6 Experiments upon Swedes. 



be not made for circumstances which may easily be overlooked, 

 conclusions may readily be drawn from them which may mislead 

 the inexperienced or confirm the particular fancy of the preju- 

 diced. Thus, let a manure be ever so worthless, yet, if it be 

 tried under varied conditions, it will for some reason or other 

 prove in some few cases superior to fertilizers of recognized 

 merits. If we suppose that these accidental successes are 

 recorded, and all the preponderating number of failures or ques- 

 tionable successes ignored, we see at once how it comes to pass 

 that artificial manures, like the British Economical manure and 

 many others that possess little or no fertilizing value, are never- 

 theless strongly recommended, and that men of undoubted character 

 are found to testify in good faith that such rubbish is superior to 

 guano, bone-dust, and other well-known fertilizers. Testimonials 

 of manures, even when given by the best and most experienced 

 men, have little value ; and, as they are much more apt to load 

 astray than to do good, it would be well if leading agriculturists 

 would abstain altogether from giving them. 



Nothing is more difficult than to establish by experiment a 

 general truth in agriculture. We not only require to modify 

 agricultural experiments in a great variety of ways, but, after we 

 have continued them for a number of years and carefully re- 

 corded the results, it is necessary to exercise the greatest caution 

 in interpreting the results, and to look almost with suspicion on 

 everything which at first sight appears plausible or even conclusive. 



The preceding experiments, beyond the lesson which they 

 afford of diffidence in accepting points which are said to have 

 been proved by practical experiment, teach us absolutely nothing. 



FIELD EXPERIMENTS ON SWEDES MADE IN 1859. 

 The field selected for the experimental trials, in 1859 was in 

 tolerably good condition. It bore clover in 1857, and wheat in 

 1858. The soil is moderately deep, and well-drained. A portion 

 of the soil, taken from a large sample from different parts of the field, 

 was submitted to analysis, and the following results obtained : 



Composition of Soil from Experimental Field No. 1 of the Royal 

 Agricultural College Farm, Cirencester. 



Moisture (when analysed) 3*960 



Organic matter and water of combination .. .. 9'616 



Oxides of iron and alumina 19*660 



Carbonate of lime '.. 3-805 



Sulphate of lime -345 



Phosphoric acid '075 



Magnesia ' :-tfi<asKu , -783 



Potash 1-239 



Soda -090 



Insoluble siliceous matter (chiefly clay) .. .. (50-525 



100-098 



