PROCEEDINGS AT GENERAL MEETINGS. 29 



plots where the outermost drill on one or both sides of the plot produced the best crop, 

 This was owing to the accident of their having received more manure than their due, 

 for in sowing, a certain amount of manure was blown against the canvas screens or 

 thrown against them, and it fell down upon the outermost drills. The difference in 

 time of sowing exerted a marked influence on the crop, those first sown being larger. 

 This was especially noticed at Harelaw, where, after the first twelve plots had been 

 sown, wet weather set in and delayed operations for about ten days. These twelve 

 plots are by far the best on the station. The effects of thick and thin sowing were also 

 very apparent — ^that which was thin sown made a better crop. A fortnight after thin- 

 ning it was very evident that the thin sown seeds had made better roots, and had a 

 sturdier growth. The drought at Pumpherston seemed to tell most on the plots with 

 Tindissolved manures, and especially on those containing fatty matter, such as bone 

 dust, shoddy, drieil blood, and also rape cake and cotton cake, the latter of which was 

 not equal to the former. The miniature plots of l-112th acre in most cases, and 

 especially at Harelaw, seemed to bear out very satisfactorily than the results obtained 

 on the large ones of the same kind. At Pumpherston, however, on account of small 

 localised inequalities of soil, one-half of the small plots gave results which are quite 

 unreliable, and I suspect the half or perhaps the whole of them must be discarded. I 

 •will not detain you longer with details which at best are but an imperfect anticipation 

 of the accurate report which will appear in the "Transactions," but would only say, 

 in conclusion, that the season's experience which I have had of our experimental 

 stations convinces me that they are admirably adapted for the purposes of the experi- 

 ments we are undertaking, and I have perfect confidence in our being able to bring our 

 various investigations to a successful issue. 



Mr Melvin, Bonnington, said that during the season he had had the opportunity 

 frequently of seeing the experiments and the way in which they were carried out, and 

 he had great pleasure in saying that they were very carefully conducted. It would be 

 a great treat for any one to go and see them carried out. He thought the results had 

 borne out the great value of nitrogen and dissolved phosphate. They further proved 

 the advantage in carrying on experiments of not trying less than an acre and a quarter. 



Mr Hope, Leith, said that he did not think any greater good could be given to the 

 farmers of Scotland than by the Society providing them with the means of obtaining 

 correct chemical analyses under their auspices; and he moved that the meeting "remit 

 to the Directors to consider how the members of the Society can be put in possession 

 of the advantages at present given through local associations with a greater guarantee 

 of correctness." 



Mr MuNRO, Fairnington, seconded the motion, which was agreed to. 



Transactions. — The Secretary reported, in the absence of Mr Irvine of Drum, that 

 part of Volume XI. was already in the printer's hands, and would include the prize 

 essays that would be announced to-day, the premium lists, the proceedings at board 

 and general meetings, and other official documents. It would also contain a revised 

 list of members, and those who have changed their residences were requested to send 

 a note of their new addresses to the Secretary, 3 George IV. Bridge, at their earliest 

 convenience. 



The Rev. John Gillespie moved — ^"That a committee, composed of Directors and 

 other members of the Society, be appointed to consider and report what improvements, 

 if any, can be made in the 'Transactions' of the Society, and especially whether any 

 change in the present mode of procuring papers for publication can be introduced with 

 advantage — the report to be made public before the general meeting of the Society 

 in January 1880, with the view of its being disposed of at said meeting." He said it 

 had been intimated by the Secretary that the Directors acquiesced in the motion, and 

 he presumed that there would be no oppositioH in any other quarter. He might say 

 that theoretically the present system of getting tSae papers was unobjectionable, but in 

 practice it had not come up to the expectation that was formed regarding it. 



Mr Greig (of Messrs Fowler & Co.) complained that many of the essays were not of 

 practical value, and he thought that some practical farmer should be put on the ex- 

 amining committee. 



The Marquis of Lothian said he had no doubt that the Directors would see that 

 practical men were put on the committee. 



Agricultural Education— Bursaries.— Mr Mylne, Niddrie Mains, in the absence 

 of Professor Wilson, reported that the examination of candidates for the Society's bur- 

 saries took place on the 30th of October, when R. M. Malloch, Balhaldie, Braco, Perth- 

 shire, passed for a bursary of £20 ; and David Wallace, Balgrummo, Leven, Fife, and 

 Donald Brims, East Watten, Caithness, for bursaries of £10 each ; and that James 

 Sutherland, Wick ; William Chalmers, East Watten; Alex. P. Reid, Keiss; and W, 

 R. Tait, Wick, were awarded £5 each. 



Veterinary Department. — Captain Tod of Howden said — As Chairman of the 

 Committee in charge of the Society's Veterinary Department, I reported to the general 

 meeting in January 1877, that the Society's petition to Her Majesty the Queen for a 



