508 
The Mineral Theory. 
with shame when a few years have elapsed ; but there is nothing; 
humiliating to me, although much that is highly annoying, for I 
am not so proud as to think myself humbled when I am fulfilling 
the vocation to which I have devoted my life — that is, of instruct- 
ing others. To suppose that in this controversy I was influenced 
by personal motives would simply be absurd. When I strenuously 
endeavoured to make the agriculturists view things rightly, it was 
not for their own sakes, but in order to ward off future evils and 
the imminent dangers which threaten society at large. Every 
man of intelligence must see the strongest confirmation of my 
teaching in all the facts produced in this dispute. Every single 
experiment of Messrs. Lawes and Gilbert brings new evidence in 
its favour, and every doubt must disappear by the creation and 
progress in all countries of Europe of an immense branch of 
industry — the fabrication of artificial manures from inorganic or 
mineral substances, which is now extensively employed. 
Mr. Lawes's definition of manure, though false in itself, may 
yet have had, perhaps, a good effect in diffusing more widely 
these artificial manures, which are all, without exception, mineral 
manures. The prejudice in favour of organic manure was so 
strong that many agriculturists accepted under that name artificial 
manure which they would have refused under the name mineral 
manure, and Mr. Lawes, acting on his definition, could give, in 
all conscience, the assurance, that their manure for corn contained 
the organic constituent which is most efficacious in stable-dung. 
8. — Use of Green-podded Beans as Food for Stock. 
My DEAR Sir, — In accordance with your wish, I send you 
the results of my experience, extending over several years, in the 
use of green-podded beans, passed through the chaffcutter and 
given to stock. Horses, cattle, cows, sheep, and pigs, all thrive 
upon this food. It is especially good for milch cows and for 
fattening bullocks ; so much so, that the latter will leave much 
of their cake if they get a full allowance of beans. To turn them 
to the best account they should be allowed to stand till they are 
well podded. We begin to use them about the first week in 
July, and continue to do so until the 20th of August, the period 
varying according to season. 
There is a great weight of food in one acre of beans. We 
calculate that they pay about 11. 10s. per acre in meat. It seems 
strange that so few are used in this manner, even when farmers 
are very short of summer-feed. 
We generally give a little bran and malt-combs with the 
