itself an imperfection; but in all those languages, that are so thoroughly mixed, it is a real perfection; because it preserves, at least to the eye, the immediate derivation, and consquently furnishes us with the easiest possible method of understanding words, while it serves to prevent any further deviations in the pronunciation."

An observation on accent also merits selection, as it may facilitate a future more correct accentuation of those words of which the emphatic syllables are still unsettled.

The accent consists in a particular elevation of the voice, with which, in polysyllables, the one syllable is as it were raised above the others: thus in emergency, employment, the syllables mer and play are called accentuated fyllables. The reason of this mode of distinguishing one syllable from another, is properly contained in the nature of the word and the intention of the speaker, who, by this elevation of the voice, points out that syllable, which expresses the principal idea, and to which he chiefly directs the attention of the hearer. Hence the two accentuated syllables, above-mentioned, contain the principal ideas of the words, in which they occur, and all the other syllables denote only collateral ideas, or further determinations, inflexions, and the like. I have said, that this, in the nature of the thing, is "properly" the intention of the accent; for this reason in the German, and probably, too, in all other unmixed languages, we meet with the general rule, that the radical syllable, in such words as consist of a plurality of syllables, always receives the accent; since it contains the principal idea of the word. In the German language, this rule is so general, that the few exceptions from it scarcely deserve any attention. But as the English is a very mixed language, this rule is liable here to a much greater number of exceptions; especially with respect to the words borrowed from the Latin and French, in which the radical syllable has become obscure, so that it cannot in all instances preserve its due accent. Since I propose to resume that subject in another part of this Essay, I shall here only remark, that those words from the Anglo-Saxon, which are still current in the English language, follow this rule, and perhaps as uniformly as in the German."

Of Johnson's dictionary, the author speaks with politeness in the third essay. Some opinion of it was intimated in our xxivth volume p. 559, which derives corroboration from the acute criticisms here subjoined. The principal object of this dissertation, however, is not to point out the defects of that vast compilation, but to announce an English-German vocabulary; the publication of which, this learned German philologer is to superintend.

ART. X. A general View of the Agriculture of the County of Suffolk; drawn up for the Consideration of the Board of Agriculture and internal Improvement. By the Secretary to the Board. Svo. pp. 314. 5. 6d. sewed. Nicol.. 1797.

A

REPORT of the agricultural state of the county of Suffolk
from the pen of Mr. Arthur Young, who has long resided

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Tay

in it, and who may be supposed to be more intimately ac quainted with it than with any other large district of the kingdom, will naturally attract the attention of those who wish to study agriculture, and the several branches connected with it. His present work contains, indeed, a great variety of interesting information, delivered with much apparent accuracy, and combined with the reflections and observations of a philosophic mind. No man knew better than Mr. Y. what his subject required, or was more able to execute it to the satisfaction of the Board of Agriculture and of the public.-That this Report must have obtained the approbation of the Board is unquestionable: yet the secretary does not wish to plead this approbation as a sanction of his statements; and he particularly reminds the reader that the Board does not deem itself responsible for any fact or observation contained in the reports which they may communicate to the public.' The object of this Board, indeed, is to collect a mass of facts and opinions on the subject of agriculture, with a view of ascertaining the real state of the kingdom; and as far as this goes, the institution may be productive of utility; but we must not expect too much from it. The march of improvement is slow. Merely to point out the wisdom and reasonableness of any system, or practice, will not be sufficient immediately to remove old customs and prejudices:-but, by reiterating instruction, the most obstinate are at last brought to conviction, and the eyes of individuals and of nations are opened to discern their true interests.

Publications of this kind are undoubtedly calculated to assist practical farmers in comparing the different modes of husbandry and rural economy, prevalent in different counties, with each other; they excite a general spirit of emulation, and must Jead to an increase of the internal riches and strength of the country. To augment the fertility and produce of the soil is, in fact, to enlarge the kingdom, and to prepare for an increased population;-to promote rural industry is to aid an extension of manufacture and commerce.

Perhaps, particular views of particular counties or districts will tend more to produce this effect, than any general observations on the importance of agriculture and the necessity of improvement. They constitute a lecture to every farmer, in his own field, on his own practice; they treat of what most intimately concerns him and his neighbourhood; and they instruct the farmer of another county in practices which may be new to him, and which possibly may merit his adoption.

In drawing up a county report, however, for the perusal of the kingdom at large, judgment is required. It is not (as Mr. Young remarks) easy to conceive an undertaking more difficult, than to give such an account of a province, as shall

on

on the one hand be minute enough to convey satisfactory information; and, on the other, shall not be so minute as to include matter either of insufficient importance, or that is more calculated for a general treatise or report than for a local and appropriated one.'

Alive to this difficulty, Mr. Young has cautiously avoided these two extremes, and has here exhibited a true specimen of what a county report ought to be. His statement has been enlarged on its present appearance, especially by the communications of several gentlemen, which are given in the form of notes; generally, with the names or initials of the communicators affixed, as Mr. Young was not solicitous of shining in borrowed plumes.

Under the heads of-Geographical State of Suffolk-Property-Buildings - Occupation-Implements-Inclosing Arable Land-Grass-Gardens and Orchards -Wood and Plantation-Wastes-Improvements-Live Stock-Rural economy -Political Economy-Obstacles to Improvement-and Miscellaneous Observations,-the author exhibits an instructive survey of the district which he undertakes to describe.-To a map of the soil of Suffolk, he adds an account of the different management prevalent on the different soils, and suggests hints for improvement.

We shall not be expected to follow this intelligent agriculturist through the various details contained in this memoir : but a few of the facts which it comprehends we shall lay before our readers.

Mr. Young estimates that the county of Suffolk contains 800,000 acres; of which 30,000 are fen, at 2s. 6d. per acre: 46,666 rich loam, at 14s.: 156,666 sand, at 10s.: 113,3331 do. at 5s.; 453,333 strong loam, at 138.; so that the average rent of land in this county is 10s. 6d. per acre.

In noticing the course of crops on different soils, and the preparation for them, (especially wheat,) he observes, in respect of manure, that it is common with many farmers to manure their clover lays for wheat with the farm-yard com-, post of the preceding winter. The same husbandry is common in parts of Norfolk, where they do it with a view to a crop of barley to follow the wheat. There is scarcely any doctrine in husbandry more orthodox, than the propriety of spreading all the dung of a farm for the turnip crop; a practice on which depends not inconsiderably the progressive amelioration of a farm, since, by making the turnips as productive as possible, the live stock is increased, which increases dung, and goes round in that beneficial circle which makes cattle the parents of corn.'-There is much good sense in this remark,

and we transcribe it not only as acceding to its justice, but with the hope of exciting general attention to it.

Next to bringing manure from the farm-yard or composthill, and feeding off with sheep, is what is called ploughing in for manure; a practice to which farmers are forced to resort at a distance from towns, where the manure which they make by their stock bears no proportion to the size of the farm. Buck wheat is commonly ploughed in as manure for the succeeding crop. Mr. Y. informs us that the Rev. Mr. Moseley, of Drinkston, has the merit of planning and executing a system of tare husbandry, which deserves considerable notice:-The following is his own account of it;

"When I last had the pleasure of seeing you at Drinkston, you expressed a desire of hearing from me, as soon as I could ascertain the effects of ploughing in buck wheat, as a vegetable manure for wheat, after having previously taken a crop of tares for fodder. In compliance with your request, you receive the following imperfect

account.

"Your excellent method of managing light lands I generally ad here to, viz. turnips, barley, clover, and wheat; but finding, from a failure of clover in my two last crops after barley, that the succeeding ones were not equal to my expectation, I determined to try something as a substitute for that excellent preparation. Tares, I was aware, were frequently sown, and excellent crops of wheat have succeeded; but, as there were near three months between the time of cutting tares and sowing wheat, I thought that something might be done in the interim, in order, not only to keep the land clean, but to improve the succeeding crop.

It was necessary to consider what would answer this end, that would not be attended with considerable expence; buck wheat claimed the preference, as it was of quick growth, and had been recommended as a strong and lasting manure. I, therefore, determined to try the effects of it, and have reason to think that my expectation was not too much raised; for, although I cannot with that certainty ascertain the real produce of the land as I can wish, as a considerable quantity of the wheat has been destroyed by vermin, yet, still have I had the satisfaction of lodging in my granary as much as I usually have done in the common method of husbandry. The loss I sustained was, indeed, very considerable, and almost incredible, from such small animals as mice, for there was not a rat in the barn, and will be a standing memorial to me for thrashing my corn in the proper season. It was computed at one fourth of the whole crop. But, even deducting the loss, and allowing the increase to be equal to former years, will it not be right sometimes to alter the usual course, and substitute a preparation equally profitable as clover for the farmer's grand crop, wheat?

The land upon which this experiment was made, was light, and produced excellent turnips and barley, but seldom more than a moderate crop of wheat; twenty bushels per acre, were as much as might be expected in a good season.

Buty

W

But, although I cannot speak with precision in regard to the wheat crop, yet I can thus far affirm, that the additional profit from the rye, as spring feed, which succeeded the wheat, was more than equal to the original price of the buck wheat. How long the effects of this manure will continue, I cannot possibly say; but, from the luxuriance of the rye, should not have made the least doubt of its operative qualities to the ripening that crop. The expence is trifling, for you cannot find any manure, even for a single crop, equal in all respects to this for five shillings, which is in general, the price of two bushels, and is sufficient for one acre.

"But a material advantage there certainly is from two vegetable crops, the one immediately succeeding the other, in cleaning the land; for although the rye was sown as soon as I could conveniently plough after the haulm was carried off, yet, upon breaking up the land after the rye was fed off, it was much cleaner than it was after the last fallow.

"I wish I could have drawn a more accurate conclusion from this experiment, as I find that it is the first that has been made in this manner; and would not have troubled you with this, had it not been by your particular desire, it being impossible to ascertain precisely the loss I sustained, consequently, from mere presumption to offer any thing as certain from it.

"I hope hereafter to be more accurate, as I have six acres, which have produced this season twelve waggon loads of tares, and are now sown with buck wheat, to be ploughed in the latter end of this month as a preparation for wheat. The produce of these you shall be acquainted with, as I wish to give you a fair account of this, as I think, valuable vegetable manure.'

And in a succeeding letter-"I am now able to ascertain the real product of my field of wheat after my tare and buck wheat system; and it gives me peculiar satisfaction to assure you that the increase has exceeded my expectation.

"The field contained pear 6 acres, including borders, and the produce was 29 coombs 2 bushels of clean wheat, so that it may reasonably be set at 5 coombs per acre, which is a much larger crop than I expected.

"The appearances at different times were such, as sometimes to promise a large crop, at others, a very moderate one. At first, vegetation seemed to be very luxuriant; this continued till April, when it changed much for the worse, and from that time till harvest, appearances were against it. For this, I believe, I can in some measure account. The tares and buck wheat were both in too forward a state; the one not to exhaust the land in some degree, the other, to afford that food for the succeeding crop which might have been expected, had the tares been cut a fortnight sooner, and the buck wheat turned in before it had formed the seed. Delays from frequent storms occasioned the latter.

"However, upon the whole, I am so well satisfied with my success, that I shall try several methods of applying this useful manure, sometimes to assist my crop with others, and sometimes, as the only manure that can conveniently be procured.

"Ona