PROCEEDINGS AT GENERAL MEETINGS. 31 



at what liad been done by their friends in Aberdeenshire. Tliey did not employ a 

 chemist in the tirst place, but they organised their ftve stations, and that being ilone 

 they then set to work to get a chemist to make analyses of manures and soil. Then 

 why appoint a chemist for life ? Let the Directors choose the best chemist they could 

 get ; but instead of giving a salary, they nught give fifty guineas, which would be 

 enough to get all that was required. He had received a letter fi'om the Marquis of 

 Huntly, who at one time was anxious for the appointment of a i:)ermanent chemist, 

 but who was now of a diiferent opinion. That was the view of a noljle Lord whose 

 opinion was worth attending to, as he had given the matter great attention. He himself 

 liad consulted Mr Lawes of Rothamstead and a gentleman at the head of agriculture in 

 Ireland, both of whom thought the appointment of a permanent chemist was most 

 injudicious. 



The Duke of BuccLEUCH said lie found from looking at the charter that they could 

 not do such a thing as appoint a permanent official. They would have to submit for 

 appointment annuallj' the name of the chemist the same as that of the secretary. 



Mr Milne Home said he knew it was not competent to elect any officer for more 

 than one year. But it was understood that a promise should be held out that the 

 appointment would be renewed. 



Mr RouGHEAD, Haildington, said he thought at one time that a permanent chemist 

 should be appointed, but from what he had heard his views had been a little altered. 

 He thought that Ijefore setting the experimental farms on foot, a deputation should go 

 to Germany to see the same kind of farms there. In Pomerania, he believed, they had 

 got a large profit from the experimental farms 



Mr Ferguson of Kinmundy seconded the motion of Colonel limes. 



Mr Smith, Whittingham, said he thought that they should postpone the r after, 

 until they were aide to go on with the business in an ethcient manner. 



Provost Duncan, Rothesay, said he thought it would be wrong if the Society were to 

 stop short of the modest proposal of the Directors. The real fact was that the 

 proposal of the Directors was the only common-sense view of the subject that had been 

 bi'ought forward. 



Sir Thomas Gladstone said he would suggest an addition to the motion, to the 

 effect that the appointment of the chemist should be provisional and experimental, in 

 order to find out how it worked. 



Colonel Innes said he was prepared to adopt the suggestion of Sir Thomas Gladstone, 

 to the etl'ect tlu,*^ the appointment of the chemist should be provisional. 



Mr Wilson said that in that case he was (piite willing to withdraw his amendment, 

 and give his support to the proposal of Colonel Innes. 



Mr Mackenzie withdrew his motion. 



The motion of Colonel Innes, as amended, with the addition of the word "pro- 

 visional," was then unanimously agreed to. 



Agricultural Education.-— Mr Hunter of Thurston reported that, in accordance 

 with the bye-laws passed at the Annual General Meeting in January last, and 

 confirmed by the General Meeting in June, respecting the bursaries eslabdished by the 

 Society, the first examination was held on the 16tTi November last, when Mr Alex. 

 Sutherland, Rampyards, Watten, Golspie, from Gersay Public School, passed for a 

 bursary of £20. By the regulations, Mr Sutherland requires to take the classes at the 

 Edinburgh University necessary to qualify for the Society's certificate or diploma. Mr 

 Hunter added that at tlie General Meeting in June 1874 the Society authorised a 

 memorial to be addressed to the>^.Committee of Council on Education, and that an 

 answer has been received irom my Lords acceding to the Society's suggestion that the 

 science of agriculture should be added to the list of subjects towards instruction in 

 which aid is granted by the Science and Art Department, on the understanding that it 

 is an experiment, and that the continuance of agriculture on the list of sciences aided 

 by that department will depend on the number of candidatesfor grants in that subject. 

 A syllabus, it is stated, will shortly be issued. 



The report was adopted. 



Veterinary Department. — Captain Tod of Howden* reported that the preliminary 

 examination in botany, chemistry, and anatomy for the Society's veterinary certificate 

 took place on the 13th and 14th July, when 32 students entered their names for 

 examination, viz., 13 from the Edinburgh Veterinary College, 16 from the New 

 Veterinary College, Edinburgh, and 3 from the Glasgow Veterinary College, and that 

 16 had obtained the certificate. 



Agricultural Reports. — Mr Irvine of Drum reported the premiums awarded for 

 reports on the science and practice of agriculture, and those oftered for competition in 

 1876, which were approved of. 



Forestry Department. — Dr Cleghorn, in the absence of Professor Balfour, 

 reported the awards in the Forestry Department, as well as those offered for competition 

 in 1S76, which were apiproved of. 



Ordnance Survey.— The Secretary, in the absence of Mr Dundas of Aruistou 



