Nature Study in Rural Schools. 
209 
seem to depend largely upon the amount of lime which is 
really available. 
A further pot-culture experiment illustrated the beneficial 
action of phosphates in the case of a fen land soil (Cambridge- 
shire), and that lime was not in this instance needed, but 
phosphates instead. 
The necessity of paying careful attention to details in the 
method of growing plants in pots was shown by the exhibition 
of crops grown in the same soil, but in the one case filled in 
more or less in a wet condition, and in the other in a dry 
state. The same soil was further used, but filled in in different 
ways, e.g ., with light and with heavy pressure respectively, and 
wet and dry, carefully and hap-hazard, .the whole going to 
show that the results obtained in pot-culture work will depend 
greatly, for their value, upon the particular methods pursued, 
and that these can only be learned by experience. 
The main points brought out by the continuous manuring 
of wheat and barley, and through the use or withholding of 
lime, as instanced in the Stackyard (Woburn) Field Experi- 
ments, were illustrated both by photographs and by diagrams. 
A series of micro-photographs showed the appearances 
due to the presence of weed and other foreign seeds as 
met with in ordinary feeding materials such as linseed cake, 
bran, &c. Further, there were exhibited specimens of the roots 
of wheat and barley plants taken from plots on Stackyard 
Field, and which illustrated in very marked manner the 
influence which lime, or the withholding of it, had upon 
the development of the roots. 
Lastly, some interesting specimens of turf were shown 
which had been recently cut from a field at New Hall Farm, 
Barnsley, Yorks., on which the Society had conducted its grass 
experiments. These demonstrated in a remarkable manner 
the great value of lime (on a soil poor in that constituent), an 
application of 4 tons of lime to the acre continuing to show 
wonderful benefit though the application had been made ten 
years previously. On this land basic slag was without effect. 
Mr. H. M. Freear — Dr. Voelcker’s assistant at the Woburn 
Pot-culture Station — was again in charge of these exhibits, 
for the purpose of explaining them to visitors. 
II. NATURE STUDY IN RURAL SCHOOLS. 
A novel feature and one that created much interest was 
a collection of exhibits illustrating the teaching of rural 
economy and the study of nature in public elementary and 
secondary schools. The department was organised by the 
Education Committee of the County Councils’ Association, 
with the help of experts, including Mr. T. S. Dymond, of the 
YOL. 67. P 
