7 "Thou watchful taper, by whose silent light Like thine, my flames to my destruction turn, From whose bright beams their being first arose." His Amoret, his Lesbia, and his Doris, all possess great merit, particularly the last, which Sir Richard Steele commended "as the sharpest and most delicate satire he had ever met with." As the lives introduced into this seventh volume have all passed under the previous review of Dr. Johnson, little that was new could be expected; Dr. A. however has acted the part of a judicious editor, in stating those facts which are the best authenticated, and in adopting those criticisms which, with few exceptions, have been most generally approved. In a future article, we shall turn our attention to the remaining volumes of this useful and comprehensive collection of English poetry. [To be continued.] ART. V. Letters and Papers on Agriculture, Planting, &c. selected [Article concluded from our last Number *.] T 1 * The former part of this Article, given in our Review for the last month, related merely to the introductory portion of the volume before us, drawn up by Mr. Matthews, the Secretary to the Bath Society. Ee 3 The S.R. The curious facts contained in this paper, with the inferences deduced from them, will be highly acceptable to the philosopher and the practical farmer. Dr. A. has thrown much light on the subject of wool-bearing animals, and labours to remove prejudices and hastily-conceived notions, which appear to have obstructed improvement in the breed of sheep. It was necessary; in a disquisition of this kind, to state the characteristic or discriminative qualities of hair and wool, which is done by Dr. A. concisely yet clearly. Hair is uniformly thickest at the root, and tapers sensibly towards the point; wool has no determinate proportional thickness in its different parts: sometimes the root-end is thicker than the points; sometimes, and indeed most generally in this climate, the points are thicker than the roots; sometimes the middle is thicker than either end; sometimes it is quite the reverse; sometimes the variation of thickness is great; at other times, the filament is of equal thickness throughout all its parts.-Hair, like wool, on the body of most animals, is an annual production: but the former loosens from the skin separately, or one by one; while wool loosens from the skin in a mass, and falls off in large parcels all at once, so as to leave the body nearly bare, when a new crop springs up beneath. Hence the length of the coat of hair-bearing animals, if left to themselves, is not nearly so different, at different seasons of the year, as that of wool-bearing animals.* Sheep, the improvement in the breed of which is the principal object of this valuable communication to the Society, Dr. A. arranges in three classes: I. Wool-bearing Sheep, properly so called. II. Hair-bearing Sheep, whose pite is long in the staple, and of a quality that admits of being employed, in many manufactures, nearly for the same purposes as wool. III. Sheep that carry short thick hair, which in no respect resembles wool of any sort. Of this variety of the sheep species we have no breeds in Great Britain; but that such do exist Dr. A. puts beyond a doubt; and the inference which he would draw from this great diversity in the sheep species is, that, since we find one class of animals of which some breeds produce wool, and other breeds nothing but short hair in no respect resembling wool, a similar diversity may take place in regard to other classes of animals. He proceeds to shew that it actually does, in the dog, goat, and cow: but, as we cannot follow him in the enumeration of these varieties, we must content ourselves with noticing the practical uses to be derived from his state.ment of facts. Dr. A. might have added that hair comes away root and all; wool is thrown off, but the root remains. 1. That, 1. That, as all the varieties of sheep yet known readily intercopulate, and as the progeny is prolific, and partakes nearly alike of the qualities of both its parents, mongrel breeds may be produced in infinitum; and the distinguishing peculiarities. of the original breeds may be blended in all possible proportions, and lost. 2. That the effects of climate and food, in altering the qua-. lities of the breed, are found to be nothing; though the influence of these circumstances on the individual creature may in some cases be very perceptible. 3. That the influence of breed, in propagating the qualities of the parent stock, or in altering the qualities of it at pleasure, by blending it with others, may be said to be all-powerful. [This is the general doctrine inculcated; and it merits regard from the breeders of sheep.] 4. That, although a breed of animals appears not to be liable to be changed by climate or other extraneous causes, individuals may be found among every breed of animals, differing, from others in some circumstances, though they still possess the general characteristics of the parent breed; and that these little differences or varieties may be propagated. 5. That there seems to be no reason for believing that any. one peculiarity, of which we may be in quest, is necessarily. connected with or dependant on any other peculiarity in the animal creation. In short, Dr. A. is induced to believe that every good quality, both as to fleece and flesh, may be united in the same animal: but, if this cannot be completely effected, yet, from, what is exhibited in this paper, hopes may rationally be enter tained that the breed of sheep will be considerably improved. This paper deservedly occupies the first place in the present volume. In the Doctor's Practical Treatise on Draining, &c. it is re-printed, with considerable additions. The 2d Article comes also from the pen of Dr. Anderson; and it was, we are informed, introductory to the foregoing essay, but is exhibited as a distinct paper, under the title-On Canallocks, Bridges, Peat-Moss, &c.; on which subjects it contains a few concise and cursory remarks. On the Orcheston Meadow-grass, or rather on the extraordinary fertility of a meadow at Orcheston St. Mary, about nine miles from Salisbury. By Benj. Pryce, Esq.-The fact had been noticed in vol. i. p. 93, of the Bath Society's Papers; and the object of this gentleman is to account for it. He went to the meadow, and examined the stratum and under-stratum. At the depth of three or four inches, in the most fertile spot, he found a bed of loose flints, unmixed with soil, and into which Ee 4 which no roots penetrated. To these flints, as non-conductors, he assigns the cause of the fertility of the meadow; and he tells us that Dr. Ingenhousz is of the same opinion. In Art. 4. we have some observations, from the author of the foregoing article, on the Curl in Potatoes. They contain nothing very satisfactory on the subject: but he tells us that he has found more curled plants arising from the butt than from the crown end of the potatoe, and from small than from Jarge potatoes; and that he is convinced that deep planting is an erroneous practice. A Description of a cheap and efficacious Ventilator for preserving Corn on Ship-board. By Thomas South, Esq.-This machine consists of a forcing-pump, with annexed perforated tubes; by which it is proposed to diffuse fresh air to every part of the bulk. It is an excellent idea: but, without the assistance of the engraving, we should in vain attempt a particular description. Mr. J. Collins (in Art. 6.) exhibits, with great plainness, a variety of remarks on the different Kinds and Properties of Wool. To this paper, which merits the attention of wool-dealers and farmers, is added the following N. B.: It is my resolution not to enter into any controversy with any person whatsoever; if they do not like what I have written, (it is truth,) they may reject it. What care I? I value the content and ease of my own mind above all earthly enjoyments whatever; for life and time are too precarious and valuable to be spent in quarrels and squabbles about who shall say Amen, or the last word.' Art. 7. contains an account of a Method of tanning Leather with Oak Leaves instead of Oak Bark, discovered and proved by W. White, tanner, of Ashburton, Devon. Eight tanners and dressers of leather authenticate the fact, and declare the leather thus manufactured to be equal to any tanned with oakbark. In Art. 8. Jolin Harvey Pierce, Esq. communicates a short account of planting Potatoe Sets, and covering them in the furrow with dung before the earth is drawn over them. This, we believe, is a common custom: for we have often seen it practised. Francis Webb, Esq. gives some instances of the rapid Growth of Oak Timber: but he proves that timber beyond a certain growth does not pay more than one and a half per cent., and therefore he wishes that Government would set a greater price on all trees above 50 feet, and particularly on compass timber and large knees. A Detail of several Experiments, with Observations on the Ef fects of Gypsum, ar Plaster of Paris, as a Manure for Sainfoin, Cow Cor-grass, Dutch Clover, &c. These experiments go to prove that there is a most powerful and subtile principle in this tasteless stone; and that it is capable, when employed as a manure, and sown in the quantity of about six bushels per acre, of forcing vegetation in an astonishing manner. On Waste Lands and Inclosures. This paper is composed of extracts from the County Surveys made under the direction of the Board of Agriculture, which comprise a great variety of interesting information respecting the waste and common lands in the several counties, and which are here exhibited in one compressed view, in order to shew the importance of obtaining from Parliament a General Inclosure Bill. Unquestionably, there is much waste land in Great Britain, which, by cultiva tion, may be turned to a good account: but evils may arise, on the other hand, from injudicious appropriation; so that, as we have said before, we are not convinced, by what is advanced in the Surveys, of the wisdom of passing a general inclosure bill, of any sort, indifferently: but we hope that the subject will undergo the fullest discussion, on the most enlarged and patriotic principles, before so sweeping a measure be carried into a law. Enthusiasm in correcting some evils has been known to generate others. Similar extracts from the same County-Agricultural Surveys are exhibited in Art. 12. to shew the inconvenience of the present system of tithes, and the general opinion that prevails, among enlightened men, of the expediency of substituting some fair equivalent for them. Various hints are thrown out, by the authors of these surveys, as to the best mode of effecting this alteration. There is certainly much reason in what they advance, both as to the justice and policy of making some arrangement with respect to tithes; and though we perceive so many difficulties obstructing its execution as to prevent our hoping to see any plan speedily and generally adopted, it is of importance to collect the sentiments and record the ideas of agricultural and professional gentlemen on so very material a subject. The opinion of the Society, as to the operation of tithes, and as to the wisdom of establishing some compensation for them, is evident: but they do not venture to decide in what manner this may be most effectually accomplished. The 13th Article, however, exhibits a letter from Thomas Davis, Esq., who undertakes to shew the most practicable mode of giving an equitable compensation for tithes. This sensible letter obtained for its author the Society's prize; and from the knowlege of the subject which it evinces, we think that it was not more honoured than it deserved. What Mr. D. recommends is extremely fair and equitable, viz. that there be a payment in money |