[NTBODUCH LON. 
9 
collected and comprehensive form, not merely that its general out- 
COme may be Been, bnl also that the detailed figures of the great num- 
l)cr of determinations (of which a large proportion are new and hitherto 
unpublished, while others are scattered over the pages of various 
separate memoirs and lectures) may be embodied and preserved in a 
collected form for the future reference of those who may from time 
to time wish to restudy the results. It has, at the same time, been 
their desire to collate with these, in certain directions, the results 
obtained from the examination of other of the experimental soils. 
The task of completing and presenting 1<> you this collation lias been 
intrusted to my hands. The wealth of material has made anything 
like an adequate discharge of the task, within the necessarily con- 
fined limits of these Lectures, a matter of Impossibility, for the work 
might more easily be expanded bo a series <>f volumes. The material 
Itself, however, will be transcribed for the leisurely detailed exami- 
nation of those among you who find especial interest in it from one 
01 other of the many points from which it may be approached; while 
for its discussion I must be contenl to place before you such of 1 he- 
more interesting and striking features of the results as may be 
included within such space a^ I may reasonably venture to wander 
over, keeping before me the fact that even liberal governmental 
printing grants have their necessary limitations. While I freely 
accept all blame that may *be accorded to t hese lectures for errors of 
judgment in the selection of points for discussion, or for inadequacy 
or obscurity of treatment. I would ai the same time at once ask that, 
for whatever interest and satisfaction may be derived from their 
perusal, a very large share of the credil should go to Sir Henry Gil- 
bert, who has spent infinite pains in aiding and advising me in this 
work . 
