Agricultural Experiments in the Field. 525 



case of tlic sort came under his notice on Archdeacon Huxtable's land 

 in Dorsetshire, There he found them putting chalk on the upjier 

 soil ; and, as the subsoil was chalk, he felt somewhat surprised at the 

 proceeding. There were only four or five inches of soil. It was 

 grass-land that had not been ploughed for a long time, and when it 

 was examined it was found to be entirely destitute of lime, and that 

 the application of a top-dressing of lime was absolutely necessary. 

 This often occurred, and it accounted for the value of marl upon marl. 

 There was another case, that of the silica beds in the chalk formation. 

 At Farnham, in Surrey, where jieculiar silica beds occurred, there 

 were quarries that were called " marl quarries," and for miles around 

 people went to them for the "marl," which they found to be very 

 useful on their wheat lands. The late Mr, Payne, a valued member 

 of this Society, being surprised by its jieculiarity and lightness, had 

 it examined, when it was discovered not to be marl at all. In fact 

 there was no marl whatever in it ; but it was a peculiarly soluble 

 silica, exceedingly useful on chalk-lands, or lands on which there was 

 no deficiency of chalk. 



The general subject which Dr. Voelcker had so ably brought for- 

 ward was no doubt of the fii'st imjjortance to the Eoyal Agricultural 

 Society. Probably Dr. Voelcker had more in his mind than he 

 thought right to say to them on that occasion ; and he (Professor 

 Way), as having preceded him in the office he held, might say that he 

 quite agreed with him that experiments, to be of any use, must be 

 conducted in the most systematic manner, and that experiments which 

 were not made with a definite object and under a definite system were 

 most injurious and mischievous. They were calculated indeed to 

 mislead. They formed a confused mass, from which those who were 

 acquainted with the subject could draw no inference, whilst those who 

 were not acquainted with it were very likely to be misled. They 

 could not expect farmers in their ordinary occupations to draw the 

 distinctions which were necessary. The farmer saw certain experi- 

 ments producing certain results, and expected to get similar results 

 from pm-suing a similar com-se on all soils and imder all circum- 

 stances. 



The best thing to be done, therefore, was to establish experi- 

 mental stations, as was done in Germany. That was the only perfect 

 and feasible system of getting at what was really wanted, namely, 

 abstract truth for practical application. In all things we began with 

 abstract truth, and made it subservient to practical application subse- 

 quently. In connection with this point, reference had been made by 

 Mr, Frere to the late Professor Henslow. He (Professor Way) might 

 add, that the late Prince Consort was exceedingly anxious to see such 

 exnerimental stations in this country, and had once told him that he 

 thought the Eoyal Agricultiu'al Society might initiate the system. 

 There was no doubt that in that way truth would be more easily'- 

 gained, more certain and useful information obtained, and when 

 obtained retained, and the jn-inciples acquired might be directed to 

 general use. He could not speak too highly of Mr, Lawes's experi- 

 ments, and although they could not expect many persons to carry on 



