Lecture on the Parasitic Fungi of the British Farm. 399 



popular outline of the chief parasitic fungi of the farms of Eng- 

 land, which only require simpler names to be easily understood ; 

 and the farmer must learn to distinguish them from the diseases 

 of the superficial tissues. It is a subject well suited to farmers' 

 clubs, where good botanists and microscopists might be induced 

 to attend with their instruments, and give simple explanations. 

 Let it be remembered that simplicity is the handmaid of all use- 

 ful science, whose truths are only impeded by needless grandilo- 

 quence. I can say by experience that endeavours to propagate it 

 will be found good subordinate auxiliaries to the higher aims of 

 men of my own sacred calling ; and while we see that there is 

 not a thing so small or so apparently mean, but that it sparkles 

 with some beam of the skill of its great Maker, I conceive that it 

 befits the office I bear to show that the nobler teaching of Divine 

 Wisdom by things revealed, does not tend to deface, but to elevate, 

 our conception of God's perfection in things created. This earth 

 was not made to be neglected, nor man to be unobservant ; and if 

 these unpretending gleanings I have gathered in my few moments 

 of leisure shall this day have proved in the least degree acceptable 

 to the present audience, or generally of any interest to the British 

 farmer, of the kindness of whose disposition I had more proofs 

 than I have deserved, I shall rejoice in the honour conferred upon 

 me by being allowed the privilege of addressing you. 



XIX. — Experiments on the Application of Guano and other 

 Manures, in the Duke of Somerset's Park at Stover, near 

 Newton Abbot, Devon. By E. S. Bearne. 



No. I. 



Report of an Experiment to test the comparative efficiency of 

 five different kinds of Artificial Manure in improving Pond 

 Mud, the experiment being made on an acre of inferior pasture 

 land in Stover Park, in the years 1847, 1848, and 1849. 



The land on which the experiment was conducted is of uniform 

 quality, the soil being a light, sandy loam, a few inches in depth, 

 incumbent on a stratum of white clay. 



The land underwent thorough draining in 1844, prior to which 

 it would not produce a rent of more than 5s. an acre. 



No manures were applied to the land in 1848 or 1849. 



The object sought to be attained by extending the experiment 

 over a period of three years was to test the durability of the 

 different manures. 



