104 Chronicles of Science. | Jan. 
do not succeed in any profession; neither can they in Agriculture. I 
had nearly said they deserve to be poor, but, whether they deserve it 
or not, their destiny is to be so.” 
Notwithstanding, however, Mr. Middleton’s vigorous assertion of 
-this practice, it is not thus that the farmer now in general seeks the 
increased fertility of his lands. He has guano, superphosphate, and 
other fertilizers at his command. He has machinery, not only for the 
increased efficiency, but for the cheapening of all agricultural processes. 
Steam-power both tills the soil and threshes out its produce. The 
mowing machine, hay-tedder, and reaper—the chaftcutter, pulper, and 
steamer—cheapen the labour of securing his crops, and economize the 
after-use of them. Better plants are grown, and better animals are 
fed, and the fertility which formerly came with profit under the best 
management in two or three years, is now achieved, with at least an 
equal profit, almost at once. 
It will thus be seen that there isa large field over which the reader 
of the agricultural section of this Journal may expatiate. And in the 
improvements of machinery and soil, of manures, and plants and ani- 
mals, there is scope enough both for the ingenuity and energy of the 
practical and scientific man, and in the present activity of both in the 
agricultural world, for the industry of the recording Journalist. 
II. ASTRONOMY. 
Germany, ever foremost in practical astronomy has, within the last 
few months, seen the inauguration of a movement likely, if well 
carried on, to render valuable services to the science. The celebrated 
band whose organization in the early years of the present century 
resulted in the discovery of the planetoids, Pallas, Juno, and Vesta, 
may be said to have paved the way for the new institution we have now 
to report upon, and there is no reason to doubt that the results in the 
present case will be equally, if not still more satisfactory. ‘ The 
Astronomical Society of Germany,” modelled in some respects on our 
own, is distinguished therefrom by including in its programme a scheme 
for united work which appears very promising. It is well known that 
there are certain classes of research demanding for their proper de- 
velopment more time and attention than a single observatory, much 
less a single observer, can possibly be expected to afford—variable 
stars and comet sweeping are two noticeable examples. By a well- 
adjusted subdivision of labour amongst several persons, each under- 
taking a prescribed department or area of the heavens, as the case may 
be, it is obvious that results of extreme magnitude and importance 
may be arrived at. A copy of the prospectus has been forwarded to 
us from Germany: from it we learn that Leipzic will be the general 
head-quarters, and that German will be the official language for the 
transaction of business, though the Society will be open to all nation- 
alities and all languages. Both the entrance fee and annual subscrip- 
tion are fixed at five thalers (15s.), a very moderate sum by the side of 
