ix. Proceedings of the Society. 



of seeds, to be distributed by the Society. Mr. Bojer was 

 requested to take charge of the distribution, and the Secre- 

 tary was directed to convey to Mr. Diore the thanks of the 

 Society. 



The Secretary laid before the Society the Report of the 

 Committee appointed to review the Essays produced in com- 

 petition for the Prizes offered in 1847 — 



1st. For the best Treatise on the manner of reducing the 

 volume of sirop in manufacturing sugar ; and, 



2nd. For the best Essay on fallowing, or rotation of 

 crops (assokment) and on the use of manures in cane culti- 

 vation. 



The Report, agreeably to the Regulations, was ordered to 

 be laid before the Council. 



Mr. Victor Singery communicated a letter, bearing 

 the title of " Hints on Guano and Chemical Salts," ad- 

 dressed by Mr. J. Sheppard to the Editor of the Liverpool 

 Chronicle. The autlur of this treatise states that after nu- 

 merous experiments and analyses of the Peruvian Guano, 

 which has hitherto been considered the best, he has satisfied 

 himself that it does not contain all the organic principles 

 which exist in the guano obtained from other localities, on 

 which account he considers it advisable that a manure which 

 should combine the fertilizing properties of the different qua- 

 lities of guano, should be used. He adds, that he has found 

 the admixture of small proportions of gypsum (sulphate of 

 lime), to be productive of excellent effects. The sulphuric 

 acid which U contained in the gypsum having a greataffinity 

 for moisture, absorbs the hydrogen of the atmosphere, and 

 from this results a gradual solution or decomposition of the 

 gypsum, the particles of which, when mixed with the soil, 

 produce a highly-fertilizing effect. 



