406 Abstract Rcjiort of Ar/ricultural Discussions. 
Mr. FitERE called attention to tlie importance of steadily maintain- 
ing the artificial fertility of the soil for the economical production of 
crops. Allo\yances to outgoing tenants for oilcake consimaed are one 
important means to this end. 
Mr. Fisher Hobbs reminded the Society of a discussion held in 
that room a few years since upon the subject, when it was remarked by 
one or two large oilcake crushers, that they made many varieties of cake 
— even as many as nine or ten different sorts — but that one of them 
only was a genuine article ! He referred to Lincolnshire as a county 
where the custom prevailed of remimerating the outgoing tenant for 
unexhausted improvements ; and suggested that on some future occa- 
sion a paper should be prepared on this subject. 
EussiAN Agriculture. 
Mr. Frere next brought under the notice of the Society a concise 
and interesting rejiort of the proceedings of the Imperial Agricultiu-al 
Society of Moscow during the year 1860, acknowledging his obliga- 
tions to M. SjiJ)oiUTofi" of the Eussian Embassy for explanations 
respecting Eussian weights, &c. Eussian agxiculture appears to be 
now undergoing an important crisis, arising chiefly out of the recent 
emancipation of the serfs. It cannot stand still. It must either 
relapse — if not utterly collapse — or assimie new life and energy fi'om 
that measure. Most probably the first effect will be imfavoiu'able to 
agriculture ; but in the end it may be hoped that this righteous act 
will meet with its due reward. Any such crisis in that gi'eat empire 
must exercise an important influence on om' imjiorts. On the face of 
the report of the Imperial Agricultural Society, it is evident that 
social and financial questions are more ui'gent in Eussia, than those 
which relate to scientific agTiculture. In his opening address, M. 
Alexander Kochelew, the president, answering the objection that 
theii" discussions were not sufficiently practical, says : — " How can 
we discuss the proper management of woods, when we hardly 
know whether our forests arc our own ? How can wo improve oiu" 
stock when om- herds are wasted by epidemics and plimdered in 
spite of the police ? How can we afford ourselves new implements 
when we cannot procure that capital which is indispensable ? How 
can we arrange systems of cultm-e when uncertain as to our workmen, 
whether labour is free or compulsory '? And this free labour" — are wc 
sure it will not be subject to all kinds of imcertainties by the infrac- 
tion of contracts on the part of the workmen ? All these questions 
bear more directly at this moment upon rm-al economy than any other 
discussion with regard to soils, implements, &c." 
The report divides itself into two branches : the first, on " Questions 
Economiques ; " and second, " Questions Pratiques." The first ques- 
tion of general economy which came before the Society was a proposal 
for the establishment of an association of farm-bailiffs ; the associa- 
tion being required to stand security for each of its members. It 
appears that the Society prudently declined to take the initiative in 
that matter. The next question considered was, that of offering jn-izes 
for essays on the best methods of employing free labour. At the 
