which Mr. Powell throws all kinds of weeds or other refuse, vegetable or animal matters, where it of course rots; if the weather proves wet, he firs it well by means of poles, then draws up the hatch, and by means of the trenches, it is conducted to all or any part of the mead below, which mead is rendered almoft incredibly productive by it; and the whole is, in general, at least a month before any of the watered meads I have feen, though I have occafion to go through many almost every day. If the weather proves dry, he throws open the refervoir, and cafts the manure, at his leifure, where wanted.' The addrefs of Mr. Davies, to the landholders of this kingdom, does great honour to his heart. After lamenting the comfortless, the wretched apartments of our labouring poor; and after having ftated that it is the intereft as well as the duty of land-holders, to provide fuch habitations for their labourers as are conducive to the prefervation of their health, and likely to infpire the female part of the family in particular, with a fpirit of cleanlinefs and modefty, he has fubmitted a variety of plans for cottages, which unite ornament with utility, and has given an eftimate of their expenfe. Six plates, neatly executed, accompany this very inte refting communication, which we heartily recommend to be con fulted by any perfon who has ability and inclination to contribute his fhare in remedying a caufe of fuch general and just complaint as the fcarcity of comfortable cottages. The next article is a plan for the general prevention of poverty,' addreffed fome years ago in a letter to George Rofe, eiq., by Mr. Pew. The plan is in many refpects excellent: that portion of it which gives the male or female pauper, who by accident, difeafe, or age, is rendered incapable of labour, a right to demand affiftance to a certain extent, from the treasurer of the district, inftead of degrading him into a fervile and obfequious petitioner, has our hearty approbation; as has that claufe alfo, which provides for the young children of a family, the idiotic, the infane, and the helpless in general. But we are not convinced of the juftice, the neceflity, or even the policy of establishing and fupporting a fund for this purpole by compulfory payment. It is our opinion, that were the other parts of this plan to be carried into execution, and attended with that complete fuccefs which Mr. Pew fo fanguinely anticipates, that compulfion would be abfolutely unneceffary; if they were not attended with complete fuccefs, compulfion would be obviously unjuft. In both cafes it would be impolitic. A plate is annexed to the defcription of Mr. Tugwell's improved pedometer, which indeed it would be impoffible to understand with For the purpofe of furveying, and admeasurement in general, whether of lands or roads, it appears to be extremely well calculated, uniting, in it's operation, accuracy with expedition. Three articles fucceed, communicated by Mr. Broughton, on the culture of the turnip cabbage; fome experiments are enumerated, from the refults of which it appears, that this plant poffeffes fome confiderable advantages over the common turnip. Thefe cabbages,' fays Mr. Broughton, have a strong power of refilling putrefaction, and of courfe endure the froft and wet, but but particularly the latter, better than most plants. They are much more nutritive than the common turnip; and being of a closer texture, they contain more food in a given space. By ftanding up above the ground on footftalk, they are more readily come at when the ground is covered with fnow.' Mr. Broughton took in forty large wether theep, weighing on an average more than twenty-five pounds per quarter; they were kept for two months, commencing on the 9th of December, on the turnip cabbage, when the quantity [of ground] was measured and found to be a trifle more than one acre and a quarter, ftatute measure. Though thefe fheep were kept in a fatting way, yet they had no hay given them, twice only excepted: when after a confiderable fall of fnow, fucceeded by rain, and that by a fevere froft, the owner fent a little hay upon a horfe, of which they ate but little, finding no difficulty in coming at their green food, in fpite of the deep now. My neighbours were not only ftruck with the great advantages of this crop over the common turnips in this respect; but likewife in wet weather, when the fheep were able to walk about them without the least detriment or wafte.' From another experiment, Mr. Broughton concludes, that the turnip-cabbages may be used to great advantage as a vegetable fea-flore: and that they would afford a very wholefome and agreeable food for failors through long voyages, at a time when every other fresh vegetable would be entirely fpoiled. Mr. B. fent two hamper baskets of them on board a veffel bound for Jamaica: The plants cut in a dry way, were divefted of their leaves and roots, and packed with dry fraw in hampers, with the ftalks downward.' The following particulars were communicated by the captain on his return: The tops and ftalks being cut off, and the rind ftripped off, they were cut into flices, and boiled in fresh water, until they were foft, which usually took half an hour; they were then preffed and brought to table as mafhed turnips, for which they were an excellent fubflitute, but much fweeter. We continued to ufe them in this manner, till towards the end of the month, when the weather becoming much warmer, we obferved them not to be fo good, and found that thofe which were hung up near the cabinwindows, in the pantry, and in the ftair cafe, began to wither and Thrivel, and appear yellow. Thofe which remained in the basket, with their roots downwards, were in a much better state. On the ift of January, 1793, fome of thofe in the latter flate were drelled as follows the roots and tops being taken off, but the rind lett on, they were boiled in falt-water with the falt-beef; the falt of which did not appear to have affected the infide much, after boiling three hours; they were then taken up, and the infide fcooped out of the top, and were found to be much fweeter and better, and the colour yellower than any of the former ones boiled in freth water.' The last article in this volume is a particular return of an experiment made in fheep feeding, by John Billingfley, efq. The object of the experiment was to afcertain what is the most profitable breed of fheep in jan. 1792, Mr. B. took the care of twenty-nine two-tooth wethers, (fheep about one year three-quarters old) of fix different forts; they were kept together one whole year, were E 2 weighed weighed every month, were folded every night, and treated alike in all refpects. The following was the general refult of the expe riment: Sheep. sheep. Dorset, 5, paid for 48 weeks, 4 £. 5. d. per week per Glocefter, 5, 4 4 I, 4 d. Mendip, 5, 3 17 4, Southdown, 4, Wilts, 4d. d. 1s. 7d: over. Mr. B. appears to have conducted his experiment with great accuracy and judgment. We now proceed to the EIGHTH VOLUME, which opens with an Introduction' by the fecretary, Mr. Matthews, containing an account of various topics of experiment and obfervation, which have engaged the attention of the fociety fince the publication of the preceding volume. An object, which has been purfued with peculiar and unabated affiduity, is the enclofure of wafte neglected lands: the ingenious iecretary, in this elaborate and well-written introduction, has difcuffed the propriety of this important meafure with candour and acuteness. The common objections, which are urged against the principle of enclosure, are stated at large, and are replied to with much animation and fuccefs: after which, the numerous advantages, which it is almoft mathematically demonftrable muft of neceffity accrue, as well to the poor as to the rich, are expatiated on with feeling and with ardour. In the following extract is mentioned one advantage neceffarily attendant on the general enclofure of wafteJands, which of itfelf would counterbalance a variety of objec tions; and which, if the poor cottagers were made fenfible of it, would greatly contribute to the popularity of the measure. Introd. P. xxiv. An increate of the number of well-inftructed labourers, is confeffedly much wanted; and nothing can bid fairer for a general alteration in this important matter, than a new occafion for building cottages, and fetting examples of neatnefs, and comfortable accommodation. Such new occafions must naturally arife among the effects of a general inclofure of walle and neglected lands. When we confider modern improvements, in the elegant fimplicity of building, which has taken place of late years, and the emulation in ufeful arrangement and tafte, which a ge neral opportunity would occafion, we may venture to predict the moft pleafing and happy effects from fuch an occurrence. The new and extenfive example would naturally become a marked excellence in the country. As the occafional improvement of a few houfes in an old and incommodious town, leads gradually to more general neatnefs, (when repairs become wanted) fo the old country cottages and miferable huts, in which indolence, dejection, difeafe, and indelicacy, have been long propagated, will gradually become improved and re-built; and the allotment of land for ufeful garden purpofes will become increased, to the improvement of the inhabitants in the effential articles of induftry, health, decency, order, and contentment! The country would would thus by degrees, and perhaps not by flow ones neither, acquire a new face of civilization, refpectability, and ornament.' Mr. Matthews proceeds to make fome ufeful obfervations on buildings in general, and attempts to account for that fearceness of comfortable accommodation for the labouring poor, which is fo truly difcreditable to our land-holders. After having ftated the influence of domeftic neatnefs on agricultural operations, the following remarks occur refpecting the workman, which are too juft and valuable to be overlooked: Introd. P. xxxi. If he be accompanied in his labour by one or more of his own children, they will naturally emulate the taste of their father-and they will in general not fail to carry thofe ideas of useful exactnefs, alternately, from their cottage to the field, and from the field to their cottage. But if the cottage be fo fmall, or ill contrived, fo fhattered and miferable, in its lights and covering, and ill-accommodated with garden ground, that it cannot be made healthful, pleafant, or profitable, they have not a reafonable motive to delight in it, or to exercise ingenuity and industry about it, in their morning and evening. hours. Indeed, generally fpeaking, fuch miferable cribs have feldom any quantity of ground to exercife ingenuity and induftry upon. A piece of potatoe ground is, perhaps, got at a distance; this is inconvenient, by occafioning a waste of time-it detaches too much the eye of the father from his family-if he delight in his garden, it is in the wrong place-order and harmony at his home are the lefs preferved-his hut is the least object of his liking it receives no regular flare of his fhort attentions-he returns to it in the dark, merely as to a den, in which he may lie down-and from which he may depart again as foon as he can open his eyes. But, give to a young man, about to fettle in a life of useful country labour, the requilites for domeftick fixture and country enjoyment; give him, at a reasonable rent, fuch as may pay the builder four per cent. for his money judiciously laid out, a cottage, fimply, but neatly and conveniently built, with two or three fleeping rooms, in one of which his wife may lie-in with detached decency-give him a well of water-or place him by the fide of a running ftream-give him at leaft half an acre of adjoining ground-and give him an affurance of continuance, and of conitant employ, on condition of his induftry and general good conduct; and you will most likely lay the foundation of much happinefs, and much refpectability-fix for life a faithful and grateful fervant-and add to the ftrength of the country by the most healthy population. A fum, perhaps not exceeding 50l. or 601. thus laid out, at moderate intereft, may do all this!-For the fum of 500l. or 600l. laid out together, (which to many gentlemen would be no inconvenience) or at different times, (which to others might be more agreeable) may be produced a little colony of labourers, living in neatnefs and comfort; a picture which, in the mind of a benevolent observer, would be a more lively and pleafing ornament than all the fuperfluous horfes, and all the dogkennels, in the univerfe. The annual expence of this human, E 3 and and humane establishment, reckoning the moft ftrictly, would be only the difference between four pr cent. for a fmall fum of money, and what it might be fuppofed to produce by other common means, out of trade! Suppofe one per cent. on the average were loft: this, in figures, makes a finking on ten cottages, of 51. per annum!-Suppofe, in the extreme, that two per cent. can be loft; this would not amount to halt the expence of one unneceflary horfe or one foot boy in livery! But when we confider the advantages of poffeffing fuch a fet of tenants, as labourers, and the fuperior pleafure of beholding their happiness, the fcale will abundantly turn in favour of cur object.' Obfervations occur on a variety of other fubjects in this introduction, which in many points of view is highly creditable to it's author. Art. 1. Difquifitions concerning different Varieties of woolbearing Animals, and other Particulars connected with that Subject, by James Anderfon, LL. D. F. R.S-After having mentioned in general terms our obligations to Dr. Pallas, for difcoveries relative to the varieties of fheep, Dr. A. tates, that they may all be reduced to one or other of the three following claffes, or the mongrel breeds refulting from an intermixture with each other. Firit clafs: woolbearing heep, properly fo called. Second clafs: hair-bearing fheep, whofe pile is long in the ftaple, and of a quality that admits of being employed in many manufactures, nearly for the fame purposes as wool. Third clafs: fheep that carry fhort thick hair, which in no refpect refembles wool of any fort.' Among the first clafs, which comprehends a great many of the varieties of fheep found in Britain, and throughout the greateit part of Europe, there is found intermixed with the wool in different proportions, a kind of fhort, opaque, brittle, unelaftic hair, ufually of a dead white or chalky colour.' In fome places it is called ftichel hair, in others, kimps: this fort of hair is in fome measure feparable from the wool, as it does not loofen from the fkin with it. The fecond clafs, the hair-bearing fheep, are fcarcely to be found among manufacturing nations, but they are reared in preference to the wool-bearing fort among the ruffians, and other northern nations, where the fkins of fheep, with the fleece on, are used for clothing, as they are found to be much more durable.' Between this clafs and the former, there are fo many varieties, and the fhades of diflinction, notwithstanding the apparent facility of difcriminating wool from hair, are fo faint, that the difference is not always very perceptible. Dr. A. has given fuch characteristics as he conceives are fufficiently accurate to be relied on. Of the third clafs we have no breeds in Britain, but that fuch fheep do exift, it is indifputable. P. 10. So little are they known indeed in this country, and fo little is it fufpected here that fuch an animal exifts, that I was not a little furprised when I first saw one of this kind, and therefore examined it with a good deal of attention. This creature was on board a danish Eaft India fhip that put into Leith roads laft feason, and was bought, with feveral others of the fame fort, as they affured me, in the inland of Madagascar. It was a ram of a good size, and was |