantation of Timber-trees, the flourishing state of which affords great encouragement for thus employing land apparently barren.

Mr. Edward Jones's Paper on the Destruction of the Grub of the Cock, chaffer, contains curious observations on the habits of Moles; and points out the necessity of a cool and candid consideration upon the alternative choice of permitting the increase of Moles, or of suffering from the ravages of the Cockchaffer, worms, and other noxious insects.

The preparation and application of Composts for Manure are of very essential consequence in husbandry; and a knowledge of the modes adapted for such purpose in different parts of Great Britain, is of the utmost importance. Great exertions are necessary to eradicate the topical prejudices on this head which are known to prevail throughout the kingdom, and to encourage methods more efficient for the purpose. In the isle of Thanet, for instance, we observe, that sea-weeds, and even sea-sand, are diligently collected, and attended with

great

great advantage to the clay-land on which they are applied; whilst on the coast of Lancashire, and in other parts of England, the same advantages are wholly neglected, where similar opportunities offer for their use. The application of peat-earth and powdered lime, prepared as a compost, were thought improper in the populous district of Bolton in the Moors, for the production of Potatoes, though this vegetable furnishes a principal part of the food of its inhabitants: but the active exertions of Mr. Horridge, of Raikes, have brought this Manure into estimation, and will probably be the means of increasing highly in value large tracts of land in that neighbourhood, at present barren and uncultivated.

Mr. Kirwan, in a valuable pamphlet published in 1796, upon the Manures most advantageously applicable to various sorts of Soils, and the causes of their beneficial effects, grounds his theory

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