JOURNAL 



OF THE 



ROYAL AGRICULTURAL SOCIETY 

 OF ENGLAND. 



I. — On Agricultural Chemistry, — especialhj in relation to the 

 Mineral Theory of Baron Liehig. By J. B. Lawes, of 

 Rothamsted, and Dr. J. H. Gilbert. 



It was under the auspices of the British Association that Pro- 

 fessor Liebig in the year 1840 first promulgated his views on the 

 subject of Agricuhural Chemistry ; and however much some m,ay 

 be disposed to differ from him in opinion on special points therein 

 treated of, few we presume will deny that from the appearance of 

 the first edition of Professor Liebig's work on ^ Organic Che- 

 mistry in its relations to Agriculture and Phvsiology ' we may 

 date a spirit of investigation into Agricultural Chemistry such as 

 had not previously been manifested in this country. Indeed, we 

 conceive that in looking back to the words of his preface in 1840, 

 wherein he says, " I shall be happv if I succeed in attracting the 

 attention of men of science to subjects which so well merit to 

 engage their talents and energies," — in this respect, at least. 

 Professor Liebig must feel that his efforts have been rewarded 

 far bevond what his most sanguine expectation could at the time 

 have led him to hope for. It could scarcely be expected, however, 

 that with the progress of inquiry, such as is here invited, there « 

 should not result from time to time some, and perhaps material, 

 modifications on questions which it is admitted the facts already 

 at command were not competent satisfactorily to solve ; indeed, 

 if it were not so, if no further facts were requisite, and the views 

 as then put forth were all and in their manifold detail already 

 fully substantiated, where the necessity for further investigation 

 of the subject? Surely it would be labour lost! 



Professor Liebig has indeed himself contributed to the de- 

 velopment of the subject, in the several succeeding editions of his 

 works: and also in his ' Letters on Chemistry,' and in other 

 publications ; and he has, in a new and enlarged edition of the 

 second- mentioned work, namely, his ' Letters on Chemistry,' pub- 



VOL. XII. B 



