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VI. — On the improved Methods of Cropping and Cultivating Light 

 Land. Bj Sydney Evershed, Albury, Guildford. 



Prize Essay. 



Agricultural science and practice, combined or separate — if 

 they can be separate — both receive the same enlightened con- 

 sideration from the Royal Agricultural Society of England. 

 Within the last few years the whole system of British agri- 

 culture has passed under the review of many eminent scientific 

 and practical men ; and among other much-vexed questions the 

 cropping of land or the rotation of crops has received its due 

 share of attention. Chemical science has been brought to bear 

 upon it ; the labours of the geologist have not been wanting, and 

 experiments have been tried throughout the length and breadth 

 of the land, with a care and at an expense of time and money, 

 fully proving that there are numerous competitors for the death- 

 less honour of showing how two blades of grass can be made to 

 grow where but one grew before. In fact, almost every nerve 

 has been strained to increase the British farmer's powers of pro- 

 duction ; and these patriotic efforts have not been made in vain. 

 Every intelligent farmer can recognise some improvement which 

 has been lately worked out by the energies of science or practice, 

 or by a combination of both. 



Hitherto the main improvements have been introduced through 

 the experience of practical men ; but the labours of science have 

 not been without their influence ! and, to say the least, science 

 has dignified practice by corroborating its experience. Practical 

 farming bears date with the earliest history of mankind : expe- 

 rience soon grew out of practice ; and they both speedily became 

 what they have continued to be, inseparable allies ; but their 

 maxims and results, gradually developed, and more or less con- 

 firmed, have been chiefly handed down to us traditionally. 

 Science was born at a later date ; and however jealous each may 

 have been of the importance of the other — however much they 

 may have differed both in birth and education, and however dif- 

 ficult it still may be to consummate their happy union — it is now 

 beyond a doubt that they must go hand in hand together. 



This essay is written by a practical man : one who has not 

 been insensible to the great advancement in the knowledge and 

 dignity of the art of farming ; and who is not inclined to dis- 

 regard the suggestions of any monitor who promises to cast new 

 light upon the scientific or practical reasons why plants grow 

 and thrive better under some conditions than under others. 



Scientific men invariably lay the results of their investigations 

 before the public ; practical men among farmers are not gene- 



