Li per cent. 



These figures show that the quantity of potash is 

 indeed larger, and that of lime smaller, in the crop pro- 

 duced by manuring with sulphate of Hme than in the 

 higher crop from sulphate of magnesia. 



In the clover-hay reaped from the latter plot, the defi- 

 cient potash was manifestly replaced by hme, and in the 

 clover-hay from the gypsum manure plot, a certain 

 amount of lime by potash. 



An investigation, made with much carefulness, and 

 without the least bias, as this by Pincus, appears, among 

 the frivolous and loosely-conducted researches with which 

 agriculture unfortunately abounds, like a green oasis 

 in a dreaiy desert, and is well calculated to show how 

 much real knowledge remains still to be gained of the 

 processes in the soil Avith respect to the nutrition of 

 plants. (See ' Agriculturo-chemical and Chemical Ee- 

 searches and Experiments made by Dr. Pincus, at the 

 Insterburg Station for Agriculturo-chemical and Physical 

 Experiments.' Gumbinnen. 1861.) 



Lime. — I have, unfortunately, never had an oppor- 

 tunity of examining a soil on which a lime-dressing has 

 exercised a beneficial effect, as this substance is not used 

 ])y farmers in the neighbourhood either of Giessen or of 

 Munich. The experiments made by Kuhlmann, on mea- 

 dows, in the years 1845 and 1846, seem to show tliat 

 hme is principally useful in altering the condition of tlie 

 soil ; but having no data before me as to the particular 

 soil on which these experiments were made, I am unable 

 to point out wherein this alteration consists. 



