Abstract
THE current number of the Journal of the Royal Agricultural Society has just reached us. It fully maintains the reputation so justly earned by previous numbers, and contains papers on many topics of present interest to agriculturists. Among the principal of these may be mentioned “The Progress of Fruit-Farming,” by Mr. Whitehead, of Barming House, Kent, himself largely interested in this business. The continued reports upon Prize Farms are worthy of attention as showing what is being done on the best farms in various districts. A report on sheep-feeding experiments conducted at Woburn by Dr. Voelcker in his capacity of chemist to the Society, and a report on wheat mildew, by Mr. W. C. Little, of Stag's Holl, form the chief attractions to practical farmers. Among the more purely scientific or speculative contents may be mentioned a contribution from Rothamsted, by-Sir John Lawes and his able coadjutor, Dr. Gilbert, upon the composition of drainage water collected at Rothamsted, and a valuable paper upon nitrogen as nitric acid in the soils and subsoils of certain fields on the same estate. The remainder of the volume is chiefly occupied with useful official matter, such as the Weather Report; the Botanical Report, by Mr. Carruthers; and Reports on Live Stock, Implements, &c., exhibited at York. A touching tribute is paid to the memory of a late president of the Society, the late Lord Vernon, by Mr. Wells, him-self an ex-president. Perhaps the most striking and in structive paper is that by Mr. Thomas Bell upon the Yorkshire Prize Competition, containing a full report of the Tuyers Wood and East Park Farms, occupied by Mr. Turnbull. In these days, when dairying is justly attracting very special attention, it is highly interesting to receive sound information as to the methods used on thoroughly well-managed farms. A daily record of the milk yielded by each cow in a dairy containing 100 animals in milk is in itself highly useful, and worthy of imitation. It is impossible in a short notice like the present to open up the various topics dealt with. It has ever been the wise policy of the “Royal Agriculturist” to fill its pages with contributions from specialists upon their own specialities. There is no padding or superfluous discursiveness, and sometimes to the uninitiated there may appear to be a want of that introductory and explanatory matter which entices on the general reader. As a record of agricultural research and progress, the journal holds a high position, which the number just issued fully maintains.
Journal of the Royal Agricultural Society.
Second Series, Part II. Vol. XIX. October, 1883. Price 6s. (London: John Murray.)
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W., J. [Book Reviews]. Nature 29, 75 (1883). https://doi.org/10.1038/029075a0
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DOI: https://doi.org/10.1038/029075a0