Causes of Fertility or Barrenness of Soils. 169 
precisely at the same stage of ripeness, and each lot allowed to 
stand 7 days before thrashing. 
The following Table of grain-crops shows nearly the same 
results from the different lots as the turnip crop : — • 
Tablk showiner the Dates the Oats were Cut, Thrashed, and quantities on 
each Imperial Acre : Oats valued at 10s. per cwt., and Straw at Is. Qd. per 
cwt., the Market-price at date of Thrashing. 
Time tliev were 
Cut'. 
Time 
tliey were 
Thraslied. 
Produce 
of Oats 
per Acre. 
Produce 
of Straw 
per Acre. 
Weight 
of Oats 
per 
Bushel. 
Vulue 
of Oats 
per Acre. 
Value 
of Straw 
per Acre. 
Value 
of Grass- 
crop 
per Acre. 
Lot 1.— Sept. 6 
Lot 2.— Sept. 9 
Lot 3.— Sept. 10 
Lot 4.— Sept. 12 
Sept. 13 
Sept. IG 
Sept. 23 
Sept. 19 
Cwt. qrs. lbs. 
25 2 14 
23 2 14 
22 2 0 
24 0 14 
Cwt. qrs. lbs. 
61 2 0 
55 0 0 
42 0 0 
51 0 14 
lbs. 
42 
40 
39 
41 
£. «. d. 
12 16 3 
U 16 3 
11 5 0 
12 1 3 
£. s. d. 
4 12 3 
4 2 6 
3 3 0 
3 16 8 
£. s. d. 
17 8 6 
15 18 9 
14 8 0 
15 17 11 
In conclusion, it has been the object of the writer to make 
these experiments as free from fallacy as possible (having 
superintended the whole proceedings), and to allow the reader to 
draw his own conclusions : it will be easy for any one into whose 
hands these Tables may fall to arrange the results, and a com- 
parison of these with similar experiments can hardly fail to 
afford interesting matter for reflection and continued experiment. 
XI. — On the Causes of Fertility or Barrenness of Soils. 
By John Coleman. 
Prize Essay. 
The causes which operate in producing the fertility or barren- 
ness of soils have hitherto to a great extent been shrouded in 
mystery, not from want of study, but owing to the difficulties 
which meet the inquirer at every step, and the fact that most 
important results frequently depend upon causes which have 
eluded the search of the experimenter. The science of chemistry 
it was hoped would afford the key, wherewith to unlock the 
mysteries of nature ; but though its discoveries have conferred 
much practical benefit on the agriculturist, it has, up to a very 
recent period, effected comparatively little towards settling the 
causes of fertility or sterility. The theories of scientific men 
led us to expect, that fertility depended upon the presence of 
certain mineral substances, which were found invariably present 
in the ashes of plants ; and the analysis of a soil it was believed 
would confirm the practical experience of the farmer : these 
hopes have been falsified except in the few cases of almost simple 
