( vii ) 



35SSaBS mxa Reports.— prizes for 1 859.— ah Prizes of the 

 Royal Ag-riciiltural Society of England are open to general com- 

 petition. Competitors will be expected to consider and discuss the 

 heads enumerated. 



I. MICROSCOPIC INVESTIGATION. 1 



Fifty Sovereigns will be given for the best Report on the 



Results of Microscopic Observation applied to the Vegetable 



Physiology of Agriculture. 



It is not thought desirable to confine the observer too strictly to any 

 particular line of research, the only necessary limitation beinp:, that 

 the plants to be examined and reported upon shall be selected from 

 those commonly cultivated ; such as the cereals, or those usually 

 known under the names of ^ndse, root, and fodder crops. The 

 structural formation of these plants — their ordinary vital processes 

 — modifications uf the above induced by climatic iufiuences or the 

 apjilication of manure — morbid changes of their tissues consequent 

 upon the attacks of insects or disease, — would all j^rove extensive 

 and interesting fields of inquiry ; and it must be left to the writers- 

 themselves to select those particular branches of the subject on 

 wliich they are able to supply the greatest amount of original 

 information. 



II. THE CHANNEL ISLANDS. '. 



Twenty-five Sovereigns will be given for the best Report on 



the Agricultureof the Islands of Jersey, Guernsey, Alderney, 



and Sark. 



The leading physical features of each should be given r character of the Soil ; 

 its Agricultural Temu'es ; size of Farms, as well as various modes of 

 '■ cultivation, describing any peculiarities of local practice ; Imple- 



ments ; Live Stock ; Dairy Management ; Imports and Exports of 

 Farming Produce; Population; reference to former Agricultural 

 Siu'veys, or notices of a like character ; Agricultural changes in pro- 

 gress, or needed. 



III. STEAM CULTIVATION. 

 Twenty-five Sovereigns will be given for the best Account of the 

 application of Steam Power to the cultivation of the Land. 



In addition to a general description of the methods now in use, and of 

 such success as has been attained, competitors will be required to 

 give a detailed account of one or more cases where steam power has 

 been employed in the ordinary cultivation of a farm. 



