RECORD: [Lindley, John]. 1847. [Review of] Geological Observation upon South America. Gardeners' Chronicle and Agricultural Gazette (30 January): 71.
REVISION HISTORY: Transcribed by Christine Chua and edited by John van Wyhe 5.2021. RN2
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Darwin had his publisher send a copy of the book to John Lindley, the editor of Gardeners' Chronicle. Furthermore, Darwin wrote to Lindley "Yet there is one single passage, on the ground of benefit to others, which I venture to call your attention to, more especially as the inference has been chiefly drawn from an article in the Gardeners Chronicle, this is at the end of the III. Chapt & refers to the exceedingly pure salt of Patagonia not answering well for preserving meat. I have suggested to the merchants of La Plata to add deliquescent chlorides to this natural salt; but my suggestion will never be heard, without it be backed by such authority as your's. The consumption of salt is very great in those countries & in peacable times would be immense. Will you add the information what percentage of muriate of lime ought to be added & its market cost?" See Darwin to Lindley [c. 10 October 1846] Correspondence vol. 3.
REVIEWS.
Geological Observation upon South America. By C. Darwin, M.A., F.R.S. 8vo. Smith and Elder.
THIS is another of Mr. Darwin's most important contributions to our knowledge of the physical geography of South America, and completes the geology of the voyage of the Beagle. The nature of the subject unsuits it for formal review in our columns, and precludes us from doing more than recommending it in the strongest possible way to the attention of our geological readers. They will find it a rich mine of facts. There is one point, however, to which in a practical view, attention should be here directed.
There exist in Patagonia and La Plata what are called Salinas, that is to say, salt-lakes, in which this substance is produced in vast abundance. But it is said to be found by experience too pure for the preservation of fresh meat, a circumstance that could hardly have been anticipated. Mr. Darwin was told by a merchant at Buenos Ayres that he considered the Plata salt 50 per cent less valuable than that of the Cape de Verds. If this inferiority be really owing to the purity of the former, as is supposed, it would be worth ascertaining whether the salt of La Plata could not be artificially brought up to the European standard. But the fact requires to be verified. Should any one desire to make the experiment, we would suggest the expediency of submitting a sample to some experienced analytical chemist, who might, perhaps, suggest the means of reducing the purity to the standard of European salt, if it really requires to be so reduced.
The merchants interested in this trade are, however, best able to judge whether it would answer their purpose to incur such a charge.
Citation: John van Wyhe, ed. 2002-. The Complete Work of Charles Darwin Online. (http://darwin-online.org.uk/)
File last updated 14 December, 2022