fupport her future offspring: and the common earth-worm propagates its fpecies above ground, when the weather is mild and moist, or the earth dewy.

The eggs, depofited on the tender germ, are conveyed with the food into the ftomach and inteftines of the animals, whence they are received into the lacteal veffels, carried off in the chyle, and pafs into the blood; nor do they meet with any obstruction until they arrive at the capillary vellels of the liver.-Here, as the blood filtrates through the extreme branches, anfwering to thofe of the vena porta in the human body, the fecerning veffels are too minute to admit the impregnated ova, which, adhering to the membrane, produce thofe animalcula that feed upon the liver and destroy the fleep. They much refemble the flat fifh called plaice, are fometimes as large as a filver two-pence, and are found both in the liver and in the pipe, (answering to that of the vena cava) which conveys the blood from the liver to the heart.

If the form of this animal is unlike any thing we meet with among the infect tribe, we should confider that it may be fo fmall in its natural ftate as to escape our obfervation. Or might not its form have changed with its fituation?" The caterpillar undergoes feveral changes before it produces a butterfly.'

The various accounts which every diligent enquirer must have met with (as well as the indefatigable Mr. Young), feem very confiftent with the theory of this diforder.

If dry, limed land in Derby

fhire will rot in common with water-meadows, and ftagnant marfhes; if fome fpringy lands rot when others are perfectly fafe;-is it owing to the circumftance of water, or that of producing the proper food or nidus of the infect? Thofe who find their aftergrafs rot till the autumnal watering, and fafe afterwards, might probably be of opinion, that the embryo laid there in the fummer, is then washed away or deftroyed.

With regard to those lands that are accounted never fafe, if there is not fomething peculiar in the foil or fituation, which allures or forces the infect to quit its abode at unufual feasons, it may be well worth enquiring, whether from the coarfenefs of their nature, or for want of being fufficiently fed, there is not fome grafs in these lands always left of a fufficient length to fecure the eggs of the infect above the reach of the water.

Such who affert that flowing water alone is the caufe of the rot, can have but little acquaintance with the Somerfetfhire clays, and are diametrically oppofite to thofe who find their worst land for rotting cured by watering. may not the water which produces this effect, be impregnated with particles deftructive to the infect, or to the tender germ which ferves for its food or nidus?

Yet,

For folving another difficulty, that "no ewe ever rots while the has a lamb by her fide," the gentlemen of the faculty can best inform us, whether it is not probable, that the impregnated ovum paffes into the milk, and never arrives at the liver. The fame learned

H 4

learned gentlemen may think the following queftion alfo not unworthy their confideration:

Why is the rot fatal to fheep, hares, and rabbits (and fometimes to calves), when cattle of greater bulk, which probably take the fame food, escape uninjured? Is the digeftive matter in the ftomach of these different from that of the others, and fuch as will turn the ova into a state of corruption; or rather, are not the fecretory ducts in the liver large enough to let them pafs through, and be carried on in the ufual current of the blood?

It feems to be an acknowledged fact, that falt marfhes never rot. Salt is pernicious to moft infects. They never infeft gardens where fea-weed is laid. Common falt and water is a powerful expellent of worms bred in the human body. I could with the intelligent farmer would confider thefe truths with attention, and not neglect a remedy which is cheap, and always at hand.

Lifle, in his book of husbandry, informs us of a farmer who cured his whole flock of the rot, by giving each fheep.a handful of Spanish falt, for five or fix mornings fucceffively. The hint was probably taken from the Spaniards, who frequently give their fheep falt to keep them healthy.

On fome farms, perhaps, the utmost caution cannot always prevent the diforder. In wet and warm feafons, the prudent farmer will remove his fheep from the lands liable to rot. Thofe who have it not in their power to do this, I would advife to give each fheep a fpoonful of common falt, with the fame quantity of our,

in a quarter of a pint of water, once or twice a week. When the rot is recently taken, the fame remedy given four or five mornings fucceffively, will in all probability effect a cure. The addition of the flour and water will, in the opinion of the writer of this, not only abate the pungency of the falt, but difpofe it to mix with the chyle in a more friendly and efficacious manner.

Were it in my power to communicate to the fociety the refult of actual experiment, it would doubtlefs be more fatisfactory. They will, however, I am perfuaded, accept of these hints, at leaft as an earnest of my defire to be ferviceable. Should they only tend to awaken the attention of the induftrious husbandman, or to excite the curiofity of fome other enquirer, who has more leifure and greater abilities, I fhall have the fatisfaction of thinking that my fpeculations, however imperfect, are not entirely useless. I am, Sir,

Your very humble fervant,
BENJAMIN PRICE.

hend, are formed on fo fmall a fcale as to preclude the practicability of taking into their hands a few fields (and a few would be fufficient), and of appointing fome perfon or perfons to cultivate them, and inftruct the pupils, either according to the idea of Lord Molefworth, which points to the education of poor men's children; or, according to the ideas of Cowley and Sir William Petty, which refpect the education of gentlemen's fons as well as others.

At prefent, however, let us at tend to the advantages accruing from each of the above plans; premifing only, that lectures on the theory of hufbandry must, by all means, be accompanied with a close attention to the practical part of it, in fuch a manner as may tend to correct the mistakes of fpeculation, to open and enlarge the mind, and to give a clearer infight into the nature of vegetation, and the very fundamental principles of agriculture.

Were schools established in different parts of the kingdom for the education of farmer's fons who might be but in low circumstances, gentlemen would never want fenfible and rational improvers of their eftates, who would likewife be the most proper perfons to inftruct parish apprentices and inferior fervants. This the old experienced Varro reckoned to be of principal importance. "The bailiffs," fays he, "fhould be men of fome erudition and fome degree of refinement." But more efpecially ought a bailiff to be well Skilled in rural economics: he fhould not only give orders, but alfo work himself; that the labourers might imitate him, and be convinced it is with propriety

he prefides over them, because he excels them in the practical part, as well as the fcientific.

Were this the cafe with us, local and established cuftoms would be regarded no farther than they are founded in propriety; younger fervants would be accustomed to a variation in their methods of culture as circumftances varied ; new modes will not be defpifed, because they are new; the effects of experiments would be modeftly expected; the advantages and difadvantages attending them, would be accurately difcerned; and a continual progrefs would be made in the fcience and practice of agriculture. Were fome fmart boys felected by each fociety, and educated on the above plan, they would hereafter convey knowledge wherever they went; and their obfervations would be better attended to by inferior fervants, than if they came from perfons of high rank. In fhort, they would effect what even the fuperior knowledge of noblemen and gentlemen could not perform, who have more important objects in view than to cultivate the neglected understanding of every ruftic labourer they may have occafion to employ. Like fmaller rivulets, branching from the main ftream, they would water and fertilize those lands where a larger river cannot with propriety expand itself.

While under tuition they will learn the expediency of a clean and fpirited fyftem of hufbandry; as it is fuppofed that their tutor's fields will be cultivated on these principles. principles. On comparing his crops with thofe of many others, the truth of Hefiod's maxim would be apparent, that half may be more

than

perpetual variety which is very engaging at their age.

"It is one point gained, without doubt, to be enabled to read the hufbandry works of Cato, Varro, Virgil, and Columella, with tafte and knowledge. It may open a new walk on claffical ground, and in all probability, give young men certain predifpofitions, in favour of agriculture. Yet ftill, the whole combined together will produce but flight effects, unless we call in the affiftance of facts and experience.

"Something of this kind ought, certainly to be done, and the complaint of Columella, when he fays with fome degree of warmth, Agricolationis doctores qui fe profiterentur neque difcipulos cognovi,' fhould, if poffible, be

removed."

The former part of this quotation evidently intimates, that the improvement of young gentlemen in clatiical learning, would not be impeded, but rather promoted, by attending to agriculture; and the experience of every one who has led à ftudious life will teftify that the open air invigorates the mind, and prepares it for receiving inftruction, because it can bear application only to a certain degree, and ftands in need of being frequently reinvigorated by amufements and lighter ftudies.

Time is precious, and might be virtually lengthened by a proper difpofal of it. When the mind is fatigued with clofe application, exercife in the open air will renew its firength and activity. Additional to their being taught the value of the different fields over which they may walk with their tutor, from the various

plants each field naturally produces, botany may be attended to as a pleafing and inftructive fcience; neither should planting and gardening, by any means, be neglected; nor the art of furveying and delineating estates be considered as beneath their nofice.

In bad weather they may be occafionally amufed with experiments on various branches of natural philofophy;—the effects of the air with regard to vegetation, and the nature of different earths and manures, after the manner of the Doctors Home, Fordyce, Ainflie, Priestley, &c. They fhould alfo be inftructed in the principles of mechanics, especially that part which relates to hydraulics, it being of principal utility in draining, and other modes of improving eftates.

Thefe are circumstances from which many of the capital improvements lately made, in a great meafure, originated. They were indeed confidered of principal importance by Sir William Petty, one of the greateft men of that or any other age, who recommends them with earnestness, for reafons highly worthy of himself, and which will be mentioned hereafter.

Having gained fome knowledge of agriculture, they will read the works of the antient agricultural writers with improvement and pleasure; a circumstance which will much expedite the knowledge of the languages. For without excluding other profe authors, may I not venture to affert, that the antient writers on husbandry, are, from the nature of their fub. ject and their claffical ftyle, as

proper

P

proper for young perfons, and as fuitable to their difpofitions and capacities, as any they generally read? Indeed I have always been apt to fufpect, that putting the works of Homer, Horace, Virgil, Ovid, or in fact, any other poet, into the hands of boys before their minds are properly furnished, and their tafte and judgment fufficient. ly advanced, to enter into the fpirit of those excellent writers, has been only rendering learning irkfome to them, and proved the means of their bidding a final adieu not only to those authors, but to all claffical literature, when they have left their grammar-schools; not to mention that profe writers, feem, in themselves, beft calculated to teach any language by, as well as to convey the moft ufeful information to the minds of youth.

Poetry and painting are fifter arts; they alike receive advantages from rural fcenes: witnefs the fix paftorals of Mr. Smith, than whom, as a landfcape-painter, and as a poet, this age hath not, perhaps, produced a greater.

The following is one inftance, among many others, to prove how favourable an intimate acquaintance with rural images is to poetical defcription.

"The night was ftill-the filver moon on

the powers of the mind, as well as the members of the body; will give a manly turn to thought, duty regulated and refined by polite literature. A perfon thus educated will never want a variety of entertainment in the country to fill up his time in a manner equally innocent, rational, and useful. He will be continually increasing in valuable knowledge, and preferve himself from that diffipation which enervates the mind, renders retirement burthenfome, and the more public and momentous concerns of life too arduous to be executed with propriety and decorum. He will enjoy his otium cum dignitate, and, at the fame time, his private amufements will give a certain dignity and polifh to his fentiments, which on all occafions he will be the better enabled to exprefs in public, with a truly British spirit, Roman firmnefs, and Attic elegance. There will appear in his whole manner and address that fimplex munditiis which is equally removed from empty affected foppifhnefs and mere clownish rufticity. He will be fitted for fuch department in the government of the state as may best suit the natural bent of his genius, whenever his affiftance may be thought neceffary; and may rank hereafter among those worthies who had acted the fame part before him, and whofe eulogium may be delivered in the words of the Roman orator," Ab aratro arceffebantur qui confules fierent. Suos enim agros ftudiofe colebant, non alienos cupide appetebant, quibus rebus, et agris et urbibus et nationibus rempublicam, atque hoc imperium et populi Romani nomeù auxerunt.”

But.