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JOURNAL OF THE ROYAL HORTICULTURAL SOCIETY. 



independent chemical substances in various stages of hardness and solubility. 

 The soil, instead of being an inert physical mass, is teeming with germs. 

 Do these germs prepare the soil for plants, or do they lead an independent 

 life ? Our knowledge of soil bacteriology has as yet not advanced far 

 enough for a definite reply to be given to such a question. The value of 

 the " new soil science " is really the fresh point of view it gives. There 

 seems to be both a life on the soil and in the soil, and a relationship 

 exists between the two. My object will have been accomplished if I have 

 directed your attention to this germ life in the soil, and if I can induce 

 those who rely on chemical reactions to consider if biological actions do 

 not afford a more satisfactory explanation for the various observed facts 

 that constitute the basis of agricultural and horticultural theories, than the 

 controlled chemical reactions common to laboratory practice. 



In bringing before you the claims of the "new soil science" I cannot 

 myself lay claim to originality, and I would further point out that many 

 of the claims of this new point of view have already been advanced by 

 Mr. John Hunter, of Edinburgh, in u Chambers's Encyclopaedia.*' I 

 must also acknowledge my own indebtedness on many points to Professor 

 McAlpine, of Glasgow, and must add that in the compilation of this 

 paper I have referred to and quoted from many authorities whom I have 

 not named in detail, as I assume that practical men are not interested in 

 names, but in the results that has T e been attained. To practical men I 

 must in conclusion appeal. The "new soil science" does not pretend to 

 offer a short cut to wealth by doubling or trebling the return per acre. 

 Its primary duty is to give a satisfactory, rational, and conclusive explana- 

 tion of the best practice in garden and field. First of all, we must accept 

 the new point of view, and then to the practical man the questions that 

 demand attention will be : How does this or that practice affect soil germ 

 life ; and what influence has soil germ life on the cultivation of this or 

 that plant ? It is with the hope that an interest in such questions may 

 be aroused that I have brought the subject before the Society. 



