The author, being resident for a time in East Lothian, in order to study the system of agriculture, it occurred to him that the very extensive and complete drainage must materially affect the soil by removing large quantities of its soluble ingredients.

He was disappointed, owing to an accident, in examining, quantitatively, the water which had been first collected for the purpose; but on examining, qualitatively, some that was collected after the drain had been running very copiously for 36 hours, he found it to contain 18.4 grains of soluble matter per gallon. This was chiefly the usual salts of lime and organic matter.