( vii ) 



Assays mh <CleportS prizes for 1 859.— ah Prizes of the 



Royal Agricultural Society of England are open to general com- 

 petition. Competitors will be expected to consider and discuss the 

 heads enumerated. 



I. MICROSCOPIC INVESTIGATION. 



Fifty Sovereigns will be given for the best Report on the 



Results of Microscopic Observation applied to the Vegetable 



Physiology of Agriculture. 



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

 particular line of research, the only necessaiy limitation being, that 

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

 those commonly cultivated ; such as the cereals, or those i;sually 

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

 structural formation of these plants — their ordinary vital processes 

 — modifications of the above induced by climatic influences or the 

 application of manure — morbid changes of their tissues consequent 

 upon the attacks of insects or disease, — would all prove extensive 

 and interesting fields of impiiry ; and it miist be left to the writers 

 themselves to select those particular branches of the subject on 

 which 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 : character of the Soil ; 

 its Agricultural Tenures ; 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 foraier Agricultural 

 Surveys, 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. 



