FOR PROMOTING AGRICULTURE 157 



tific theory which he had announced, as to vegetable 

 processes and growth. All the compounds now com- 

 mercially known as fertilizers, are prepared in a 

 manner generally conformable to this theory. The 

 society's large edition originally published was 

 promptly taken up, and the re-issue was in response to 

 a continued popular demand. It is doubtless to be 

 regarded as an indirect consequence of M. Viele's 

 announcements that in February, 1873, the trustees 

 voted to import from Germany, for distribution 

 among Massachusetts farmers, six tons of chemical 

 manures. Samples of these were analyzed subse- 

 quently for the society, by Prof. Francis H. Storer of 

 the Bussey Institute. Of like significance is the ship- 

 ment, in April, 1873, as a gift to the society from John 

 Bennett Lawes of Rotherham, Eng., of three tons of 

 super-phosphate. 



In 1882 the society entered upon another series of 

 importations of live stock. At the beginning of the 

 year, action was taken preparatory to the purchase 

 abroad of not exceeding six stallions of the Percheron 

 breed. In April, when President Motley was about to 

 visit Europe, the board desired him to make the pur- 

 chase. In July, a letter was received from him, saying 

 that the demand had been such, and so many recent 

 exportations had been made, that it was doubtful if a 

 good selection could be made at satisfactory prices. A 

 cable reply was sent authorizing the purchase, at his 

 discretion, of five stallions, at not exceeding $1,500 

 each. These were bought, and on arrival were sent to 

 Mr. Bowditch's farm in South Framingham. They 

 bore the names of Nelluscot, Brilliant, Mercury, 

 Marseilles and Magot. Within a short time they were 

 sent to different parts of the State, and were kept as 

 the society's property until 1888, when they were sold 



