238 Abstract Report of Agricultural Discussions. 



tons of sewage far exceeded that obtained from tlie same quantity of 

 sewage at Ediubm-gli ; and if tliose gentlemen wlio proposed to take 

 the London sewage to the Maplin Sands calculated upon getting more 

 than was got at Kugby, in some of the most favourable exj)eriments they 

 might find themselves mistaken. He did not deny that it would 

 be quite possible, by means of a hose and jet, to have obtained a 

 greater produce of grass, and more milk from a given weight of grass 

 if every particle of grass had been cut the moment it was ready, re- 

 gardless of all practical considerations ; but such a result would only 

 mislead agricultm-ists. The object of the Rugby experiments was to 

 obtain scientific acciu-acy in all that related to the gauging and analysis 

 of the sewage, the weights of the grass 'and milk, and a practical 

 result in that part which related to the cutting and consumption of the 

 food. 



Mr. AcLAND, M.P., said he should be sorry if it went forth on Mr. 

 Lawcs's authority that there was nothiug more to be learnt by a care- 

 ful study of the phenomena of irrigation. He for one was by no means 

 prepared to admit that ; and he believed that the effect of irrigation was 

 not exactly in proj)ortion to the amount of manui'ial matter contained 

 in the water. Mr. Pusey's opinion was that in many cases the eft'ect 

 of ii'rigation was chiefly due, not to the maniirial matter contained in 

 water, but to temperatm-c ; Mr. Eobcrt Smith's opinion tended in tlie 

 same direction ; and there was a great deal of difiiculty floating in 

 men's minds on that subject, which could only be removed by investi- 

 gation on the part of the authorities in such matters. Some time ago 

 Mr. Lawes told liim tliat he intended to investigate the subject. 



Mr. Lawes said he had intended to do so, but imfortunately he lived 

 25 miles from London ; and one effect of the Artesian system was to 

 dry up the springs in his neighbourhood. He believed, however, it 

 would be found that the action of water was due princijially to the in- 

 gredients contained in it, though the enormous amount of water used 

 was apt to make one fancy that that was not the case. But he agreed 

 with Mr. Acland, that it is very desirable that the subject should be 

 further investigated. 



