842 



THE AGRICULTURAL GAZETTE. 



* 4 





of blood, gluten, albutteu, and casein, and these are the 

 parts or plaoll for which sulphur is absolutely necessary, 

 il was not aware that this was the case. In connection 

 with oride of t tain he i ,'ht say, that in a f rmer 



part of the Lecture he had alluded to the fact, that soda 

 nought be substituted for potash in plants, and versa, 



but this was no proof that potash could be substituted 

 for soda in the system of the animal. Now it was found 

 that soda was essential to the formation of healthy bile, 

 and when animals were fed on potash plants in the centre 

 of this i nd, or faraway from the sea in continents, they 

 sought with avidity soda in the form of common salt, for 

 the purpose of adding this essential constituent to the 

 elements out of wbi their secretions were formed. 

 Another proce which did not act in the way of direct 

 manures was in t— the application of water to the 



soil. V fi fresh water was applied to the soil it was 

 beneficial, but it was nee ary, in order to insure i 

 success, that the soil should be drained, as it was only 

 fresh water was beneficial. Liebig accounted for this 

 fact by the oxyireu contained in the water ; when the 

 oxygen ne in contact with the soil it united with its 

 constituents, and thus assibted ia the process of disin- 

 tegration. Another valuable property of the oxygen was 

 that it united with the blue or protoxide of iron, and 

 converted it into the peroxide ; in the soils where thi 

 was contained, he h ad pointed out in the first Lecture 

 tl importance of this action. Again, other waters con- 

 tained carbonic acid, and where this was the case in 

 limestone districts, the water also held in solution car- 

 bonate of lime. N t the carbonic acid acted also on 

 the constituents of the soil, and produced disintegration ; 

 and whilst this process went "on, the carbonate of lime 

 lso, which it held in solution, was deposited on the soil 

 as a manure. Stagnant waters, unless they contained nn- 

 injurious organic matters, were not beneficial to the soil, 

 and when they became so they acted as true manures. He 

 now came to the true manures. These matters supplied 

 some substance that was destitute in the soil. The food 

 animals got from plants consisted first of those secre- 

 tions, containing large quantities of carbon, as sugar, 

 starch, cum, &c, and those secretions which con- 

 tained nitrogen. Now, although these secretions con- 

 tained principally carbon, hydrogen, oxygen, and 

 nitrogen, yet they required for their development 

 inorganic matters. Thus L/ebig had proved, that the 

 carbonaceous secretions couVl not be developed in plants 

 without the presence of small quantities of potash, phos- 

 phate of lime, &c. It was the same with the nitrogenised 

 secretion?. The forms of protein, albumen, fibrin, &c, 

 required for their development phosphorus and sulphur, 

 and these were obtained from the inorganic constituents 

 of the soil. An important fact connected with the action 

 of inorganic manures was, that none of these substances 

 were destroyed in the system of adult animals — they were 

 not destroyed as the carbonaceous and nitrogenous secre- 

 tions, but were always again restored to the soil, in the 

 form of excrementit is matter. It was thus that all 

 animal?, in their fasces and urine, returned to the soil 

 those inorganic ingredients which they had tak-in up 

 from the soil in their food. The Lecturer here went 

 into a series of calculations, showing the necessity of 

 n : human excrement as manure. Where man ate 

 Wheat, he tl w off from his system those inorganic in- 

 gredients which were necessary to the growth of Wheat; 

 where he ate Potatoes he furnished material for the 

 growth of Potatoes. He proved these positions by 

 re'erence to many well-conducted experiments on the 

 composition of human excretions, from which it was found 

 that they alone were capable, when properly preserved, 

 of supplying all the exhaustion of the soil produced by 

 the growth of food for man. These excretions varied in 

 their composition, but it would be found they only varied 

 according to the food which had been usedl He urged 

 upon all present the necessity of every means being used 

 to r b available this precious storehouse of inorganic 

 m rs for manuring, which not only existed in the right 

 quantity as a food for plants, but also existed in the 

 best form for the nutrition of the plants most needed by 

 man. The value of t e waste of these materials that 

 was constantly going on was quite prodigious, and could 

 only be estimated by those who looked upon the subject 

 with a scientific eye. As some questions had been put to 

 him since he had been in London, he would refer, before 

 concluding his Lecture, to some remarks and expe- 

 riments which had been made by M. Boussingault, 

 the most distinguished agricultural chemist in France. 

 This learned chemist had lately referred to some experi- 

 ments of his own, with regard to feeding cattle. The 

 French chemists had all along maintained that the fat of 

 animals was only obtained from the fatty matter which 

 they already took in with their food. On the other hand, 

 the German chemists and himself maintained that the 

 fat of animals arose from an imperfectly consumed form 

 of the carbonaceous secretions, such as starch, sugar, 

 and gum. A familiar instance of such a change took 

 place in the burning of coal ; when this substance was 

 burned in the open air the whole of the carbon of the 

 coal was consumed and carbonic acid was formed but 

 when coal wis burned in closed vessels without access of 

 oxygen, then a tarry matter was formed from the imper- 

 fect combustion. What took place in the coal took place 

 in the starch, sugar, &c. Now, when animals have 

 small lungs, these substances cannot be fully consumed 

 by the want of oxygen, and an imperfect metamorphosis 

 takes place — they are converted into oily matter, which 

 ii deported in the form of fat. Dr. Lankester had 

 pointed out this fact, in connection with a seiies of 

 tables, drawn up by Mr. Hutchinson, of measurements and 



weights or human beings,in which itwas found that in pro- . 





portion to the circumference of the chest waa the weight 

 of the Individual. He had, in previous Lectures before 

 this Society, pointed out the fact that the broadest-chested 

 animals had the smallest lun?s,aud there could be little 

 doubt that the smaUnesi of the lungs taking up leas oxygen 

 in the human being accounted for the increased weight 

 observed by Dr. Lankester. With regard to the experi- 

 ment which M. Boussingault had criticised, ar.d which 

 he had characterised as having been performed " avecune 

 telle activitc," he c Id only say that he had stated at 

 the time they were performed, they were to be taken only 

 for what they were worth, from the short time iu which 

 they were performed, and as indications of experiments, 

 with the same object in view. M. Bougsii lult bad 

 performed experiments to prove that he had been wrong 

 o his conclusions, and he would allude to these experi- 

 with that respect which was due to so distinguished a 

 chemist. M. Boussingault, in order to prove that the 

 fat of animals s not derived from the starch, sugar, &c, 

 weighed animals before and after feeding with Mangold 

 Wurzel and Potatoes (substances which c tun very 

 little fatty matter), and found that, instead of increasing 

 in weight they diminished; and not only did they not 

 diminish in weight in proportion to the less quantity of 

 fatty matter they had been supposed to consume, but 

 they diminished 100 lbs. in addition. Now, M. Bous- 

 singault had not considered the causes of this extra 

 diminution of weight — a diminution so much greater 

 than his theory required. But what were the real causes? 

 Why, the cow had been fed on food which was unnatural 

 to it; formerly it had been fed on hay, and other mate- 

 rials, which required the powers of its four stomachs to 

 digest, but now it was given a food which it could not 

 digest without bull: to assist the peristaltic action of its 

 stomachs, and the consequence was, as every farmer 

 knows, the animal was purged. Now, it was this 

 purging that must have reduced its bulk, and not 

 any want of the conversion of sugar and starch into 

 fatty matter. These experiments of M. Boussingault 

 did not prove that he was right, and they <2id not prove 

 that he (Dr. P.) was wrong ; at the best the experiments 

 remained where he had placed his own at first, as among 

 subjects that required further examination. 



At the end of the Lecture, which occupied two hours in 

 the delivery, P. PuSEY, Esq., M.P., arose and said that 

 Dr. Playfair had alluded to the debtor and creditor 

 account of the farm, and he felt that the Society was 

 deeply his debtor. He felt quite sure that the relation of 

 science to practice, established in these Lectures, would be 

 beneficial in causing more attention to the subject, and he 

 had much pleasure in proposing a vote of thanks to Dr. 

 Playfair. Earl Spencer seconded the motion. The 

 first was an important Lecture, as embracing the scientific 

 part of the question, and he considered this Lecture doubly 

 important as applying that scientific part to practice. Me 

 particularly alluded to the portion of the Lecture with 

 regard to manures, which he considered of great import- 

 ance in establishing a relation between practice and 

 science, which would lead to most beneficial results. 

 Dr. Playfair had formerly given Lectures which had 

 been productive of much practical benefit, and he was 

 sure these would lead to the same result. 



The Duke of Richmond put the motion, which was 

 passed with acclamation. As President of the Society 

 be felt indebted to Dr. Playfair for the ready manner 

 in which ha had responded to the hasty call of the 

 Society, without throwing any difficulties in the way. 



The Marquis of Downshire expressed himself as 

 indebted to the Governors of the Royal Institution, for 

 having afforded them the opportunity of hearing these 

 Lectures in their theatre, and proposed a vote of th ;s. 

 The Earl of Essex seconded the motion. 





ROYAL AGRICULTURAL IMPROVEMENT 



SOCIETY OF IRELAND. 



At the half-yearly meeting of this Society, held on 

 Friday last, the half-yearly Report for the current year 

 was read, from which we make the following extracts :— 

 "At the close of the year 18-13 the number of members 

 who had paid in their subscriptions amounted only to 

 r>00, whilst 945 have paid their subscriptions for the 

 current year. This gratifying fact may be attributed in 

 some measure to the rule which was adopted at the last 

 general meeting, namely, requiring that to entitle a local 

 farming Society to the premiums of the central Society 

 the members of it shall contribute a certain proportion to 

 the funds of the central Society. The propriety of this 

 regulation was much questioned at the time, but its adop- 

 tion has proved most beneficial, not only in the increase 

 of members, but from the greater interest in the affairs of 

 the Society which it has cau I. Of the 100 local So- 

 cieties at the commencement of this rear, in connection 

 with the central body, only 1G have failed to avail them- 

 selves of the provisions of the rule referred to ; while in 

 those which have so qua ed, the competition for the 

 different premiums has been much increased, and the 

 prizes themselves claimed to a much greater amount than 

 in previous years. The second source of increased 

 revenue to the Society, during the present year, was its 

 great annual Cattle Show, held in the city of Dublin on the 

 14th and 15th of August last, on which occasion up. 

 wards of 200 new members were also added, making a 

 total of 450 new members in one year. The number of 

 subscribers is still, however, very disproportionate to that 

 of the landed proprietors of Ireland ; yet your council 

 deem it a source of gratulation to find such a steady 

 and progressive increase to the Society, and they feel 

 that the addition may be fairly cor lered the best pos- 

 sible proof of the favour with which the operations of the 

 Society are now regarded by the public. When the 



council consider the many adv. ages to ti.t cou^rt 

 large from t«e great Cattle Show ia Dublm-tue v*!t 

 number* which attended from all quarters on the ocr. 

 sion, and the success of the different entertainments in" 

 cment to the Show, they have every reason to be satisfied 

 with the result of the meeting. The number of entrie* 

 *- the show-yard was greater than on any former ccca- 

 B, as appears by the following return, viz. : 



to th 



sio 



: iort- horned bulls 



Devon do. .... J ' 



Long- horned do. ....„.* * 



Hereford do. ....*" 



A re do. \ 



P< d Angus do. ...'..[ 



Yt'est Highland and Kerry do. . 



Extra stock. * 



Total number of bull 

 Cows and heifers, general competition 



itto, local competii ion 



Extra stock ......" 



13 



1 



4 

 4 



4 



■2 



1 

 1G 



Fat stock .... 

 Horses, mares, colts and fillies 

 Extra stock .... 



iccp 

 Swine 



74 



11 



" 





4' 



Total number of entries . 



The council have also observed with satisfaction that m 

 most cases the prizes were carried away by animals bred 

 and reared in this country, and therefore recommend that 

 in future the distinction between local and general com' 

 petition shall be abolished, and that all the premiums 

 should be open to general competition. The advantage 

 of this arrangement, they trust", will soon be felt in sti- 

 mulating local breeders to increased exertion, and intro- 

 ducing animals into this country. The exhibition of 

 implements was the largest and most varied that has yet 

 appeared under the auspices of the Society — many most 

 valuable and well-arranged lots having been sent from 

 England and Scotland, while the different exhibitors in 

 this country showed the greatest anxiety to forward the 

 objects of the Society by con-ributing largely upon the 

 occasion. The council, therefore, recommend that the 

 premiums for implements at the next Show should be 

 increased considerably, and classified like the other 

 prizes. The exhibition of flax, wool, and butter, was 

 not so extensive as might have been desired, but the 

 council are so satisfied of the necessity of calling public 

 attention to the improved manufacture of these several 

 important nrticles, that they strongly recommend a con- 

 tinuation of the premiums for them at the Show for the 

 ensuing year. Your council have also turned their at- 

 tention, during the present year, in some measure to the 

 distribution of practical and useful knowledge among the 

 farming classes ; and for this purpose have caused a 

 second edition of the Society's Transactions to be pub- 

 lished for circulation, and have appointed Messrs. Curry 

 and Company, of Dublin, publishers to the Society for 

 Ireland : Messrs. Longman and Company, of London, 

 for England ; and Messrs. Frazer and Company, of Edin- 

 burgh, for Scotland. This, the Society's first volume of 

 Transactions, contains, exclusive of the ordinary pro- 

 ceedings of the Society, much useful aud valuable infor- 

 mation, particularly on the subject of thorough-draining 

 and reclaiming waste land in Ireland, which they feel 

 they can confidently recommend to the members of the 

 Society and the public at large. The balance-sheet of 

 the late Cattle Show, held in this city, was next laid be- 

 fore the meeting. The following is a correct account of 

 the receipts and expenditure on that occasion : — 



Balance Sheet of Cattle Show in Dublin. 



Expenses. 

 By amount of expenditure in Show-yard . . • 

 Ditto Council Dinner, Rotunda • • • 



Ditto, 13ano.net Dinner, Theatre . 



Ditto Ball, Theatre Royal 



By sundries, including Printing:, Stationery, Adver- 

 tisements, Staff-Assistants, &c 



Premiums awarded at Cattle Show . 



Medals ditto . . . ...••• 



Extra 



£. s. 



8S8 11 

 328 IS 



435 



41 



d. 



9 



9 

 19 H 



9 



?1 

 foil 







s r 







1 1ft 



6 



£M9 7 >• 



Receipts. 

 To amount of receipts on foot of Show-yard 

 To ditto on loot of Council Dinner 

 To ditto on foot of Banquet Dinner 

 To ditto on foot of Ball 



Local Fund 



Premiums unpaid 



xtra ....... 





« 



773 13 

 b27 12 



324 



545 



661 11 



$5 



1 







8 



6 



o 

 6 

 6 

 o 







Balance 



2887 6 6 



312 1 * 



^3199 7 1J 



The secretary here stated, that although t^ 8 ™ "" 1 J[ 

 balance against the Society might appear large at 

 view, yet, in consequence of the demonstration mau y 

 them, there had been an addition of 450 new » e »™ ' 

 which was mainly attributable to the Society having 



those demonstrations by which the expense had & ee 

 curred; and that, taking this fact into account, ' i 

 would be altogether a balance of 16/. Is. in favour o 

 Society. It was then resolved, " That the ««t c« ^ 

 Show be held at Balliuasloe, on Tuesday, the »» ^ 

 September next, and continue for three ^ da - vS * jstry 

 Marquis of Downshire then rose to say that cne - ^ 

 was making its way in England amongst the ■gncui . 

 and he hoped to see it advancing equally in ^ 1S °" r ' 

 Me had, therefore, suggested to Mr. Bullen, thesecre jr 

 to the Society, that one or more chemists shouiu ^ 

 lected in each town in Ireland, who should be i e9f 

 to name their price as to the analysis of earths, ^ 



&c, whenever they should be applied to °yj*™ nrs t 

 farmers on the subject. Ilis attention had o* . ^ 

 drawn to the subject by his having been appi" 



become a subscriber to the new College ot ^ 



