4 EOTHAMSTED. 



neutral phosphate of lime, in bones, bone-ash, and apatite, 

 was rendered soluble. by means of sulphuric acid, and the 

 mixture applied for root-crops, gave the most striking results. 

 The results obtained on a small scale in 1837, 1838, and 1839 

 were such as to lead to more extensive trials in the field in 

 1840, 1841, and subsequent years. 



The importance to agriculture of these early experiments 

 cannot easily be estimated. In them was first observed the 

 excellent results produced by manuring turnips with super- 



-THB ROTHAMSTED LABORATORY— FRONT LABORATORY AND 

 S AMPLB-G ALLERI ES. 



phosphates — mineral phosphates previously dissolved in sul- 

 phuric acid. Their success in this particular led Sir John 

 Bennet Lawes to take out a patent in 1842 for the manufac- 

 ture of superphosphate, and thus was formed the beginning 

 of the artificial manure industry which has revolutionised 

 British agriculture. 



But although some valuable work had been done in these 

 earlier years, the foundation of the Eothamsted Experimental 

 Station is usually assigned to the year 1843. In that year 

 the field experiments were begun in a systematic manner ; 



