PROCEEDINGS AT GENERAL MEETINGS. 35 



■which exist among special manures of the same name supplied to the Analytical Associ- 

 ation are, I fear, not to be explained upon the ground of scientific selection on the part 

 of farmers. I know that there is a great want of accurate knowledge in such matters, 

 and that an immense amount of money is annually spent in the purchase of manm-es 

 •which are applied in a very haphazard manner. 



Farmers are apt to buy a turnip manure because it is called a turnip manure, and 

 they know too little about what ought to be the composition of the manures they should 

 buy, and still less about the composition of the manures they do buy. They take the 

 advice of the manure merchant, and I should think that a manure merchant with a 

 large practice and a knowledge of farming is, from his many-sided experience, excep- 

 tionally well qualified to give ad\ice regarding manures ; but what is most to be desired, 

 and what we should now earnestly endeavour to attain, is that farmers should come to 

 know for themselves better than any one can tell them what is the manurial treatment 

 their soils require for the production of the various crops they grow. That is a measure 

 of knowledge which can only be attained by careful and accurate experiment. 



Analytical associations have been doing good work, and some have a great deal of 

 good work to begin to, in learning how to buy manures skilfully and having them 

 analysed on the- co-operative principle ; but there is a far greater work before them in 

 the way of agricultural experiment, in order to determine what are the best kinds of 

 manure to use for various purposes, and the best way to use them. The money that is 

 able to be saved by a judicious purchase of manure is considerable, but it sinks into 

 insignificance in comparison with that which may be saved by the wise application of 

 the manures they buy. In the organisations which the associations possess, there is 

 an excellent opportunity for the formation of experimental clubs such as have been 

 formed in Ross-shire, and I hope that ere long the example set by them will be followed 

 by all the analytical associations in Scotland. 



It would take up too much of our time if I were to enter into any further details 

 regarding the analytical reports sent in, accordingly I must delay all consideration of 

 the analysis of feeding stufls and other substances until another occasion. 



I have drawTi your attention to a somewhat unpleasant subject, but I hope it will 

 have the effect of making farmers more careful in the purchase of their manures. My 

 remarks may occasion some dissatisfaction to certain manure merchants, but not to that 

 large class to whom farmers are so much indebted, and whom we all wish to see suc- 

 ceeding, the better class of our manure manufacturers who carry on a legitimate trade, 

 and are content with reasonable profits. 



SCIENTIFIC AGRICULTURE. 



Mr. Eliott Lockhart, of Borthwickbrae, submitted the following report by the 

 Special Committee on Scientific Agriculture, which was read and approved of: — 



The committee have given their best attention to the important (luestions remitted 

 to them, viz., " To consider in what way scientific agriculture and education could best 

 be prornoted and stimulated, and the results of experiments in all branches more 

 readily be Vjrought within the view of all who are interested therein," but before sub- 

 mitting their suggestions for the improvement of agricultural education, they think it 

 expedient to take a glance at what is being done in other countries. 



In all the European countries agricultural erlucation would seem to be more or less 

 under State management, notably in Germany, where there are a very large number of 

 schools, academies, and colleges, with farms and gardens attached to them. 



In America there are agricultural colleges in most, if not all, the States, in which, 

 however, with few exceptions, agriculture and general education are combined ; but it 

 is pointed out by Mr Johnston, in his evidence before the Ontario Agricultural Com- 

 mission, 1880, that " those institutions alone have Vieen successful which liave been 

 purely agricultural colleges, notably Michigan and Massachussetts, in so far as they 

 adhered closely to agricultural subjects and science relating thereto, and exacted a fair 

 •share of daily labour, thus making the theoretical ami practical go hand in hand." 



In speaking of the Ontario Agricultural College, of which Mr. Johnston is an ex- 

 president, he says, " It excels in its basis any other in America or Europe, excei)t 

 Germany, in these five cardinal points :— 1. It does not attemitt anything but strictly 

 agri(;ultural education. 2. It is not a mechanical or generally industrial loUege. 3. 

 It is not in any sense a literary institution, with a leaning to agricultural subject."?. 

 4. It places a.s much importance on a course of apprenticeship as it does on a course of 

 study, f). It makes manual lalxiur a stern reality as well as a name, causing its stu<ients 

 to j>erform the work of a farm of fjOO acres. " The onliuary courses of study extends 

 over two years. The whole expense is home by the l*rovincial lj<'gujlatiiri^, small 

 tuition fees being charged, but the students being jiaid for their labour. 



Turning to our own country, there is no State control, projterly .so called, although 

 aid is given in the following ways by the Science and Art Department : — (a) Clas.se.s 

 have been established at the Normal School of Science, South Kensington, at which 



