44 THE COMPOSITION OF FERTILE AND BARREN SOILS. 



Professor VOELCKER said that in his district they used one part of guano 

 with two of salt. 



The MAYOR said there was one part of the lecture he did not understand 

 perhaps it was from his ignorance of agriculture. It had been said that the 

 value of superphosphate depended upon the quantity of soluble and insoluble 

 phosphate which it contained. What appeared to him material for agricul- 

 turists to know was, how they could ascertain that quantity. 



Professor VOELCKER said that was a very important question. He would 

 answer that it was perfectly impossible for any one to estimate the value of a 

 sample of superphosphate merely by inspection. There were hundreds of 

 samples brought to his notice throughout the year. It was no use smelling or 

 tasting the superphosphate, for by this means they were unable to decide which 

 was the best. There was only one means of ascertaining it, and that was by 

 ascertaining what it contained. It was unreasonable on the part of dealers to 

 ask the farmers to have their manures analysed, for a careful analysis could not 

 be made under a guinea, and that was a heavy charge for a purchaser to pay. 

 He advised all purchasers to procure a guarantee when they bought a manure. 

 Somehow or other the dealer of an adulterated article would slip out of the 

 obligation. Many of them would advise their purchasers to have their manures 

 analysed, and would tell them that if they were not up to the standard they 

 would " take something off ;" and the purchasers after all might get deceived 

 by an analysis. He had before him analyses of a manure, called " Binn's 

 Patent Manure." In the prospectus it was said that the manure was sold at a 

 very low price, and that the analyses had been made by Professors Way and 

 Campbell. [Dr. Voelcker here read the results of the analyses, which showed 

 that a portion of the constituents of the manure consisted of mere rubbish, and 

 only 4 per cent, of phosphate of lime.] The analyses were honest, and even 

 offered a condemnation of the manure ; but this only showed them that they 

 could not form any idea of the superiority or inferiority of manures from the 

 name attached to an analyses ; and if upon any occasion they found his signa- 

 ture attached to an analysis, he advised them not to come to the conclusion, 

 from that circumstance alone, that the manure was a good one. He had pro- 

 posed to a meeting of the Bath and West of England Society that if any of the 

 members of that society sent him a copy of an analysis, he would tell them in 

 round numbers what it was wprth. 



Mr. LANGDON, in behalf of the agriculturists present, begged to offer their 

 sincere thanks to the lecturer for his able lecture, and to say they were highly 

 pleased at the lucid manner in which he had answered the questions put to him. 



The motion was seconded by Mr. COTTON, and carried unanimously, after 

 which three hearty cheers were given for the lecturer. 



3.THE COMPOSITION OF FEETILE AND BAKEEN 



SOILS. 



[Delivered at Newton, January, 1857.] 



IN passing through a country of even limited extent, every intel- 

 ligent man must become aware of the great diversity of soils 

 which he meets in his journey, and on inquiry he will find that 

 the agricultural products of these varied soils are likewise subject 

 to very great changes. It is evident there must be a cause, or 

 various causes in operation to account for the different aspects 

 and agricultural capabilities of the various soils which we meet 



