_Investigation of Cultivated Soils._—All this opposition was largely due to the prejudices engendered by the futile attempts to deduce practically useful results from the chemical analysis of _soils long cultivated_, without first studying the less complex phenomena of _virgin_ soils; and these prejudices persisted longest in the United States, even though in Europe the reaction against the hasty rejection of chemical soil work had begun some time before; as is evidenced by the methods employed at the Rothamsted Experimental Farm in England, the Agricultural College of France, the Russian agronomic surveys, and at several points in Germany. In none of these cases, however, more than the purely chemical or physico-chemical standpoint was assumed; although in Russia at least, virgin soils were easily obtainable and their native growth verifiable; and were actually in part made the subject of chemical investigation. In the course of their work, Owen and Peter always carefully recorded the native vegetation of the soils collected; but neither seems to have formulated definitely the idea that such vegetation might be made the basis of direct correlation of soil-composition with cultural experience. Owen repeatedly expressed to the writer his conviction that such a correlation could be definitely established by close study; but early death prevented his personal elaboration of the results of his work. Peter likewise stoutly maintained to the last his conviction that soil analysis was the key to the forecasting of cultural possibilities; but not being a botanist he did not see his way to put such forecasts into definite form. _Change of Views._