FliGCEEDINGS OF THE CHEMICAL DEPARTMENT. 413 



they should never be omitted in making field experiments. They 

 are the test of the natural capabilities of the soils, or of the con- 

 dition into which they have been brought by cultivation. On 

 the lighter and poorer soils it is obvious that the turnip is almost 

 entirely dependent on manures, while on good soils, in good 

 condition, the effect even of the large applications used in these 

 experiments is comparatively unimportant. 



The relations between the produce and the chemical compo- 

 sition of the soils, is a subject on which I do not propose to 

 enter at the present time. I am now engaged in a very elabo- 

 rate series of analyses of the soils on which the turnips grew, 

 which, has proved so tedious, that I have been unable to com- 

 plete it in time for this report ; and in place of giving a part of 

 the results now, I prefer reserving them until complete, when they 

 will form a contribution to our knowledge of the composition of 

 turnip soils in general. 



The length to which this report has extended prevents my 

 entering on the consideration of the experiments of the second 

 series, which must be reserved for a future report. It may be 

 stated, however, that their results have, as a whole, been less 

 satisfactory than those of the first series. The produce was 

 much less regular, and the crop less healthy throughout, and it 

 would probably be advisable to repeat them with some modifi- 

 cations. Still the results are interesting, and shall be discussed 

 on a future occasion. 



