soap ashes depends upon the sort of over-un with aquatic rubbish: proalkaline salt used by the soap-boiler: duced abundance of white clover, when kelp and barilla are the mate- (Gloucester Report, p. 272). The best rials, the ashes are found to be more method of using this manure has been than twice as strong and effective as a thought by some persons to be that of manure, than such as are the refuse of a compost with dung and earth, Mucommon potash; and to this circum- seum Rusticum, vol. iv. p. 399). Tried stance may be attributed, not only the by Mr. Townley, of Lancashire. different quantities per acre that are recommended, but also the different resu which have attended the use of this dressing in different parts of this kingdom, and any failures which may have taken place. The ashes to be procured at London are all made from barilla and kelp.

M. Tweed, of Essex, has used refuse potash; 160 bushels per acre once in five years on grass land, more than doubled the produce, (Essex Report, vol. ii. p. 246). In the North Riding of York, kelp ashes have been used, and found a very valuable manure for grass land, (Report, p. 237).

On what Soil used.

In Surrey, on strong cold soils, (Malco.'s Compendium, vol. ii. p. 178). Of all the manures tried on a peat moss, soap-ashes an wer best, (Wright's Husb. Scot. vol. 3, p. 183). Best on strong soils, (Museum Rusticum, vol. iv. p. 839). Excellent on cold wet spongy meadow land, (Bath Papers, vol. i. p. 129)., Effect on cold wet grass land very great, (Appendix to General Report upon Manu.es, p. 77). In Lancashire found very good and durable on dry pastures, (Report, p. 127).

1, No manure, 184 lbs. potatoes; 2, stable dung and soap-ashes, 208; S, stable dung produced. 315; 4, soap ashes, 383; (Farmer's Mag. 1779, vol. iv. p. 56).

Such farmers as are in the habits of making composts, will probably use these ashes as a material in forming these heaps; and so far as earth is concerned, there can be no objection to the practice; but in respect of dung, it may admit a doubt. In proportion to the quantity of alkaline matter left in the ashes, it will tend to shorten the duration of the effect of the dung; and as the addition of the ashes will render stirring and mixing necessary, it merits consideration, whether the better system be not to use these manures separately. It seems advisable, in the application of these ashes to arable crops, to sow and harrow them in previously to sowing the seed, which will prevent the action of any acrid or caustic quality on the germination of the young plants. The same circumstance will point out the autumn as the proper season for applying them on grass lands, though experiments may be tried with them early in the spring. When used with pond, river, or ditch mud, and used in about four months, are very successful. This also agrees with the practice of Robert Thornton, Esq. of Clapham, who bas used them about four years, and has thereby greatly improved a very sour pasture.. In Cheshire they plough them into the land; but an Essex farmer remarks, that these ashes are of so heavy a quality, that the tillage should

For what Crop, and how applied. Generally reckoned better for pasture than for a able, Donaldson's Modern Agriculture, vol. ii. p. 228). The crops of clover hay live been doubled by sixty bushels per acre, (Bath Papers, vol. i. p. 1.9). Six crops of wheat running have been taken after eight cubical yards per acre, (Mortimer's Husb.). Excellent be shallow. on grass in autumn, (Museum Rusticum, vol. iv). On barley the benefit In Surrey these ashes have been visible, but not great, (Eastern Tour, vol. i. p. 292). Sixty bushels percre for turnips, the benefit very great, (ibid). Tried by M. Townley, of Lance hire, for potatoes, and the effect very great, (Farmer's Mag. 1770, vol. iv. p. 56). In Gloucestershire greatly approved for low meadows

Effect.

found infallibly to kill insects, (Mulcolm's Comp. vol. ii. p. 173). The effect of these a-hes admirable both on grass and arable, (Adam's Essays on Agriculture, vol. i. p. 167). Destroys slugs and vermin of every description, (Museum Rusticum)," Mr. Mansfield, near Epping, on a pour

It would be desirable to have the, following particulars ascertained, in a more satisfactory manner than hitherto has been the case.

sour pasture that would not mow, nor profitable (price considered) as these would stock eat it, four waggon-loads ashes, and that the farmers in the viper acre effected a total change; soil cinity of London, and of all the navistrong, wet, and heavy, (Essex Rep. gations leading from it, may embark vol. ii. p. 246). Mr. Sherwood, of largely in the use of this manure, Abbotts Langley, Herts, has used these without the smallest apprehension of ashes with very great success, mixed loss by so doing; but that, on the conin composts. They are very service- trary, they will find the profit deciable in new plantations, particularly dedly great, and by the use of which where the soil is cold. A noble lord, they may prevent the continual ada member of the Board of Agriculture, vance of all sorts of manure. Barges possesses a grass field in Wiltshire, bringing lime, chalk, timber, bricks, which was manured with soap-ashes malt, and corn, to London, can get a near twenty years ago, and the im- freight back at twelve hours notice. provement was very great, and has Conclusion. continued so ever since. Two principal farmers near Ealing, Mr. Thorne and Mr. Knivett, have used them for many years for arable land, with great success and advantage. Robert Thornton, Esq. of Clapham, in some experiments amounting to seven acres, found that these ashes added a load of hay per acre to the crop. The Marquis of Abercorn's bailiff says, his father always considered one load of 60ap-ashes equal to five loads of rotten dung, and particularly improved the soil and verdure. The Rev. Mr. Dudley formed, in Essex, composts of these ashes with marsh-banks, which were mixed well together, and spread on grass land with great effect. Hence there is considerable reason for believing, that there is scarcely a manure to be procured that will be found so

1. The soils and the crops for which this manure is best calculated?

2. The quantity that should be laid on each per acre?

3. The proper period of the year for laying it on?

4. Whether any mixture should be: used with soapers waste-what is the best mixture, and what are the best proportions?

5. What are the effects of this article compared with other manures, and its relative value?

Any information regarding these particulars, transmitted to the Board of Agriculture, London, will be particularly acceptable.

VARIETIES, LITERARY AND PHILOSOPHICAL; With Notices respecting Men of Letters, Artists, and Works in Hand, &c. &c.

Body at its different Ages, the Diseases to which it is predisposed in each period of life, and the Principles of Longevity.

Another volume on Capital Punishments, in addition to one already published, is in the press; to which, by way of appendix, will be added ex- . tracts on prisons, &c. from the following works: Liancourt's Travels in America, Isaac Weld's Travels through North America, Lowrie's Account of the Penal Laws of Pennsylvania, and Turnbull's Visits to the Philadelphia Prisons.

Miss Eliza Rogers will shortly publish the Lives of the Twelve Caesars, preceded by a succinct account of the

rate undertaking of the kind yet gone into in this kingdom.

Climate. The medium temperature of each year, calculated from actual observation, for a series of years, will be found to continue nearly a constant quantity. It may be remarked, that some summers are hotter than others, but in general an equilibrium is restored by a cold winter. In Europe, there certainly are evident marks of the amelioration of climate: for the line or curve of congelation, in the central Alps, descended much lower at former periods than it does at present. It is observed by different travellers, that the glacier of Grindle wald shows evident marks of this gradual contraction. In order to trace this progressive warmth, it will require the result of many years thermometrical observation. Those who are in the practice of taking the mometrical observations, generally observe the height of the thermometer at the hours of 7 a. m. 3 p.m. and 10 p.m. but the times of observation ought to depend upon the seasons of the year. The reason why three periods of the day are taken, is to ascertain the mean temperature; and if the position of the thermometer be fixed, it should be in the shade, and exposed to every current of air. There are then three columns of observation, viz. the mornking, noon, and night. By dividing the sum of three heights by three, you obtain the mean heat of the day; by dividing the sum of the three columns, by three times the number of days in the month, you have the mean heat of the month; and, lastly, by dividing the sum of the middle column (or noon heat) by the number of days, you obtain the mean greatest heat.

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into cakes alone, or mixed with other flour or meal. It does not often happen that opportunities offer of drying in the sun in time of frost (in this climate); and I believe it will be found, that, on exposing a frozen potatoe to the sun, it will increase instead of diminishing its moisture. I have also good reason to believe, that food so frozen, and used afterwards, is likely to cause dysentery, &c."

An enthusiastic promoter of the cultivation of potatoes, states, as the result of several experiments made by him, that an acre of land planted with that root, will produce sufficient food for 16,875 healthy men, for one meal; while an acre of wheat will not feed more than 2745. The expence of cultivating the potatoes, he estimated at 12. 1s. and that of the wheat, at 117. 158.!

Cure for the Asthma. - The Stramonium, or Thorn-apple, if dried; the leaves, apple, and roots, cut up together and smoaked three times a day on an empty stomach, the person neither eating or drinking while smoaking, and swallowing as much of the saliva as possible. This is reckoned an infallible cure for the asthma. Great care should be taken not to take any of the thorn-apple internally, or to let it lay about carelessly, as it is a deadly poison.

His

Mr. John Cotton Worthington has communicated an account of his practice in cultivating sixteen acres of land, near Sidmouth, in Devon, entirely by the labour of asses. waggon was extremely light, calculated to carry about a ton and a half, and cost 16. Six asses were harnessed two abreast in it: the harness was a miniature of that of a horse, except A correspondent, in answer to the that the collar divided at top, like an mention of a mode of preserving po- ox's harness, and buckled together; tatoes, by exposing them to frost and the pair of chains weighed about 6ib. then laying them in the sun, as used at 2s. perib. or Sd. per foot; the wheelin Mexico, observes :-" I have heard harness with hames, pad, iron-work, it recommended, to cut the potatoes bridie, breeching, crupper, &c. cost into quarters, and then have then dried about 17. 16s. the leading ditto, il. 75. on a kiln; after which, to have them expences of shoeing, Is. 6d. a round. laid in stores, as corn usually is. Or I In all stiff work, four asses were used. think, if they were ground or crushed at plough, harnessed two abreast, and into a very fine puip, and that pulp driven in hand with reins by the dried in the sun, a kind of meal might ploughman. Ten or eleven acres of be produced, which, being packed Mr. Worthington's land in aration, hard in large binns, could be preserved lay on the slope of a hill, so steep that a great length of time, and making it horses had not been able to plough it

up and down, but which his ass-team have been appointed to examine, and readily performed. The asses, none report upon the same. of which exceeded 11 hands in height, cost 40s. or less, each: in the same team, stallions, mares, and geldings were used; the mares were found the most gentle and tractable, the geldings most stubborn and inactive, yet the most sagacious; the stallions somewhat vicious, but of double the spirit, strength, and vigour of either of the others. The asses were not found liable to any maladies; were temperate eaters, and throve best when turned out into a neighbouring common to cater for themselves among brambles.

FOREIGN LITERARY INTELLIGENCE.

France.

Coffee. It is stated in the Paris pa pers, that M. Bamas, a cloth-manufacturer in the Commune of Charny, in the department of the Seine and Marne, has found out the means of growing coffee in France. He sowed some Mocha coffee, and this trial has produced to him this year about fifteen pounds of beans, which have preserved both their flavour and form. In the culture of this coffee, it is said that he neither employs a greenhouse with artificial heat, nor glas frames, nor glass covers: his success arises wholly from the mode in which he prepares the soil designed for this production.

Germany.

The librarian of the Theresian Academy at Vienna, has collected the political papers and the familiar letters of Prince Eugene of Savoy, hitherto que not printed. They make nineteca volumes, and are now publishing at Tubingen by M. Cotta, a celebrated bookseller there. These letters are said to contain a great number of anecdotes and facts not generally known; and which, consequently, will throw great light upon several political events.

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A remedy for the gout has been proposed by M. Pradier, which consists of a linseed-meal poultice, very thick, and very hot, having upon its surface a liquid of a yellow colour, which he has the secret of preparing, and having the smell of spirits, mixed with that of saffron. With this poultice, he covers the legs, &c. to a considerable extent. The liquid contains no substance, opium, &c. which can possibly produce any pernicious effect. It mollifies and softens the skin, and even produces folds or wrinkles in the feet and the palms of the hands, but without the least injury to its texture, or change of colour. It also provokes a humid whitish exudation or discharge, which partly adheres to the surface of the skin, and partly to the surface of the poultice when .removed. It likewise occasions a pain something like a burning heat, which, though particularly felt in the sole of the foot and the heel, is A Society at Munich have publish. unattended with redness or any appa- ed the prospectus of a work, intended rent sign of inflammation; sometimes to comprise the biography of all the slight, and sometimes insupportable. artists born in Bavaria, with descrip Lastly, in the process of the cure, it tions and engravings of their best produces a weakness and emaciation productions, which will form in the of the legs, in consequence of repeat- whole six volumes, in thirty large ed applications, with a tenderness of port-folios, containing upwards of the sole of the foot, which in some 6000 original drawings, engravings, persons causes agitation, restlessness, &c. and, at times, a general increase of the activity of all the functions. M. Pradier having offered to sell this secret to the government, a committee of the Faculty of Medicine at Paris

It is said that Madam de Stael, who has now resided several years in Ger many, is about to quit this part of the world for America, accompanied by e her friend Mr. William Schlegel.

The literary life, public and private, of Johannes Von Muiler, the late historian of Switzerland, is the subject of several publications, among which those of Professors Heyne, and leeren of Gottingen, are the most distinguished.

Stutgard, Oct. S.-M. de Granvogl, of Munich, has established at Au burgh a manufactory of sugar, tra beel root, which succeeds extremely well, and promises the most important

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