PROCEEDINGS AT GENERAL MEETINGS. 87 



Swanston, and a part of Linlithgowshire was suggested as a place where a model 

 farm could be obtained. At that time Professor Low was in the Chair of Agricul- 

 ture, and gave his assistance to the Directors in considering the matter ; and the 

 result of the deliberations of the Directors was, that a very large sum would be 

 required to pay the rent and expenses of a model farm, because it would be con- 

 ducted upon principles totally different from those upon which ordinary farms 

 weir carried on, and because, while farmers only grew those crops which had been 

 ascertained to yield a profit, the object of a model farm would be to try unknown 

 experiments, which, in nine cases out of ten, would result in failure and a large 

 expenditure. Unless, therefore, the Society was prepared to set apart a consider- 

 able sum, the idea of starting a model farm was Utopian ; but he did not see why 

 the well-managed farms in East Lothian might not afford the same facilities for 

 field experiments which a model farm could afford. If some of those gentlemen 

 so intelligent in agriculture were to allow a small portion of their land to be used 

 for well-conducted experiments, the same results might be secured as by a model 

 farm at far less expense. Considering the great importance of agriculture in the 

 east of Scotland, he thought there ought to be some establishment connected 

 with chemistry in Edinburgh as well as in Glasgow, and perhaps Professor Ander- 

 son and the Directors might be able to make some arrangements to meet the views 

 of Mr Harvey in that matter. Considering the importance of East Lothian, he 

 thought there ought to be some chemical establishment nearer them than in 

 Glasgow. 



Dr ANDERSON said that Mr Milne-Home's suggestion in regard to certain 

 farmers setting aside part of their land and making experiments was being carried 

 on. The field experiments were being carried on by some of the most distin- 

 guished agriculturists, and they were carried on on a very admirable footing. 

 The gentlemen have been selected as those experienced in such matters. With 

 regard to Mr Harvey's remarks as to the chemical department, he (Dr Anderson) 

 made a proposal at the time he went to Glasgow that a certain part of the work of 

 the Highland Society should be done in Edinburgh, but the Directors thought it 

 was entirely unnecessary, and that the work would be better consolidated in one 

 place. 



The Chairman said he had no doubt that the remarks made on this subject 

 would be considered by the Directors, in case it might be thought necessary to make 

 arrangements to meet the wishes of persons in this part of the country. As to 

 the proposal to have a model farm, his idea was that, for such a thing to be of 

 real utility, they would require not oue model farm, but half-a-dozen. He thought 

 that the experiments were not so necessary on fine, rich, deep loam and soil, but 

 they ought rather to be made on clay and cold lands, and where there was a bad 

 climate. It was on farms situated on such districts that, in his opinion, they 

 required to make the experiments. It was not always the best land that was the 

 best to make experiments upon. He saw the peculiar difficulties of having a model 

 farm. After one was erected, there might be a proposal to establish others in 

 different parts of the country, which would cause great expense to the Society. 

 Most of the proprietors of Scotland had got farms of their own which they did not 

 always find to be very profitable, and he would suggest that it would only be a 

 little additional loss if they were to make a few such experiments as were desired. 



Mr Harvey said his idea was that they should have a model farm in a central 

 part of the country. He did not like the experiments of farmers themselves, as 

 they were often very carelessly conducted. They had spent a great deal of money 

 on the chemical department, and he did not think it had been worth ten straws 

 to them. With a model farm they would have ocular demonstration of what 

 might be accomplished. Mr Harvey further stated that he never for a moment 

 thought of proposing that a model farm should be established about Dunbar, or 

 within three or four miles of Edinburgh, where abundance of manure could be 

 supplied, but in a central district of Scotland — perhaps in some district between 

 the eastern and western oceans, and land not naturally in a high condition, where 

 all manure supplied shows itself more minutely ; then there would be something 

 like data to work upon. These were his opinions, and he was fortified in them 

 by present and ex-Directors of the Society. 



The subject then dropped ; and a vote of thanks having been given to the Duke 

 of Buccleuch for presiding, the meeting separated. 



