410 Chronicles of Science. [July, 



crude potash salts gave but a small increase of growth — that 

 Peruvian guano yielded a large increase ; and that the heaviest crop 

 of grass, amounting to nearly twice the weight of that upon the 

 unmanured plot, was obtained by a mixture of superphosphate and 

 guano. The experiments were made in 1867, but the summer of 

 1868, when they were repeated, was so hot and dry, that no trust- 

 worthy results were then obtainable. It is plain that the eftect of 

 a very soluble manure hke salts of potash or ammonia depends very 

 much upon the circumstances of the apjilication. If apphed when 

 the plants to be affected by it are in the condition of rapid 

 growth, the result may be very great ; while, if apphed in winter 

 when no immediate use could be made of them, it might be 

 altoge her washed to waste before the time of growth came round. 

 Soluble top-dressings, therefore, ought to be applied at the com- 

 mencement, or during the course, of the time of rapid spring growth, 

 in order that then: maximum effect may be obtained. 



2. AECH^OLOGY (Pke-Histoeic), 

 And Notices of Recent Arcliceological Works. 



The most important recent publication in connection with this 

 branch of science is the grand work by Mr. James Fergusson, F.R.S., 

 ' On Tree and Serpent Worship : or, Illustrations of Mythology 

 and Art in India, in the Fhst and Fourth Centmies after Christ ; 

 from the Sculptures of the Buddhist Topes at Sanchi and Amravati.' 

 Published and prepared under authority of the Secretary of State 

 for India in Council, this book enjoys the advantages of the printer's, 

 engraver's, and photographer's skill, and justice is done in the ninety- 

 nine quarto plates and twenty-one wood-engravings of these rare 

 and beautiful remains of early Indian architecture so ably described 

 by the author in the text. Mr. Fergusson traces out the origin, 

 rise, and spread of the Buddhist religion hi India, and ihc founding 

 of monastic establishments for the reception of religious devotees, 

 varymg in size from those capable of containing two or three monks 

 to several thousands. 



The great interest about these edifices is that before the time 

 of Asoko, 250 years before Christ, there was not in India a single 

 scrap of a building worthy of the name. With the establishment 

 of Buddhism, architecture first began to be manifested, and its very 

 earliest and crudest designs can be traced in church caves, some of 

 which are older than the Christian era. But probably the most 

 interesting of all the Buddhist monuments are the topes or tumuli. 

 These belong to two types, — the early period, represented by the 

 Sanchi tope, in which one readily traces the imitation of the ante- 



