FERTILIZERS. 105 



imental agricultural school in Saxon}' and to the views of Prof. 

 Nobbe, that eight or nine inorganic elements are required hj plants. 

 Prof. Nobbe had these elements prepared, and experimented in the 

 growth of plants in distilled water with the addition of these sub- 

 stances, which mixture he termed " plant soup." A plant of buck- 

 wheat so treated grew ten feet high, and, at the time of his visit, 

 had ripened eight hundred perfect seeds, which were afterwards 

 increased to a thousand. Mr. Allen did not see why Prof. Nobbe 

 had not accomplished just what Prof. Stockbridge claimed. 



Pi'of. Stockbridge said that he was not acquainted with this ex- 

 periment. Prof. Nobbe took a buckwheat plant and supplied it 

 with every thing but soda, gi\'ing potash instead, to determine 

 whether one mineral could take the place of another, and found 

 that it coiild. This, however, does not injure the view that the 

 composition of a plant is fixed b}' law, any more than the fact that 

 a man can take a considerable quantity of arsenic without injury, 

 by gradually increasing the doses, proves that arsenic is a whole- 

 some food. 



In replj" to Mr. Wetherell's question. Prof. Stockbridge said that 

 for all purposes of the farmer, considering all the circumstances of 

 the plant and soil, barn-yard manure is the best, but if we consider 

 only the feeding of plants, chemicals are just as good. We use 

 barn-3'ard manure on our farms because we have it. Fish guano 

 and all other waste materials which contain fertilizing elements, 

 should be scrupulously saved and applied to the soil. 



Mr. "Wetherell said that the precise point he wished to ascertain 

 is this : K chemicals will do just as well as barn-yard manure, 

 why should a man who has none purchase it, when chemicals are 

 just as good? 



Prof. Stockbridge said that he should not, for chemicals would 

 do just as well in feeding crops, and at less expense in handling. 



The Chairman remarked that the close attention which had been 

 given to the discussion for nearly two hours, showed the deep 

 interest felt in the subject. 



On motion of Mr. Wetherell, the thanks of the meeting were 

 voted to Prof. Stockbridge for his very interesting lecture. 



The Chairman announced that next Saturday the subject first 

 assigned for this meeting, viz., " The Improvement and Ornamenta- 

 tion of Suburban and Country Roads," would be discussed. 

 14 



