Abstract
THE object of this book is, we presume, the instruction of students about to be examined in subject xxiv. of the Science and Art Department. It mainly consists of such answers as Mr. S. Tomlinson would have given to the questions asked in the examination papers set by Mr. H. Tanner in the years 1876–9. It is difficult to characterise this incoherent pamphlet as it deserves. It is not merely inadequate; it is something worse than feeble; in fact it abounds in the errors, direct and implied, which a mere beginner in the study of agricultural chemistry would be most likely to make. We quote such statements as the following in support of our adverse criticism. “Some guanos contain phosphates,”p. 20. Where is the guano free from them? “The general composition of cows' milk is:—Water 858, casein 68, butter 38, sugar 30, salts 6;”p. 22. It is needless to remark that the figure representing butter in this analysis is the only one which approaches the truth. “Fibrin in wheat; albumen in corn,”p. 30. What is the distinction implied here between wheat and corn? “The use of soils depends upon their place amongst other rocks,”p. 39. Even if soils were species of the genus rock, their agricultural value could not be fairly stated to depend upon their geological horizon. On page 46 phosphorus is given as an element essential to the constitution of albumen and fibrin. But we will say no more, having already probably said too much.
Principles of Agriculture. Questions, Answers, Notes, &c.
By S. Tomlinson, Stud. Inst. C.E. (Bradford: T. Brear, 1880.)
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C., A. Principles of Agriculture. Questions, Answers, Notes, &c . Nature 21, 466 (1880). https://doi.org/10.1038/021466a0
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DOI: https://doi.org/10.1038/021466a0