Agricultural Experiments in the Field. 513 



Society would consider whetlier they should not appoint a special 

 vigilance committee to enforce on cattle-owners the truth, which had 

 been recognised without a dissentient voice by all the authorites in 

 the country, that at the present moment they had nothing to rely 

 upon but the destruction of the infected animals, and that the more 

 promptly and completely that was done the better. 



Meeting of WeeJchj Council, Wednesday, April ISth, 1866. Lord 

 Beknees, in the Chair. A Lecture was delivered by Dr. Voelckeu on 



The Conditions to be observed in carrying out Agricultural 

 Experiments in the Field. 



Professor Yoelcker said : My lord and gentlemen — To perform a 

 really instructive experiment in the field, in a rational manner, is a 

 far more difficult matter than many people seem to be aware of. 

 Indeed, if we review the published accounts of many experiments, it 

 cannot but strike us that most of them were undertaken without any 

 definite object. They have been performed by men not qualified for 

 the task ; the conditions necessary to be observed as influencing the 

 final result have been altogether overlooked ; and, as I have said, the 

 whole trial seems to have been made at random. It is for this reason 

 that, in accordance with the recommendation of the Chemical Com- 

 mittee, I have put together a few thoughts with resjiect to some of the 

 conditions which it is expedient that all who try their hands at field 

 exj)eriments should observe. 



Field experiments are usually undertaken with a twofold object : 

 either they are what are called piu-ely practical experiments, or they 

 relate more especially to the theory of agi-iciiltm'e, to some point in 

 dispute, or some theoretical question not directly affecting the profits 

 of the farmer. The object of instituting practical experiments in the 

 field, or those commonly so called, is to ascertain in a more or less 

 direct manner what system of culture or what kind of fertilizers 

 produce the best economical results on a farm. To ascertain how the 

 largest crop of wheat, or barley, or roots, or hay, can be grown with 

 the least outlay of money. Theoretical questions, although they have 

 a close connection with profitable farming, do not much concern the 

 experimenter who makes a trial in the field for the avowed purpose of 

 simply ascertaining what system of cultui'e wall pay best in his 

 peculiar circumstances. Experiments which are made solely for the 

 pui'pose of ascertaining which kind of fertilizers will give the best 

 economical result are not without their value, though it be but a low 

 one ; the lesson is almost confined to the individual experimenter, and 

 even he can only derive benefit from his own experience if he have 

 sufficient intelligence rightly to interpret results. The agricultural 

 public at large cannot gain much benefit fi'om isolated field experi- 

 ments, in the account of which no reference is made to the conditions 

 under which the ex[5eriments proved a failure or a success. Indeed, 

 if the individual experience of the experimenting agTicultiu-ists of the 



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