390 Intelligetice and Miscellaneous Articles. 



this express object, it would seem far preferable to carry on 

 such inquiries within the precincts of an agricultural college, 

 than to frame for the purpose a distinct foundation, not only 

 because many of the appliances needful for the undertaking 

 would in the former case be already provided, but also because 

 the mere inspection of such experiments would excite an in- 

 terest amongst the pupils, and assist in stimulating their curi- 

 osity, and in familiarizing them with scientific researches. 



The Royal Agricultural Society, which offers premiums for 

 the determination of these and other similar questions, might, 

 I conceive, with perfect consistency, supply the funds for their 

 investigation ; or, if such an expenditure were objected to, 

 those members at least, who are sufficiently in advance of the 

 general body, to be able to appreciate the advantage which 

 agriculture would ultimately derive from inquiries of this na- 

 ture, might naturally be expected to forward them. 



It is a disgrace to the nation that so little of a public kind 

 has as yet been accomplished, with reference to points on which 

 the whole practice of husbandry turns, especially when, as in 

 the instance of the determination of the constituents of the 

 ashes of plants, the labour involved is such as places the re- 

 search almost beyond the reach of an unassisted individual. 



But as clearer views with respect to the principles of agri- 

 culture would render the utility of scientific knowledge to 

 farmers more palpable, so on the other hand, increased know- 

 ledge on the part of the latter would create a stronger sense of 

 the value of these apparently speculative inquiries, and thus 

 the formation of an agricultural college would scarcely fail to 

 give birth to experimental farms, as the existence of experi- 

 mental farms would gradually pave the way to the foundation 

 of agricultural colleges, even though at the commencement, 

 that which came into operation first was carried on without 

 the accompaniment of the other. 



LXVIII. Intelligence and Miscellaneous Articles. 



ON PARASELENE SEEN AT HIGH FIELD HOUSE, LENTON, NOT- 

 TINGHAMSHIRE. BY E. J. LOWE, ESg.* 

 ON Wednesday, May 1, 1844, at ll** 10"' p.m., a most remark- 

 able and curious phsenomenon made its appearance, on which 

 the following are the remarks I made at High Field House, which is 

 situated about 2^ miles S.W. of Nottingham. 



The day had been very fine and hot ; the max. thermometer in 

 shade 69°-30, in sun 91°; the barometer at 11 p.m. was rising, and 

 was 30*722 inches; wind, slight breeze from E. 

 * Communicated by the Author. 



