262 Report on 'Experiments conducted in 1887 hy 
I 
whose deatli we have since had to lament. In addition to the 
three societies, the Bath and West of England Society carried 
out an extensive inquiry on the growth of barley, in accordance 
with the plan they had adopted, and which has, I may say, very 
much to recommend it, viz. that of having one and the same ex- 
periment over a number of districts, and consequently with great 
variety of soil and climatic conditions. The experiments them- 
selves while in progress were duly inspected by myself, and the 
local societies, as before, drew up their separate reports, which 
were presented at the March meeting of the Special Experi- 
ments Committee of the Eoyal Agricultural Society, and of 
which it is now my duty to present an abstract. In doing this 
it is a pleasure to me to congratulate the societies on the energy 
with which they have taken up this really important work, and 
on the care which has been bestowed on the efficient carrying 
out of the experiments. Further, I am glad to note the extended 
interest felt in the experiments locally by members of the several 
societies, feeling sure, as I do, that it is a step in the right 
direction. 
I. Essex Agricultural Society. 
(Abstract of Report of Mr. Bernard Dyer, B.Sc, Consulting 
Chemist to the Society, and Mr. E. Rosling, of Melbourne, 
Chelmsford.) 
For the second year in succession Mr. Rosling has placed 
land at the disposal of the Essex Agricultural Society, and 
Mr. Dyer has continued the planning and direction of the ex- 
periments. My personal inspection warrants me in saying that 
no care has been wanting on the part of either to bring the ex- 
periments to a successful issue. Season, however, will assert 
its influence, and if the report of 1887 has to chronicle partial 
results only, it is due to the exceptional weather alone. All 
agriculturists know what an unfavourable year 1887 was for 
root crops and for the action of manures, and it is on account 
of such influences that those who set themselves to experiment 
must, like the Essex Agiicultural Society, be prepared to carry 
out experiments, not for one year only, but for a succession of 
years. 
A. Experiments on Oats. 
In 1886, experiments had been conducted on mangolds, the 
principal crop of that part of Essex. The soil, an analysis of 
which was given in last year's report (p. 264), is a decidedly 
stiff loam of clayey appearance resting on a gravel subsoil, a 
soil certainly of very good quality. After a wheat crop, the 
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