Great quantities of waste lands, (says he) and of commons appurtenant to cultivated lands, and of open fields, have for some years past been annually inclosed by acts of parlia ness, the amount of the whole loss which can probably be sustained by this undertaking in sixty years, I might proceed to make a circumstantial estimate of the profit which will probably be derived from it at twentyment, and the lands thus brought into seve years hence, when one half of the trees, viz. 161,000 (supposing 500 to have perished) should be cut down; and at forty years hence, when one half of the remainder, viz. 80,000, (supposing another 500 to have perished) should be taken away; and at sixty years hence, when (though another 500 should have perished,) there will be 80,000 trees of sixty years growth, and not more than 302 on an acre to be felled, if the then proprietor should have the heart to do it. There is a quantity of land, both in Great Britain and Ireland, of very little value in its present state, and which cannot be converted, with profit to the undertaker, either into arable or good pasture land, but which be ing planted with larches, would immediately pay a rent of above thirty shillings a year. This assertion requires some illustration.... ralty have been so improved by planting in some places, and by mending the pasturage in others, and by converting much into tillage which had never been ploughed before, that the whole kingdom is in these respects, as well as in its commercial relations, far more flourishing than it was forty years ago. I indeed am not one of those who consider the increased luxury of the country as a public benefit, or as any proper criterion of public strength and prosperity; yet, when I see the great bulk of the people (I speak not of the better fed, better clothed, better lodged, and vicious refuse of an overgrown capital), to be better educated, than the same class either ever was, or now is any other part of the of this country to be extremely prosperous. world, I cannot but look upon the situation merce. I am not ignorant that our commerce is the parent of our national opulence; and It consists in cutting down the whole at that our opulence, rather then the number of twenty or thirty years growth, and replant our people, is the present sinew of our naing the ground. A reasonable doubt how- tional strength. But should commerce ever ever may arise, whether the same will yield a desert us, as it has deserted all other counsecond crop of larches as valuable as the first; tries in which it once flourished, I am anxbut supposing experience to prove this doubt ious that we should still be able to maintain to be ill founded, and five hundred acres to our station as a free people, among the des be planted with larches at six or eight feet potic powers of Enrope. It would be far bet distance, after twenty-five years let twenty ter for us, to be a free nation of labouring acres be cut down, and the land be replant-peasants, than a nation of gentlemen, weared when the whole is thus gone over, the ing chains of slavery gilt by the gold of comfirst replanted part will be twenty-five years old, and be ready for the axe; and all the 'other parts will be ready in succession, twenty acres every year, for ever; affording a rent, after the first twenty-five years, of £1,500 a year from 500 acres of waste land. This rent is founded on the supposition of an acre of larches of twenty-five years growth being worth only £75 though there is good reason to conjecture, that it will be worth more; and a certainty that for the first twenty-five annual falls, its value will be increasing on account of the increasing age of the wood. >This hint, may perhaps be of value to some of our readers.-Why should any land be waste? As we pay great deference to the opinion of those who have passed many years in the world, and have had opportunities of estimating present times by comparison with former, we are happy to find his lordship differ strongly from those who indulge a kind of despondency, on the contemplation of evils among mankind, which while every reasonable mind laments, it should meet with fortitude.. Certainly we would not have commerce supplant the national attention to agriculture; and as trade is proverbially fickle, let us not rest our dependence unreservedly on such a basis. Mr. Willis relates with approbation the cautious experiments of his neighbour, Mr. Clapcott. We heartily join in recom mending equal prudence, at first, to others, who may intend to adopt more energetic measures and to conduct their operations on a widen scale after they have profited by results obtained with little labour and hazard. In March 1804, Mr. Clapcott inclosed with an earth bank 3 feet high; 54 feet at the bottom, 4 feet at top, at 1s 3d. per lug, part of which is planted with farz, part with quicksets, a square field of six acres covered with short heath and a few furz scattered on the surface. The soil he made choice of for his experiments, was neither the best nor the worst part of his allotment; it was such an average quality, as would faily and honestly try the value of the lands, in the different shapes of management, as might be employ. I have found the wool of his majesty's ram much degenerated, from the comparison of specimens in 1803 and the present year, He has been kept in the highest state possible, on the best pastures in the summer, and with corn in the winter, and has been very hardworked. I do not find such depreciation in the wool of the female produce from his majesty's ewes; they have not been kept in such high condition, and their fleeces are as fine as those of the original ewes, which died after The advantages of irrigation were unknown in Yorkshire, in 1809; and the first attempt at the practice by Edward Wilkinson, esq. of Potterton lodge, near Witherby, was ridiculed by the country around it. The success of the method has completely repelled that unwise prepossession against a novelty; and we hope that no gentleman will be deterred from making any experiments that he thinks likely to succeed, by the fear of encountering the laugh of those who are little able to comprehend his reasons, or to estimate his intentions. Although some modern writers, and, amongst others, M. De Lasteyrie, in his Treatise on Spanish Sheep, have asserted, that the quality of the wool does not depend upon the nature of tire pasturage, I cannot think they are borne out by facts or by sound reason. That, to a certain degree, as far as being essential to the health of the animal, nutritive pastures are necessary to the production of good and healthy wool, I readily admit; having frequently observed, that the wool of a half-starved sheep is sickly, and void of proof in manufacture. But, when the animal is kept high, and, by nutritious food, pushed forward in its growth, I am convinced that the fibre enlarges with other parts of the frame, and that, whenever an increased weight of wool is so produced, a It is possible that in some places the ve getation may be forced by culture, and this again, may force the sheep that feeds on it; a principle of deteriora tion from which the more natural pastures would be free. Mr. Durno's paper on the management of hemp and fax is well entitled to consideration. As the cultivation of these plants is less likely to be adopted on a large scale, in Britain, than in some of her colonies, we recommend this paper to those who have connections in Canada, or other parts. The succeeding paper on the culture of flax, by the late Robert Mr. Curwen speaks of schistus, hither- Somerville, esq. is interesting at home: to considered as an enemy to vegetation, but while the raising of food is of such as being completely pulverized, by a mix-extraordinary consequence to Britain, as ture of hot lime; and in this state, when it is at present, we know not how to rethinly spread, as making a good top dress: commend any diversion of our agricul ing; such incredibilities may ingenuity ef- tural strength from that necessary labour, fect even almost in opposition to nature. Mr. S. however, affirms, that there is no The interest we take in the improve- need to employ good arable lands in ment of British wool, has been manifest- this way, but that very large crops, of ed on many occasions, we have, therefore, both hemp and flax may be obtained from read with attention Mr. Sheppard's ac moors, mosses, swamps, wastes, &c. with count of his experiments made with the little labour and at small expense, while the Merino breed of sheep. One particular tillage and other operations, given for the will engage the attention of the naturalist. flax crops, will greatly facilitate their in provement, and put them in a proper train for the culture of grain, &c." We fear that the writer's notions were somewhat too sanguine on this subject; though we do not mean to deny, that the bringing of fands into some kind of culture, with a view to further operations, may be so conducted as to prove eventually bighly beneficial. This gentleman thinks, in opposition to a prevailing opinion, that "the whitest, most durable, and easiest bleached flax, may be produced from crops where the seed has been completely ripened." It is so, he says, in Holland; and if the adoption of any process used in Holland, would enable us to establish this fact, and to act upon it, the advantage to the nation would be immense; as we are, more or less, at all times at the mercy of our enemy, for a supply of the seed necessary to furnish the material for one of our most considerable manufactures. We believe, that at this time, our sentiments are in unison with those of a great portion of the population of Ireland. There are many good ideas in this paper; but not much novelty. The comparative trials and experiments recommended by Mr. S. to be made, may afford useful hints. " and We cannot do justice to Dr. Richardson's Essay on the Irish Fiorin grass; if it possesses all the good qualities the Dr. attributes to it, we wish to enjoy a more familiar acquaintance with it in Britain. It would greatly improve many wastes and plashes now worthless. It is capable, says Dr.R., of clothing the driest soils. It adorns the cliffs of the Giant's Causeway, forces its roots into the crevices of the rocks, and even into the diminutive intervals between the Causeway pillars." A plate of this grass, accompanies the essay. Mr. Madock's embankments and other improvements in Caernarvonshire, have already found their place in the PANORAMA. Compare Vol. IV. p. 385. Mr. Fulton, whose paper on small canals is inserted in this volume, we presume to be the same writer who favoured the public with a Treatise on that subject. He is by birth an American; and we believe is now in France: (his paper is dated 1795). Recent experiments on this subject might be interesting. Variations are not always improvements; Mr. Gisborne recommends, in strong terms, a species of oak, which he calls iron oak; but our valuable correspondent, Professor Martyn, is of opinion that British oak is superior. As his letter tends to correct an error in nomenclature, we shall insert it. On the Sorts of Oak. SIR; I have read Mr. Gisborne's letter recommending inquiries to be made respecting the growth and properties of the iron oake as it is called. I am not much acquainted with it; but if the Lucombe oak be a variety of this, it is of a different species from our British oaks; it is called by Linnæus quercus cerris, and the timber is much inferior in value. It is improper to call them evergreen oaks, because they do not retain their leaves more than eight or nine months, and it tends to confound them with the ilcx, or genume evergreen oak, which is a tree of a nature totally different. From the single acorn sent with the cup, it appears that the iron oak is the quercus cerris, or a variety of it; and it is, without doubt, totally different from quercus agilops, the cup of whose acorn, as Mr. Gisborne well observes, is so extremely unlike the other. All my experience on the subject of oaks goes to recommend our common British oak; who plant for the timber, particularly for in preference to all foreign ones. Gentlemen naval purposes, should be attentive to have acorns gathered under their own direction, from trees which have their foliage with wide bold openings, or situations terminating bluntly, and placed close to the branch, without the intervention of any foot-stalk; and the acorns themselves growing singly, or at is an oak not uncommon in England, which most two together, on long fruit-stalks. There has the leaves on foot-stalks, and the acorns in clusters, sitting close to the branch; which being a more handsome and free growing tree, may be apt to seduce unwary planters, but the timber is greatly inferior, and for naval purposes wholly unfit. It is known among the woodmen in some counties by the name of durmast, and in others by the name of fir, or fir-pine oak.I am, Sir, &e. &c. THOMAS MARTYN. Frith Street, Soho, Feb. 27, 1796. Mr. Robertson wishes for registers and observations on the weather, in reference to the lunar cycle of nineteen years. It may seem somewhat strange that we should wish for the same from India, for a like period: but we apprehend that the effects of the lunar influence, are much more decided in that country, than in our own; and that there, if any where, the true basis of a just theory of those in fluences may be laid: the minor effects of which may afterwards be traced and detected in our northern cline, al-A Journal of the Voyages and Travels of though checked and varied by many incidental oppositions from other principles. A curious fact, in elucidation of what may be done by management, is mention. ed by the hon. baron Hepburn, on the subject of the potatoe. It is creditable to the industry and intelligence of our neighbours the Dutch; we suppose the British were too much occupied to inquire into it. a Corps of Discovery, under the Command of Captain Lewis and Captain Clarke, of the Army of the United States; from the Mouth of the River Missouri, through the interior Parts of North America, to the Pacific Ocean; during the Years 1804, 1805, and 1806. By Patrick Gass, one of the Persons employed in the Expedition. Bro. pp. 381. Price 9s. Pittsburgh: Printed for David M'Keehan, London: Re-printed for J. Budd, 1808. The Dutch first introduced potatoes in Bengal nearly forty years ago; they sold them in Calcutta at more than five shillings a pound, and long kept the monopoly of the potatoe THE expedition of which this volume market there, by concealing the proper mode contains an account, is truly interesting to of culture. Although the British planted America. The United States could not the seed, apparently in the same manner as but desire to discover the extent of that the Dutch, they never could reap one pota-Continent on which they are placed, and, toe; for the haulm or stem grew, and conti- to ascertain the nature, population and nued growing with such rapid and luxuriant vegetation, it never formed a fruit; but the that lie to the west of their dominions. productions of those immense regions Dutch had discovered, that the haulm should be cut over several times in the early part of The sea-coast of western America had the season; and by thus exhausting the luxu-been visited by Europeans for the purpose riant and superabundant vegetation, the plant of discovery; a small part of it by the ultimately produced its fruit under ground. Russians from Asia; but a much larger But I have been assured by sundry gentlemen, portion of it by the immortal Cooke, and who more recently have returned from India, afterwards by Vancouver, as well as not only that the potatoe is universally culti-La Peyrouse, and others. Traffic also had vated there, and from its cheapness and abun-induced navigators to visit this coast, and dance is in daily consumption by the lower the trade in sea-otter skins, which it proclasses of the natives, but that the plant has become naturalized to the climate, and pro-and stimulating. The jealous policy of duced, for an instant, proved lucrative, duces apples, with less luxuriance of stem. I beg leave with deference to suggest the propriety of importing potatoes from various soils and climates, some better and some inferior to our own, and distributing these importations, in small quantities, to growers of accurate and attentive observations. From our extracts it appears, that not merely agriculturists by profession, but naturalists and philosophers, may increase their knowledge by the facts stated in these papers. But their chief value is, their practical utility, especially to those who have favourable opportunities of determining by the test of well-conducted experiment the merit of the suggestions they record. We honour the attempt to continue and increase the agricultural improvement of our country, and we trust, that whatever attention it may be the duty of the statesman, or the interest of the merchant, to pay to" ships, colonies, and commerce," yet, the nation will never remit its attention to the welfare and prosperity of its agriculture. that trade to continue, and now, we The Hudson's Bay Company, which was most likely to derive advantage from researches into the interior of America, engaged Mr. Hearne in an expedition, that lasted from Dec. 7th 1770, to June 30th 1772. This traveller explored the country lying pretty far north, as well as west, to the latitude of 72. He saw the sea; but he did not see the western coast. We cannot accompany the corps in their journey; and therefore shall content ourselves with extracting a few passages, by way of specimen. These we shall arrange under the divisions of geographical information:-information relating to the character and deportment of our fellow men; and, lastly,-what concerns the animal creation. Mr. Mc. Kenzie (now. Sir Alexander) | tains: sometimes wild desarts, at others, took a less northerly course, in 1793, and scarcely penetrable woods. proceeding as nearly as possible due west, be arrived at the Ocean, unjustly named Pacific, about latitude 52, being the first European who had effected this hazardous transit. This fortunate expedition roused the emulation of America, and the United States fitted out a company, with more adequate means than individuals could obtain, for the purpose of exploring other parts of this immense Continent. We have in Panorama, Vol. II. p. 373, given an abstract of this journey in a letter from Capt. Clark to his brother Gen. Clark. Monday, 27th May. We have now got into a country which presents little to our view, but scenes of barrenness and desolation; and see no encouraging prospects that it will terminate. Having proceeded (by the course of this river the Missouri) about two thousand three hundred miles, it may therefore not be improper to make two or three general observations respecting the country we have passed. From the mouth of the Missouri to that of the river Platte, a distance of more than six hundred miles, the land is generally of a good quality, with a sufficient quantity of timber; in many places very rich, and the country pleasant and beautiful. The volume before us is a transcript of a journal kept by one of the party, who was, it should appear, in a subordinate station, and who has done nothing more than preserve memorandums of daily occurrences. We have no doubt on the authenticity of the journal: nor on the general truth of the facts it contains. As a work it is of some importance in America; but English readers will complain of it, as dry and little amusing in style, and management. A dextrous From the confluence of the river Platte book wright among us, would have made with the Missouri to the sterile desert we of these materials, a pleasing perform-lately entered, a distance of upwards of fif teen hundred miles, the soil is less rich, and, ance, without perverting any of the incidents, or detracting from the truth of the except in the bottoms, the land of an inferior in general be called good quality, but may and those who think slightingly second-rate land. The country is rather billy narrative; of the skill necessary to prepare a work than level, though not mountainous, rocky for the public eye, may be referred for a proof of its reality and necessity to the journal before us. The party consisting of forty-three men, including captains Lewis and Clarke, who commanded the expedition, crossed the Mississippi to the west, May 14th 1804, and proceeded up the Missouri, so far as it is navigable: quitting this river, they marched westward, till they came to a stream that led them to the western ocean; the first sight of which they obtained on Friday, Nov. 15th, 1805. They returned to St. Louis, on Friday, Sept. 19th, 1806, after an absence of two years, four months, and ten days. The distance travelled, was by estimation, above 1000 miles from the head of the Missouri, and from the month of that river about 4133 miles. In so great a distance, it may easily be supposed, that every description of land, and prospect, must be met with. Here extensive plains, there immense moun or stony. The hills in their unsheltered state are much exposed to be washed by heavy rains. This kind of country and soil which has fallen under our observation in our progress up the Missouri, extends, it is understood, to a great distance on both sides of the river. Along the Missouri and the waters which flow into it, cotton wood and willows. are frequent in the bottoms and islands; bur the upland is almost entirely without timber, and consists of large prairies or plains, the boundaries of which the eye cannot reach, The grass is generally short on these immense. natural pastures, which in the proper seasons are decorated with blossoms and flowers of various colours. The views from the hills are interesting and grand. Wide extended plains with their hills and vales, stretching away in lessening wavy ridges, until by their distance they fade from the sight; large rivers and streams in their rapid course, winding in various meanders; groves of cotton-wood and willow along the waters intersecting the landscapes in different directions, dividing them into various forms at length appearing like dark clouds and sinking in the horizon; these enlivened with the buffaloe, elk, deer, |