Wohum  Experimental  Station. 
221 
the  lime  was  not  very  great,  but  after  that  time  a change  set 
in,  and  in  1898  Mr.  Carruthers  and  Dr.  Voelcker  pointed  out 
that  the  benefit  from  the  lime  was  very  marked.  From  that 
time  on,  the  action  of  the  lime  has  pi-oduced  continued  improve- 
ment ; the  coarse  grass  has  given  way  to  fine  herbage  with 
abundant  clover  ; and  the  cattle  were  always  to  be  found  on 
that  })art  of  the  field.  The  specimen  exhibited  was  taken  just 
on  the  dividing  line  of  the  lime  and  basic  slag  plots,  and  showed 
most  clearly  how  the  lime  had  told  almost  to  an  inch  wherever 
it  was  applied.  Not  only  was  the  difference  observable  in  the 
herbage,  but  also  in  the  root  growth  below  ; for,  whereas  on 
the  unlimed  part  there  remained  a spongy  mass  of  decaying 
roots  with  but  little  penetration  of  roots  into  the  soil  below, 
on  the  limed  portion  this  had  given  place  entirely  to  good  soil 
with  roots  freely  penetrating  into  it.  No  doubt  the  treading  of 
the  cattle,  consequent  on  their  feeding  better  on  the  sweetened 
pasture,  aided  greatly  in  bringing  about  this  change.  The  soil, 
it  should  be  mentioned,  is  one  on  which  basic  slag  is  not  known 
to  answer. 
The  results  of  treating  “smutty”  wheat  by  the  hot  water 
(Jensen)  method  were  shown,  and  the  produce  from  such 
after-treatment  was  found  to  be  quite  free  from  smut. 
Lastly,  there  were  several  exhibits  of  growing  plants  of 
Barley,  showing  the  influence,  favourable  or  otherwise,  of  the 
application  of  minute  quantities  of  the  rarer  salts,  such  as 
lithium  chloride,  sodium  iodide,  and  manganese  carbonate, 
these  being  the  outcome  of  experiments  under  the  Hills 
Bequest. 
I The  whole  exhibit  was  under  the  charge  of  Dr.  Voelcker’s 
assistant,  Mr.  H.  M.  Freear,  whose  ready  and  clear  explanations 
added  greatly  to  the  interest  of  the  section. 
The  foregoing  account  is  by  no  means  exhaustive.  In  fact, 
probably  the  majority  of  the  exhibits  could  only  be  properly 
appreciated  by  personal  inspection.  My  main  object  has  been 
to  indicate  some  of  the  practical  lessons,  derivable  from  the 
Exhibition.  I desire  cordially  to  acknowledge  the  assistance 
given  by  the  expert  representatives  of  the  different  colleges 
and  institutions  in  personally  explaining  the  exhibits  to  visitors. 
Such  explanations  added  greatly  to  their  interest  and  value. 
J.  Bowen-Jones. 
St.  Mary’s  Court,  Shrewsbury. 
