INTRODUCTION, 



In apologizing for venturing on the consideration of 

 the subjects referred to in the following pages 1 would 

 wish to say that I consider much benefit is calculated to 

 accrue to the profession to which I belong by others fol- 

 lowing my example. All that I have written 'in the 

 Memorandum which these few sentences introduce, is in- 

 tended more as a foundation for further consideration and 

 research than as a positive enunciation of causes and effects, 

 and I therefore hope that all faulty conclusions, all errors 

 of conception and deduction, which may be discovered by 

 those better informed may meet with calm forbearance and 

 that the meagre attempt to unravel some of the mysteries 

 which so sorely affect the interests of the planting com- 

 munity may meet during the process of criticism with that 

 measure of indulgence which one man expects from another 

 when voluntarily working for the common good. I would 

 wish clearly to state that I have made frequent refer- 

 ence to, and obtained much valuable information from, the 

 following standard works : 



Liebeg's Agricultural Chemistry 



Anderson's 



Cameron's 



Greville's Algologia 



Outlines of Fungciogia (Printed by J. and C* 



Adlard) 



Bonn's edition of the Bridge water Treatises 

 Pilkington's Mechanics Own Book 

 Johnstone's Chemistry of Common Life 



