Thiselton-Dyer has asked on CD’s behalf for results of experiments at Rothamsted on herbage of permanent meadow land. Sends report and tables of botanical analysis.
Thiselton-Dyer has asked on CD’s behalf for results of experiments at Rothamsted on herbage of permanent meadow land. Sends report and tables of botanical analysis.
Apologises for keeping the tables so long [see 10090]. The results seem extremely curious.
Comments on paper by JHG and J. B. Lawes.
Discusses fairy rings.
Thanks for a copy of Insectivorous Plants.
Thanks for advice concerning preparation of soil for experiments. Will order the salts. Asks about burning soil or washing it with acid.
Thanks for invitation. His son [Francis] would like to inspect JHG’s plots.
Describes self- and cross-fertilisation experiments.
Asks JHG’s advice on setting up an experiment designed to test whether the cause of variation in cultivated plants lies in different substances absorbed from the soil when absorption is not interfered with by other plants in a state of nature. Can JHG suggest how he can get soil free of all the substances which plants naturally absorb?
Discusses in detail how to prepare for experimental purposes a soil that lacks nutrients.
Sends advice on preparing and washing soil in preparation for CD’s experiments.
Asks about constituents of burnt soil.
On burnt soils.
Asks whether vegetable mould has an acid reaction. The contents of intestines of earthworms and castings are acid, which leads him to inquire about mould.
The laboratory has scarcely any experimental evidence on acidity of humus soil and earthworm excreta. Refers CD to some sources of information.
Discusses acidity of earthworm castings. JHG’s reply will make him more cautious.
Would like to see W. A. Detmer’s paper [Landwirtsch. Versuchs-Stat. 14 (1871): 248–300] and S. W. Johnson’s work [How crops feed].
Comments on food value of white and brown bread.
Sends some books.
Returns the two books JHG had lent him. "I can plainly see I had better say nothing about the acidity of common mould."
Invites CD to visit Rothamsted. The experimental plots are at their best "as illustrating the vast influence of external conditions on the character and results of the struggle between the numerous components of an established mixed herbage".
Regrets that he has not strength enough to visit [Rothamsted].
Thanks CD for Earthworms.
Discusses the problem of accounting for difference between nitrogen in permanent grassland and ordinary arable soil. Finds castings of earthworms rich in nitrogen. Asks CD if his observations enable him to explain the source. If from below top-soil, it would be a considerable manuring.
Quantity of nitrogen in castings surprises CD.
Comments on papers: [J. B. Lawes and J. H. Gilbert, "Results of experiments on mixed herbage, pt 1", Philos. Trans. R. Soc. Lond. 171 (1880): 289–416; Gilbert, Lawes and M. T. Masters, "pt 2: The botanical results", Philos. Trans. R. Soc. Lond. 173 (1882): 1181–413].
Has never made sections to see how deep worms burrow – five or six feet is probable. Wishes the problem had arisen when he made his observations.
Declines invitation.