INTRODUCTION. 



WHEK, about eight years ago, my attention was first 

 closely directed to scientific agriculture, I was surprised to 

 find in agricultural works so few rigorous experimental 

 data on which to base safe opinions of my own, or by 

 which to test the published opinions of others. With the 

 view of gradually collecting a body of such data, therefore, 

 I published several series of Suggestions for experiments 

 in practical agriculture, both in a separate form and as an 

 Appendix to the first edition of my published Lectures on 

 Agricultural Chemistry and Geology. These suggestions 

 attracted considerable attention on the part both of indi- 

 viduals and of societies. Many skilful practical men, 

 among whom I ought to distinguish Mr Fleming, of Ba- 

 rochan, in Renfrewshire, undertook field experiments at 

 their own cost and on their own land. The Royal Agri- 

 cultural Society of England, also, and the Highland and 

 Agricultural Society .of Scotland, offered premiums for 

 such experiments, and their example was followed by 

 several local societies, such as that of Turin in Aberdeen- 

 shire, of Strathmore in Forfarshire, and of G,uildford in 



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