288 Annual Report of the Consulting Botanist for 1880. 
Oberbobritzsch nor in Miiusegast, because the small amount of 
available phosphoric acid necessary for the plant roots was not 
present in the soil. It is evident that with such poor soils the 
yield can only be permanently raised by the application of 
mineral manures, and that the addition of nitrogenous manures 
is a matter of secondary consideration. 
Professor Voelcker has frequently proved that when super- 
phosphate had no action on turnips, it was invariably due to 
deficiency of potash in the soil. If, therefore, superphosphate 
or bone-meal did not increase the yield on a poor soil it is 
no proof that the soil was not deficient in phosphoric acid. 
Similarly, if a clay soil, rich in potash and not wanting in 
phosphoric acid, yields clover-crops inferior to those of a cal- 
careous loam actually poorer in potash and phosphoric acid, it is 
evident that an addition of these substances to the former soil will 
give no profitable return. In such a case the application of caustic 
lime will be in harmony with theory and practice. Thus, on 
the sugar-beet soils of Bohemia and Moravia, which are rich in 
potash, the application of a potash manure is without action, 
whilst the application of caustic lime improves both the quality 
and quantity of the roots. 
It is incorrect to apply potash-salts, without applying phos- 
phate at the same time, to sandy soils deficient in potash. 
Neither, by itself, would prove profitable, but together they will 
cause a lasting increase in the crops. Again, where super- 
phosphate or bone-meal together with dung immediately causes 
an increase in the wheat-crop, there will be a falling-ofF in the 
clover and turnip-crops unless potash be added. 
We have thus endeavoured to show that the proprietors of 
poor kinds of land can only hope to increase their rents and 
thereby partially compensate for the depreciation of their estates 
by the judicious use of artificial manures. 
XIX. — Annual Report of the Consulting Botanist for 1880. 
By W. Careuthers, F.'r.S. 
A LARGER number of the seeds of grasses and other cultivated 
plants have been submitted for investigation as to their ger- 
minating qualities and freedom from impurity than during 
any previous year. Somewhat over 100 samples have been 
examined. On the whole these seeds have been more satisfac- 
tory than those of previous years. I still find the seeds of 
Alopecurus pratcnsis are gathered unripe, and that a very small 
