species being crowded together for many cen- 

 turies, as in native forests, and yet thriving, with 

 the equally ^vell-kno\^•n fact of the degenera- 

 tion of other species, as wheat, when cultivated 

 for even a few j-ears upon the same spot. 



Note. — DecandoUe, Macaire, and others, from va- 

 rious experiments, have been led to suppose that dif- 

 ferent excretions are discharged from the roots of 

 plants, which may probably account for their etfects 

 in deterioratiui; the soil for the production of the 

 same species. The Essays are expected to give the 

 result of original experiments, determining the fact 

 whether or not such excretions occur; and, if they 

 do, to ascertain the chemical nature of the matter ex- 

 creted from different plants, more especially the cul- 

 tivated Gramineae. Legumiaose, and Cruciferas. 



Analysis of Oats. — Little is yet known of 

 tlie true composition of oats, either of their or- 

 ganic or of their inorganic parts. The nature of 

 the organic parts, for example, is believed to 

 vary with the kind of soil in which the oat is 

 gi-ov\-ii — strong land, light land, and peaty soils, 

 each growing its own peculiar samples from the 

 same seed. The kind of manure and the sea- 

 son cause similar diflerences, which become 

 more marked still, when different varieties of 

 oats are compared witii one another. Again, 

 the inorganic part of the oat varies with the 

 same circumstances of soil, manure, climate, and 

 variety of seed ; but it is not known to what 

 extent it varies, either as to quantity or quality. 



The Society oifers a premium of fifty sove- 

 reigns for the analytical examination of the grain 

 of oat, by which the greatest number of the 

 above points may be ascertained. 



The object of the inquiry is to throw light 

 upon the general value of the oat, and of its dif- 

 ferent varieties, as a food for man or beast ; and 

 upon the mode of culture which in diSbrent dis- 

 tiicts ought to be adopted in order to raise this 

 or that quality or variety. 



Ox Raising I.mproved Varieties of Ag- 

 ricultural Plants. — For an approved Re- 

 port, founded on actual experiment, detailing 

 the means which may have been successfully 

 employed by the reporter for obtaining new 

 and superior varieties, or improved sub-varie- 

 ties, of the different cultivated grains and grasses, 

 clovers, beans, peas, turnips, potatoes, or other 

 Agricultural plants, either by minute attention 

 to the selection of the seed, by hybridation, or 

 such other means as may have been found effi- 

 cacious — the gold medal, or plate of the same 

 value. 



It is necessary that the varieties and sub-varieties 

 reported upon shall have been proved capable of 

 re-production from seed, and also that the relation 

 they bear to otliers, or well-known sorts, shall be 

 stated. The reporter is farther requested to men- 

 tion the effects that he may have observed in ditfer- 

 enc soils, manures, &c, to produce on the plants 

 forming the subjects of report, and how far he may 

 have ascertained such effects to be lasting. 



Note. — Should any improved variety rei)orted upon 

 be the result of direct experiment by cross impreg- 

 nation, involving considerable expense and long con- 

 tinued attention, a higher premium will be awarded. 



On the Cultivaton of Red Clover. — 

 For an approved Report on the best mode of 

 managing lands which have become sick or 

 tired (as it is teiTued) of common R,ed Clover, 

 TrifuUum prafense, so as to restore their capa- 

 bility of properly yielding that crop for hay. &c. 

 without altering the generally practiced system 

 of rotation— the gold medal, or ten sovereigns. 



Influence of Plants on Dairy Protjuce. 

 — For an approved Essay or Report on the In- 

 fluence of Plants taken as Food, on the taste, 

 (614) 



flavor, or quality of milk, butter, cheese, or 

 other Dairy Produce — ten sovereigns, or plate 

 of that value. 



Note. — It has been long known that the milk pro- 

 duced from particular pastures duiing certain months 

 is deteriorated, and that the butter and cheese made 

 from it arc imperfect in flavor and in quality, so aa 

 sometimes to be unfit for use. This effect is sup- 

 posed to arise from certain plants growing (and dur- 

 ing these months flourishing) in the pastures ; an t it 

 is to ascertain these, and their effects, that the above 

 premium is offered. It is desired that the eftects on 

 the milk, <Scc. from the eating of such supposed 

 noxious plants, shall be stated from experiment ; and 

 that dried specimens of the plants shall accompany 

 the Essay. The particular seasons or months such 

 plants are in their highest vigor should also be men- 

 tioned, and the best manner of extirpating them. 



Reports on Irrigation. — The gold medal, 

 or a piece of plate of the same value, will be 

 given for the most approved account of the man- 

 agement of Water Meadows, founded on actual 

 experiment within three years preceding the 

 date of the Essa}-. 



The experiments must be made on not less than 

 five acres, whether detached or otherwise, and a de- 

 scription to be given of the rills or streams employed, 

 and of the quality of the water, and of the m.aiiner 

 of collecting and applying it, also an account of the 

 land prior to the introduction of iiTication tqjon it, 

 and of its estimated value at that period, and at the 

 time when the Report is made ; certified statements 

 to be furnished of the quahty of grass, if any. cut 

 green in the spring, and the quantitj- and quality of 

 the hay and aftennath produced upon the portion re- 

 ported on, and the kind of stock, if any, which has 

 been allowed to depasture it. 



Construction of Tanks. — For a Report 

 upon the most approved and most economical 

 method oT constructing Tanks for collecting 

 liquid manure from .stables, byres, and pigsties 

 suitable to ordinary farm steadings ; and aLso on 

 the best means of draining off fi-om the dung- 

 hill the liquid manure into tlie Tank — ten sove- 

 reigns. 



Competitors to state the most eligible mate- 

 rials for the purpo.se the expense, and the form 

 and proper dimensions in proportion to the num- 

 ber of cattle, &c. the best mode of drawing off 

 the contents and of applying it to the soil. 



Potato Blossoms. — As great diversity of 

 opinion prevails regarding the advantage gained 

 by picking the blossoms from the stems of pota- 

 toes, instead of allowing the germs to ripen into 

 seed apples, the medium gold medal will be 

 given for the most approved P^eport of trials 

 made with different varieties of potatoes, quality 

 as well as quantitj' to be taken into accouzit. 



The trials to bo made on portions of not less 

 than a quarter of an acre each, care being taken 

 in removing the flowers that the stems arc not 

 injured. 



Disease in Potatoes. — The Potato Crop, 

 which is of such importance in this country, 

 having become very generally infected with 

 disease, the Society is de.sirous, if possible, of 

 ascertaining whether or not. by tiie aid of chem- 

 ical analysis, any light can be thrown upon the 

 cause of the disease, and upon the remedy to 

 be applied. 



A pri^mium of fifty sovereigns is therefore offered 

 for the best and approved analysis of sound and un- 

 sound Potatoes, and of the soils on which they grew. 

 The analysis of the several varieties of Potato, to 

 embrace both their orgiUiic and inorganic constitu- 

 ents. The details of fhe experimental researches, 

 which will include Potatoes both at taking up and at 

 seed time, and the method of analysis adopted, to be 

 given in the Kssay. 



