PRELIMINARY NOTICE. V 



extend the operation of the Society's Educational Charter, and 

 to stimulate Agricultural Education. It is expected that the 

 facilities afforded for preparation, and the prizes and marks of 

 distinction proposed to be conferred, together with the publicity 

 which will be attached to the awards, will have the effect of 

 inducing provincial schools to devote attention to the education 

 of agriculturists, and to vie with eaeh other in qualifying pupils 

 for such competitions. 



" The Council and Committee recommend the Society to con- 

 fine itself, at least for the present, to the exercise of such influence 

 as has now been suggested. They cannot recommend the Society 

 to establish direct relations with provincial or parochial schools. 

 There are several objections to such a course. If prizes were to 

 bs offered, as has been suggested, to such schools, it would be 

 difficult to regulate the number, or determine the status of the 

 seminaries which would be entitled to claim them. Any attempt 

 to draw a line of demarcation might appear invidious, and would 

 be unpopular, and expose the Society to imputations of partiality. 

 On the other hand, if no such line were fixed, the Society would, 

 in all probability, find itself exposed to demands which could 

 not be refused without giving offence, and which, if complied 

 with, would encroach unreasonably on the resources of the Society. 

 The offer of a prize involves likewise the necessity of an ex- 

 amination in each case, at the instance of the Society itself: and 

 though the gratuitous and valuable co-operation of the learned 

 professors and the other gentlemen who constitute the Board of 

 Examiner.-!, will enable the Society to conduct the proposed 

 Certificate and Diploma Examinations in Edinburgh, the exten- 

 sion of a system of examination to the provinces would necessit- 

 ate a staff far beyond that which it is in the power of the Society 

 to organise. Other objections also might, if necessary, be stated 

 against direct intervention in regard to the tuition given at parish 

 schools and other local seminaries." 



Since, the date of the last Preliminary Notice, the Diploma 

 has been conferred on — 



William Brown, junior, Eddlestone, Peebles. 



Arthur James Hill, 14, Camden Crescent, Bath. 



CHEMICAL DEPARTMENT. 



This department continues to be ably administered by Dr. 

 Anderson. During the last two years many important subjects 

 have been investigated in the laboratory, and reported in the 

 Transactions, and others have been treated by the Professor 

 in addresses delivered at the shows and winter meetings. 

 After much consideration the Directors have resolved to 

 introduce, in connection with this department, a new mode of 

 obtaining reports of experiments in the field. These have 



