392 MEETING OF THE BRITISH ASSOCIATION. 



ordinary working processes can be profitably remedied. It is al- 

 most proverbial tbat tbe greater number of persons who attempt 

 the introduction on their farms of plans suggested by abstract sci- 

 ence, succeed only in finding how to lose money. It does indeed 

 require a rare combination of enthusiasm wiih caution, of know- 

 ledge of theory with practical experience of the conditions of ordi- 

 nary working, to carry such experiments to a definite and useful 

 issue. Such rare combinations of qualities have existed in Mr 

 Lawes ; and, when we recollect that, by associating Dr. Gilbert 

 with his labours, he obtained the co-operation of an able and ac- 

 complished chemist, we have no longer reason to wonder that the 

 results of twenty years' continuous experiment, conducted on an 

 ample scale, with the most scrupulous care and systematic order, 

 should have led to the establishment of results so numerous and 

 important as to secure for Mr. Lawes the highest rank among the 

 founders of scientific agriculture. In speaking of the chemistry of 

 agriculture, I cannot omit alluding to the writings of Liebig, which 

 have rendered such important services by bringing vividly before 

 the English agriculturists what was known of the chemistry of 

 farming, and several ingenious and suggestive theories relating to 

 practical agriculture. In the introduction to the last German 

 edition of his Agricultural Chemistry, Liebig refers in terms of 

 studied disrespect to the investigation of Mr. Lawes, and, while 

 misquoting a paragraph in one of Mr. Lawes' publications, endea- 

 vours to convey the impression that that gentleman was unac- 

 quainted with the correct use of the term 'mineral,' and had mis- 

 understood Liebig's mineral theory; which he is generally consider- 

 ed to have disproved. I mention this circumstance with pain, and 

 have no doubt that all who value Liebig's truly important scientific 

 labours will regret it as much as I do. Another practical question 

 which science has latterly brought prominently before the attention 

 of the public is that of the utilization of the drainage of towns. It 

 is estimated that the quantity of nourishment for plants wasted in 

 London alone in this form is worth about a million sterling per 

 annum ; but this valuable material is contained in so large a quan- 

 tity of water that no plan has come into working for separating 

 it out profitably for use. Some persons are of opinion that the 

 sewage might with advantage be conveyed through pipes for use 

 in the fields, especially on meadow-land, to which it is most easily 

 applicable. Baron Liebig has written a letter on the subject, which 

 was forwarded by Alderman Mechi to the Journal of the Society 



