38 
Report on Messrs. Prout and MiddleditcKs 
2. Under such circumstances, valuation upon such a basis 
would very frequently result in injustice to the one party or the 
other, and would probably lead to much litigation. 
3. If a system of compensation based upon the valuation of 
the unexhausted residue from purchased foods or manures were 
adopted, power should be given to the landlord, or to the 
incoming tenant, to take samples for analysis, of any foods or 
manures, for the use of which any claim is to be made. 
4. In consideration of the difficulties attending other methods 
of valuation, it is very desirable to consider whether compensa- 
tion for unexhausted condition of land might not be advan- 
tageously based upon the amount of certain products of the farm, 
the quantity and money-value of which can be easily ascer- 
tained. 
II. — Report on Messrs. Prout and MiddleditcKs Continuous Corn 
Growing. By Finlay Dun, Weston Park, Warwickshire. 
Some agricultural authorities insist that corn growing cannot pay 
in England, and that the increasing expenses of cultivation must 
shortly consign large tracts of arable land to grass. Whether sup- 
ported mainly upon permanent pastures or upon fodder and roots 
grown under rotation, cattle and sheep have recently been regarded 
as the chief sources of farm profits. They have moreover been 
considered essential for maintaining the condition alike of grass 
and arable land. Indeed good yard-manure and sheep penning, 
with occasional cleaning and recruitment by fallow and grass, 
have hitherto been the recognised means of maintaining the 
fertility of ploughed land. Accepting these data, good managers 
of clay soils have recently endeavoured to augment their herds 
and flocks, to grow mangold and other food for stock, to izicrease 
their expenditure upon cake and corn, and fatten sheep as well 
as cattle in yards. Steam economically securing deeper and 
more thorough cultivation in some localities is superseding the 
slower and more expensive horse-power. But despite these aids 
and modern ap])liances, the heavy clays continue, too generally, 
to absorb a large amount of capital and yield a minimum of 
profit. Owners and occupiers are alike dissatisfied with the 
meagre returns obtained from clay farms, and anxiously invoke 
tlie aid of science and pi-actice. 
Two spirited agriculturists, Mr. Jolin Prout, of Sawbridiin- 
worth, Herts, and Mr. ICdward Middleditch, of Bluns(l(rii 
Svir-indon, Wiltsliire, have helped materially to solve some o 
the diiliculties of clay farming. ' They have demonstrated mon 
1' 
