346 Mineral Matiures, and the Value of 



according to Professor Mapes, than the rich soils of the 

 Scioto, analyzed by Mr. Wells, Old notions indeed ! Why, 

 a German chemist, a few years ago, discovered a preparation 

 by which the most abmidant crops could be produced merely 

 by rolling the seed in a prepared chemical compound ; ma- 

 nure and tillage Avere alike useless. 



Seriously, we think Mr. Wells has performed a valuable 

 service. With him, we do wish that our farmers would look 

 to the experience of the past, rather than the speculations of 

 the present. Science has done, is doing, and will do much 

 for agriculture ; but to throw away observation, experience 

 and practice, would be like throwing overboard the compass 

 to the mariner ; the latitude and longitude might be found, 

 but how would he steer his course ? 



We have so repeatedly urged the liberal use of Guano, 

 instead of manure, or rather in connection with it, that so far 

 as our opinion goes it is unnecessary that we should offer 

 another remark to confirm what we have constantly practised 

 and recommended in our pages. It is well, however, to for- 

 tify our views by facts, well authenticated, and as we find an 

 account of a series of experiments, carried on under the 

 Yorkshire Agricultural Society, in the Gardeners^ Journal, 

 we hasten to give the same to our readers. In most or all of 

 the trials which have been made with guano, by our farmers 

 and horticulturists, sufficient time has not been allowed. If 

 one season it was thought the guano did no good, the next 

 it was abandoned ; and thus no definite results obtained. In 

 the experiments below detailed it will be seen that the expe- 

 riments were successfully tried for some years, on the same 

 land, and in one locality, — the only means of arriving at safe 

 conclusions : — 



The Yorkshire Agricultural Society has for several years 

 past instituted a series of experiments for the working out of 

 practical facts, adapted to the soils and climate of that large 

 county. Knowing the modifying effects of climate, soil, 

 and peculiarity of situation, the council have year after year 

 set about a studied and arranged set of trials, which tend to 



