Guuiio as compared with Manure. 347 



establish some one or other of the principles of agricultural 

 truth. For this purpose, careful selections are made of prac- 

 tical and skilful farmers in various locations of the county, 

 presenting variations of aspect, of climate, of altitude, and 

 also of soil and geological formation ; and to these is given 

 respectively one and the same experiment, to try one manure 

 on one crop ; and all the results, brought to the test of the 

 bushel and the scale, are registered and arranged for the 

 information of the society's members. 



But more : we all know one year's trials, even in different 

 circumstances, is not sufficient to stamp a fact with undoubted 

 accuracy. Hence, in some cases, two and even three years 

 are required. Light sometimes breaks in in the first year, 

 which a second either darkens or improves. The experiments 

 of 1850 were on the relative merits of coprolites and guano 

 against farm-yard manure ; the experiment committee arrived 

 at the conclusion that, " in certain cases, turnips may be 

 grown more cheaply with properly selected hand tillage than 

 by heavy dressings of farm-yard manure." To confirm, or 

 to modify that opinion, the council sent out a set of manures, 

 dissolved coprolites and Peruvian guano, supplied by Mr. T. 

 Pearson, of Leeds, and the experiments were arranged under 

 the following heads : — 



1. To show the natural produce of the land, one part was 

 to have no manure whatever. 



2. Was to have twelve tons per acre of farm-yard dung. 



3. Was to have six tons of dung, and one cwt. each of 

 guano and dissolved coprolites ; and 



4. Was to have two cwt. of guano and two cwt. of the 

 coprolites. 



Other substances might be tried as additions, but these 

 were to be the standard experiments. The names of the 

 parties who tried them were a guarantee for their accuracy 

 and trustworthiness. They were Mr. Charnock, of Holm- 

 field ; Mr. H. Cholmeley, of Brandsley ; Mr. T. C. Johnso», 

 of Chenel ; Mr. W. Mauleverer, of Aincliffe ; Mr. Newham, 

 of Edlington ; Mr. Outhwaite, of Bainesse ; Mr. Scott, of 

 Broom Close ; and Mr. Wailes, of Husthwaite. 



