124 ^-^^ POPULAR SCIENCE MONTHLY. 



In connection with these remarks it is proper to recall what 

 Mr. Lawes said in 1855, thirty-nine years ago, in his speech at the 

 inauguration of the new laboratory building, erected by public 

 subscription by British agriculturists: "I should be most un- 

 grateful were I to omit to state how greatly I am indebted to 

 those gentlemen whose lives are devoted to the conduct and man- 

 agement of my experiments. To Dr. Gilbert, more especially, I 

 consider a debt of gratitude due from myself and from every 

 agriculturist in Great Britain. It is not every gentleman of his 

 attainments who would subject himself to the caprice of an indi- 

 vidual, or risk his reputation by following a science which has 

 hardly a recognized existence. For twelve years our acquaint- 

 ance has existed, and I hope twelve more years will find it exist- 

 ing." Those " twelve more years " have now increased to thirty- 

 eight " more years," and not the acquaintance only the close 

 association, too still exists. 



Mr. Gilbert spoke, expressing his gratification at the tributes 

 which had been offered to him, and closed by saying that, however 

 many years were spared to them and they must necessarily be 

 very few he hoped they might be able to do something to extend 

 the general knowledge which was the best legacy they could leave 

 to those who would succeed them. 



A portrait of Sir John Lawes, by Prof. Hubert Herkomer, rep- 

 resenting him as the farmer of Rothamsted, was presented to him, 

 and a silver salver, on which the addresses were deposited, to Dr. 

 Gilbert. A granite bowlder, ," turning the scales at eight tons," 

 was set up in front of the laboratory, bearing the inscription, " To 

 commemorate the completion of fifty years of continuous experi- 

 ments (the first of their kind in agriculture) conducted at Roth- 

 amsted by Sir John Bennet Lawes and Joseph Henry Gilbert, 

 A. D. MCCCXCIII." As an additional memorial, forty-four com- 

 plete sets of the Reports of the Rothamsted Station were present- 

 ed, at the expense of the nation, to leading public institutions. A 

 few days after the celebration Dr. Gilbert was knighted, "in rec- 

 ognition of his valuable researches for the promotion of agricul- 

 ture." 



A BILL is before the British Parliament to prohibit the raising of unsightly 

 erections having particular reference to advertising structures to the harm of 

 the rural scenery of Great Britain and Ireland. It applies to fences, gates, posts, 

 hoardings, etc., and to the posting of any printed or written matter, or any picture, 

 so as to be in view from any highway, railway, etc.; but not to such legitimate 

 advertising as is intended to show that the property is to be let or is for sale, or to 

 publish a business that is there carried on. We have a similar law in New York 

 for the protection of natural scenery that might be applied to the appurtenances 

 of property ; but who sees to the enforcement of the law we have? 



