Apologises for keeping the tables so long [see 10090]. The results seem extremely curious.
Comments on paper by JHG and J. B. Lawes.
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Apologises for keeping the tables so long [see 10090]. The results seem extremely curious.
Comments on paper by JHG and J. B. Lawes.
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?
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.
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.
Returns the two books JHG had lent him. "I can plainly see I had better say nothing about the acidity of common mould."
Regrets that he has not strength enough to visit [Rothamsted].
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.