( 508 ) [Oct., 



CHRONICLES OF SCIENCE, 



Indubincj; tijc tlrocfcbings of ITrarucir ^otittirs at jDoinc aniJ %ho\i)i ; 

 ani» lloticcs of !Ecccnt Sricntiflr Xitcratuit. 



1. AGRICULTURE. 



A GOOD harvest month has somewhat improved the grain produce 

 of the year, wliich, however, as regards the wheat crop, is con- 

 siderably below the average, and very much inferior to our expe- 

 rience of last year. The great agricultural meeting at Manchester 

 has given to our leading manufacturing population a better idea 

 than they before possessed of the real status as well as of the 

 relative position of the food manufacture among the other monu- 

 factures of the country. So admirable a collection of specimen 

 products, and especially of our various breeds of live stock, was 

 never before exhibited ; and the immense collection of agricultural 

 machinery, which Manchester spectators most of all were likely to 

 appreciate, could not fail to give the impression that the agricultural 

 body had contributed quite their share to that ideal of energy, 

 promptitude, practical ability, and success to which we give the 

 name — John Bull. 



In the Parliamentary session just closed two important agri- 

 cultm'al measures have been enacted, one of which assumes, 

 properly enough, that EngHsh farmers cannot take care of them- 

 selves ; of the other, diiferences of opinion on this point exist. 

 The former lays certain restrictions on the trade in foreign live 

 stock, providing for such a separation or quarantine of imported 

 animals as shall hinder the introduction of infectious diseases ; the 

 latter inflicts penalties on any one who shall kill or dye seeds for 

 fraudulent purposes. The practice had become notorious, and 

 called for remedy : but it is behoved by many that the true remedy 

 is already in the hands of the farmer, and needs no legislative sup- 

 jilement. Better teach a great community, whose ability is so well 

 illustrated by every agricultural meeting, the art of taking care of 

 themselves, than surround them with enactments for their safety. 



The analysis of manures, however, much more than the analysis 

 of seeds, has long been known as an efficient protection against 

 fraud in the artificial manure market ; but' it appeal's now that a 

 guarantee by the chemist of so much per cent, of soluble phos- 

 phate cannot be depended on for any length of time. Soluble 

 phosphates do under certain circumstances fall back into their 

 original chemical condition by mere lapse of time. And a recent 

 trial proves that twenty-four per cent, of soluble j)hosphate may 

 in a few weeks become eighteen or nineteen per cent, without any 



