Plot No. 1 of such land is marked ‘‘no manure,” and to the other plots
are applied various manures, and conclusions drawn therefrom. Now
if we assume that the agriculturist can do nothing further by himself
to fertilize the soil, over and above what he does at present, no
further steps would be required, and in any case nothing is to be
said against this system, so far as it goes, but from not being
accompanied by similar manurial experiments on soil which has
been tilled and fertilized to the utmost (as the Clifton-on-Bowmont
soil has been) through the agency of natural means, the conclusions
arrived at by the experimenter must always be incomplete. It is
evident then that in every case where ordinary British soil is used for
experimental purposes, soil of similar character should be raised to
the level of the soil on the Clifton-on-Bowmont farm and then
experimented on with artificial and other manures similar to those
used for our ordinary run-out soils. A similar course should also be
be pursued where grass lands are experimentally manured with the
view of showing the effects of various manures in providing more
and better food for the animals grazed on the pastures. In this way
only could it be determined how far artificial and other purchased
manures pay the farmer who chooses to use to the utmost, as I have,
the resources which nature has placed at his disposal. My own
experiments are too limited to enable me to pronounce a confident
opinion, but, at present prices of farm produce, they lead to the con-
clusion that purchased fertilizers, though giving an increase of crop,
do not pay after the land has been cultivated for a rotation on the
system I have adopted. But should the prices of farm produce rise
such manures would certainly be required, and after a considerable
lapse of time it is probable that, even with my system, certain soil
ingredients would become so deficient as to give rise toa demand
for purchased fertilizers. 