EXTRACTS mOM PROCEEDINGS. XVU 
SCIENTIFIC SUBCOMMITTEE. 
Pursuant to notice, a Meeting of the Subcommittee was held at 
the Grardens at 10 o'clock on Eriday, Eebruary 18, to consider 
the plan and arrangements for the continuation of the experi- 
ments at Chiswick on the influence of different manuring sub- 
stances on the character of development of certain plants selected 
to represent several important Katural Eamilies. 
Present, — A. Murray, Esq. (in the Chair), Dr. Masters, Mr. 
Moore, Dr. Yoelcker, Dr. Gilbert, and Dr. Hogg. 
It was admitted that the soil taken for the experiments last 
year was too rich to allow of sufficient characteristic distinctions 
between the unmanured. and the manured conditions. It had 
been proposed to select a different soil for the future experiments ; 
but on full discussion it was considered that after the removal of 
the large quantities of vegetable produce grown last year, the 
condition of fertility of the unmanured soil would now be so far 
lowered, and the difference between the condition in the different 
boxes, in some important respects, so far widened, as to render it 
admissible, whilst it was, in other respects, desirable to retain the 
same soils for the experiments of the coming season. It was fur- 
ther decided that the soils should be turned out of the boxes, re- 
manured with the same descriptions of manure as before, sifted, 
and then returned to their respective boxes. The soils not to be 
resown with seed, but each box to be planted with plants selected 
from those grown last year in the same box. A given number of 
plants to be put into each box, allowing a fixed distance from 
plant to plant ; the number and distance to be settled for each 
description of plant according to its general character of growth, 
the result to be aimed at being sufficiently to cover the area, but 
at the same time to give room for the free development of each 
individual plant. It was also decided that single plants should 
be grown in pots of poor sandy soil to be left unmanured, or to 
be manured in the same way as that in the boxes. 
On request, Dr. Yoelcker undertook to make an analysis of the 
unmanured soil of the boxes ; Dr. Grilbert promised, on behalf of 
Mr. Lawes and himself, to provide the manures required, and also 
a statement of the amount, and of the results of partial analyses 
made at Eothamsted of the produce grown in the boxes last year. 
Dr. Masters undertook to draw up a preliminary report on the 
results of last year's experiments. 
VOL. III. c 
