I'EOCEEDINGS AT GENERAL MEETINGS. 15 



term of the experiments, but will receive four different kinds of manurial treatment. 

 The small charts which have been prepared give an accurate plan of the two stations, 

 and a statistical account of the experiments carried on at each plot, and may be had 

 by members on application to the Secretary, or to Mr Tod, Pumpherston, and Mr 

 Burns, Harelaw, who are in immediate charge of the respective stations. I have simply 

 to add that the manures were applied to tlie plots and the seeds sown under my 

 immediate supei'intendence, and under circumstances which were exceedingly favour- 

 able, and that every precaution was adopted to secure the success of the experiments. 

 In this matter I have been much assisted by the energy of the practical agriculturists 

 in charge of the stations, and especially by the exceeding care and attention bestowed 

 by Messrs J. & J. Cunningham in preparing the unconmionly intricate series of manures 

 re(]uired for our experiments. 



Agricultural Education. — ^lajor Hunter of Thurston reported that the annual 

 examination of candidates for the diploma and certificates in agriculture took place on 

 the 1st, "id, and 3d of April, when fifteen gentlemen presented themselves, and that 

 the following passed : — For Diploma — John Henderson, East Elrington, Haydon 

 Bridge; Primrose M'Connell, Castle Mains, New Cumnock; William M'Cracken, 

 Blackball, Kirkwhelpingtou, Newcastle-on-Tyne ; John Edward Nonnen, Degeberg, 

 Lidkoping, Sweden ; Robert Wallace, Auchenbrack, Tynron, Thornhill ; John Bram- 

 well, Blackaddie, Sanquhar ; Robert Carr, Felkiugton, Norham, Bervvick-on-Tweed ; 

 John Johnstone Sharp, Leaston, Upper Keith. For First Class Certificate — Wm. 

 Malcolm Anderson, Deuclirie, Prestonkirk. For Second Class Certificate — John 

 Malcolm Aitken, Crielf; James Gillespie, Half Mark, Corsock, Dallieattie ; James 

 Spencer Innes, 2:! Fettes Row, Edinburgh. Major Hunter further stated that the 

 Society's prizes given in the Agricultural Class at the University of Edinburgh were 

 awarded, after a special examination, as follow : — 1st (£6), John Craig, Perthshire ; 

 2d (£4), John E. Nonnen, Sweden. 



Veterinary Department.— In the absence of Captain Tod of Howden, Mr Walker 

 of Bowlaml said— I have to report that the examinations for the Society's veterinary 

 certificate took place on the 15th, 16th, and 17th April, when 26 students presented 

 themselves for examination, and that the following 19 gentlemen pa.ssed : — John Blench, 

 Thornley, Durham ; Frank Bottomley, Oldham ; Wm. Henry Bridge, Oldham ; David 

 Crabb, Panbride, Carnoustie ; Joseph Darbyshire, Wigan ; Thomas J. W. Dollar, 

 London ; John Thomas Gregory, London; John H. Kirk, Edinburgh ; Edward Kitchin, 

 Doncaster ; John Malcolm, Woodside, Montrose ; John G. Muir, Mauchline ; John 

 O'Riordan, Limerick; Henry E. Poole, Toronto; William S. Pringle, Newcastle-on- 

 Tyne ; Adam Sievwright, Keith ; J. Simpson Walker, Kendal ; Patrick Walsh, Ballin- 

 robe, Ireland ; George H. Watkins, Tredegar, Monmouth ; Thomas P. Young, Edin- 

 burgh. The two medium gold medals, given to the students who passed the best 

 practical and the best general examination, were awarded to John Malcolm, Montrose, 

 for best general examination, and Frank Bottomley, Oldham, for best practical 

 examination. 



Paris Agricultural Congress. — Mr Irvine of Drum laid on the table a copy of the 

 report on the Agriculture of Scotland, which is to be presented to the Paris Agricultural 

 Congress. The volume, which is handsomely got up, contains a geological map and 

 photographs of various kinds of prize stock. 

 ' Tlie r>ECRETARY then read the following letter : — 



" Yester, Haddington, 4th June 1878. 

 "P"ar Mr Menzies, — My attention has been called to the report on the present state 

 of agiiculture in Scotland prepared by the Highland Society for the International 

 Agricultural Congress at Paris and particularly to the article on 'Farm Machinery.' 

 At page 150 of the report there is a paragraph as follows : — ' The late Marquis of 

 Tweeddale, with the assistance of Mr James Slight, engineer to the Highland Society, 

 thcj commenced a series of experiments with steam-power at Yester, and these promised 

 to result successfully, the land being well ploughed by steam, but the Marquis having 

 been appointed soon afterwards to the Governorship of Madras, these important and 

 interesting trials, though incomplete, had to be abandoned. This paragrapli not being 

 in strict accordance with the facts as known to me, 1 venture to suggest that it should 

 be expunged from the report. The following I believe to be correct : — The late Marquis 

 of Twetddale, with the assistance of Mr Robert Bridges, engineer, North Berwick, in 

 1848, alter his return from India, commenced a series of experiments with steam-power 

 at Yester, and these resulted siiccessfully, the land being well ploughed by steam ; 

 but the Marquis having discovered that the deep ploughing which he wished to carry 

 out could be more cheaply done by horse-power, the important and interesting trials 

 were abandoned. I may mention, in connection with this subject, that the last 

 appearance in public which my father made was at a trial of a new set of steam 

 ploughing and cultivatiu/ machinery, by Messis John Fowler & Co., of Leeds, on the 

 farm of Coalston Mains, and it was his intention to have had a plough constructed on 



