A(jricidtural Implements and Froduce. 55 



machines to be equal to a new creation of the implement. Their 

 business has increased three-fold since 1851. 



Messrs. Howard find the demand for improved implements to 

 come now mainly from the tenant farmers : formerly it was in a 

 great degree confined to amateurs and large proprietors. The 

 business of all the leading machine-makers has doubled since 

 1851. 



Messrs. Ransome concur as to the improvement in threshing- 

 machines, and as to increased demand lor machinery. Much 

 has been done, but inuch remains to be done still. 



Messrs. Smith and Ashby date the wide diffusion of good im- 

 plements from the Exhibition of 1851. The Paris Exhibition 

 has opened to them several new sources of trade, in France, 

 Algeria, and Germany, and has led to the appointment of an 

 agency in Berlin for the introduction of improved machines into 

 Germany, at the instance of a spix'ited merchant of that city. 



Messrs. Bentall have found the demand for improved ma- 

 chinery increase largely since 1851. 



Such has been the uniform tenor of the replies from all the 

 leading machine-makers from whom communications have been 

 received. There is a host of local makei's, equally alive to the 

 importance of improvement, and adding largely in their respec- 

 tive spheres to the stock of good implements. 



Agricultural Chemistry. 



In speaking of the progress of agricultural chemistry, to 

 Mr. Lawes must be assigned by English farmers the place of 

 honour. Without entering on the high controversy between 

 Baron Liebig and Mr. Lawes, lately revived with increased 

 animation, tlie English farmers have wisely accepted the teaching 

 of Mr. Lawes, based on experiments, in the accuracy of which 

 full reliance may be placed, and the results of which are open 

 to the view of all. They have learnt that tlie apj)roved arti- 

 ficial manures are not mere stimulants, but agents of fertility 

 which, when properly applied, may be depended upon with 

 certainty to produce a crop. The principles on which the growth 

 of corn depends are better understood. The repetition of corn 

 crops on the same soil can no longer be considered as necessarily 

 faulty in principle, and to be unconditionally condenmed. It is 

 rather a question of expediency, to be decided by the costs of 

 manure and of produce. 



These lessons the English iarmers have learnt from Mr. Law(?s. 

 They have accepted them with becoming gratitude. Tiiey are 

 practising them with increasing confidence day by day, to their 

 great and proved advantage. 



Mr. \\ ay, to whom also the farming world is under the greatest 



