Richmond enquirer. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1815-1867, 1833-08-09

NnSnio
io ano,t every section Of lower Virginia there are i'm
n'euse beds OF mari. containing from sixty eighty per
cent. OF lne. Unui Lately, this man, has consi.
dersJ b., Tho inhabitants OF at country rather nuisance
han a blessing But Within few years past some OF
their more enlightened farmers have made many coucu
siV" experiments With marl "a manure ia cultivation,
and have proved that their mari and other maine depostes
0'nSuu'e an Invaluable treasure aud u properly applied
ore capable OF redeenng and ally en'c"g the whole
toe water cou.try.
Permit TO ohserve sir In passing, ,ha, tho spirit Of
Inquiry on this subj. has excited principally by the
successful experiments and judicous observations cal
careous nanures which have been carried for the last
ten years by Edmund Rufiin, Esq, Of Prince George
ttom the work on cacoreous manures, which lie has
Lately given to the world, Is evident that he is only
practical OPERATOR buta scientific culicaor His book
"a work Oil merit All such efforts augur well for
the agricultural Interests OF the State.
But 10 return. The mineral springs among our western
mountains not passed. in variety medicinal pro.
prres, by those of any other county in the world
'hAb springs found in every seconoi the
ICY. The hot aud warm the white, the salt, and the Red
sulphur Springs possess properties peculiar themselves;
nu' all OF ,he have been found cfcacious IN the Of
those diseases incident cities and auvi country.
1t Is TO lie greatly regretted, sir, tia, these springs have
not been accurately Analysed, and their properties made
known 10 the world Such ana yss would BE- of nca!cu
liable benefit to the public large but especially physi-
clans and patients, who reside at distance.
This concise enumeration, includes nearly all the mi.
nera0gica iic,s, which have hcen State
But these facts when we take into consideration ,ha,
most OF them were discovered by accident sufficient
to prove, that in all probability, the mineral resources
Virginia are very extensive and valuable. II is believed
public
patronage or that would DE productive OF extensive
benefits 10 citizens than complete geological and
mineral survey OF the whole State But have
son 10 oevc that this desirable object be ed i'm
mcdiaioly There is, however no doubt but that this So
c'e'y can, by It's united Efforts, render important aid for its
accomplishments; by cole cling and Classifying the various
numerals, geological facts ard natural cuiosities which
may be obtained from all plris Of our country. In
his way 1t will not be difficult 10 form extensive
CABINET Of minerals and a museum of natural curl
osliles here at the capital of the State Such esta-
eiI'hheht VIZ be not only an object OF interest 10 all
Intelligent visitors but source OF highly mporian, inior
nation TO the naturalist sgrculturist, aud
our legislators will operate with in this enterprise
,ney can give MS important assistance by aiordng
din OF direct and easy communication, annually
this society ard every citizen in this Commonwealth
when shall be generally know that there established
DIT 'he seat OF government, common place of deposit for
minerals, anu That those specimens which forwarded
TO II will be examined and perap; yzcd by compe
tent persons there will be difficulty in rapidly increas
ing our c"Onet apprehend, sir that as progress in
collecting pecnens men OF science, Tor The sake of their
own Improvement and that OF others, will most willingly
a5'is IN ex"mning and anayzing them BY these simple
means much valuable information be distributed
among our cii2ens and great gooI be done.
ne Sshcr departments of the philosophy of matter viz:
natural philosophy aud chemistry from their great pracI
cai uy ~ wel as the scope they afford Tor deve.
oFemen - mteiiec, oni the cultivation OF genius are
highly worthy the attention and patronage OF our assoca.
ton
l. may be safely affirmed, that these sciences since the
revival OF learNng, and especially within the last half
century nave made more rapid advances in the march Of
'hPforFrien', ana contributed efficient aid 10 the
PROGRESSIVE advancement of civilization and refinement
than coy Other department OF human knowledge
FOR their cultivation, e. MUS and talent the highest
order have been engaged whose ingenious ntions and
huant discoveries, form luminous track in The field OF
scientific research rapid have been tho developments
new principles In these sciences that the profound dis
coVerieS OF Bacon, Descares, Calico Keper and New
ton, cIassed elementary principles An the i'm
provemen's and discoveries in these two sciences,
susceptible OF immediate application useful purposes
and thus become the common property Of man. There is
not single branch OF industry, that has been either
directly indirectly assisted by them They extend their
Inc
confer great blessings on all classes OF society.
hese remarks vii! apply more particularly 10 che,nis-
"galng truth has, within The last fory.years advanced
win rapidly and sPIendor, unsqualled in the annals OF
PHuosoPhy. 1t has explored with astonishing the
mineral" vegetable, and animal Kingdoms; aud by eluc
daing Their phenomena and their elementary
principles has contributed more than all other causes TO
produce the great moden improvements in medicine agr
culture, animal economy, and indeed in ALL the arts And
most OF tho sciences.
1t is worthy of remark that some Of the discoveries in
s science which at first did attract much attention.
have, by their subsequent applications Welded invauabe
blessings TO mankind For Instance the discovery of Ia
tent heat made hy the celebrated DR.. Black did not all
tract mach notice. nor wa. s importance coriectured
even by philosophers until after the ingenious Wan had
"rPed It's principles to practice, which ultimately result
ed IN me invention OF the steam engine ;empha;icav
me richest gut that science has bestowed on the
NO one at tie present day. need be informed that the
elastic force OF is only the most efficient but The
most useful physical power within the control oil
All present are DOUBTLESS, well of the immense the
varied and the rapidly increasing advantages it affords 10
lime
since the French philosophers infinitely calculated the
value OF James Wauto his country Eli 900 per day"
Who sir would ask, what philosopher can ..caIcuj,te
me value OF Fulton 10 his counybut more especially to
the whole world" '
Time will not permit even to touch on the MANY
interesting discoveries which have been made in ,hs
science or their useful applications TO the various arts
would observe, however, that of the principles
oil matter, which CHEMISTRY has disclosed have very inn,
poran, hearing OH the best interests of agriculture
Agriculture IS subject, which, it constitutes the
.fea' source OF our prosperity fail claim the at
'enon OF this society, and enlist behalf of ito advance
mcnt every patriot i'll the State. To adapt the mode of
CULTIVATION TO the nature OF the different kinds Of soil 60 az
10 secure me best results, requires scientific scauaiu
ance "I'h all the principles concerned Here civ istry
Tends lis aid TO The enlightened agculturist and n1fo 10
hm The elements oil which the different soils and manures
are composed, their properties in simple or combined
state, ANA The effects OF their action each other
In most of our sister States AS we all know spriculnr
societies have been formed and extensively paronzed:
ana The history OF their operations, has proved that thew
have been highly beneficial 10 the country both by excl
ing ldudahle emulation among their members and by
securing and publishing 10 the world many interesting
aud valuable essays agriculture In this STATE there
have been two three local associations of similar cha
racter but their operations have never been made known
10 me pubc, and, OF course must have had limited in
uence. 1t is think sir to be greatly regretted that
Wefe are not agricultural societies in important sec
Won oil I've State and all Of them auxiliary TO a parent So
ciciy whose annual meetings held in this ctv Scb
system would he attended by the bappiest
70 The whole State. But, under present circumstances
PObdbe That this society, large portion of its mem.
bers viii he composed Of intelligent planters can do somo
ming to excite an interest and collect knowledge on The
most important subjects connected with the agriculture of
this State.
Should ths Society each year select one or more sub
iec's on agriculture, for the mutual discussion of its mem
beT ~ Ns next anniversary, and should essaysts he