Scientific Agriculture. 



404 



who figure as patrons, there is a body of solid farmers and landowners who sit under 

 him and take advice on practical matters which they suppose to represent the last 

 word of science. Accustomed to the amenities of theological disputation, these men 

 ike their agricultural science in the same style ; not the dry light of reason, but a 

 strenuous assertion of a monopoly of the truth, rhetoric and passion, and a vigorous 

 denunciation of the other side— all these they get from Mr. Jamieson. But it is a 

 windy diet, and sooner or later disagrees with the subject, Avhereupon science gets 

 the blame.— A. D. H. in Nature of 5th April, 1906. 



"The Utilisation of Nitrogen in Air by Plants."— The demolition of the 

 Aberdeen authority quoted by R. A. has followed rapidly on the publica- 

 tion of his letter so recently as two days ago. Besides Dr. Willis's decisive covering 

 letter to the critique f rom Nature, — both reproduced in another column — the planter 

 who penned the original communicated article in the Times of Ceylon writes : — "I 

 enclose a somewhat scathing review of the book mentioned by R. A. I 

 had previously thought of sending it to you, but felt that it was possibly not of 

 sufficient interest." The subject is of considerable importance; and it is highly 

 essential that erroneous notions should be "scotched" at once. — Times of Ceylon. 



IN DEFENCE OF THE ABERDEENSHIRE ASSOCIATION. 



Sir,— With reference to the book "Utilization of Nitrogen from the Air by 

 Plants " that I sent you, I have, in your issue of 26th instant, read your editorial 

 remarks on it and Dr. Willis' letter with accompanying review on the book. 

 Regarding the rights of the question at issue I leave these severely alone ! ! but of 

 the "demolition" of the theory I may be permitted to say that I think that is a 

 matter of opinion, and personally I should have been glad if Dr. Willis had, out of 

 the many similar reviews published, chosen one that gave at least one good reason 

 why the theory of nitrogen being taken in by the leaves of plants is untenable. The 

 reviewer contents himself, to quote his own words, with a "vigorous denunciation 

 of the other side." It is, I suppose, inevitable, though it is much to be regretted, 

 that any jealousy should exist over the scientific work carried out at different 

 stations in Britain, and I fancy that Rothamsted has got as hard blows from the 

 Aberdeenshire Association as it is likely to give it in return ; but any one that knows 

 anything of the 30 years' work of the Association will highly disapprove of the 

 manner in which the writer ignores the point at issue, and in rather flippant style 

 seemingly tries to belittle the status and personnel of the Association. It would be 

 going wide of the discussion for me to even touch on the work done, but I may say 

 that in the early years of its existence it proved that coprolites finely ground was as 

 effective a manure as superphosphates, which in a turnip-growing country meant an 

 enormous saving annually. Aberdeenshire men, though I cannot speak as one of 

 them, will doubtless feel grateful to Dr. Willis for his timely warning, but it is 

 possible that some of them, like myself, should still be stupid enough to wonder if 

 the large supply of nitrogen required to build up the magnificent woods of fir and 

 pine of their native country could all have been got from a soil on which nothing 

 else but heather can live, and whether the trees are not able to sneak just a little 

 from the abundant supply that always surrounds them in the air. 



In conclusion, Mr. Editor, I would take the liberty of asking you to send the 

 book, even though it has been scotched, and would further presume to recommend 

 the literature published by the Association to all planters. They at least would 

 appreciate the honest work and advice that have been given to the farmers of 

 Scotland, and they will get food for thought regarding their work here. I apologise 

 for the length of this, but shall not trouble you further on the subject.— Yours, &c, 

 April 27th. R. A. 



Times of Ceylon, 



