4 PKOCEEDINGS AT BOAKD MEETINGS. 



Gillespie, the mover of the motion at the general meeting, when, after careful con- 

 sideration, it was resolved to recommend the following as members of Committee : — 

 Mr Irvine of Drum ; Mr Walker of Bowland, C'.B. ; Rev. John Gillespie, Mouswald 

 Manse ; 'Mr R. Pillans Newton of Castlaudhill ; Mr Scot Skirving ; Mr David Steven- 

 son, C.E. ; Professor Wilson. 



The Board approved of the names suggested, and nominated Mr Irvine of Drum 

 convener. 



Cultivation of Willows.— The Secretary stated that the Report on the 

 Cultivation of Willows, for which a gold medal was awarded at the general meeting 

 in Januarj' last, would appear iu the forthcoming volume of the Transactions ; and 

 he read an interesting letter he had since received from the author, Mr William 

 Scaling, dated 7th February 1S79, relating the circumstances that led to his growing 

 willows. "Wlien a very young man he opened a shop iu George Street, Edinburgh, as 

 a working basket-maker, and whilst there the excellent taste of the Edinburgh ladies 

 urged him to attempt a more artistic style of manufacture, for which lie had [so much 

 difiicidty in procuring suitable willows that he decided on trying to grow them ; but 

 not being able to get land near Edinburgh, he took a piece of ground iu the county of 

 Nottingham. By careful selection of cuttings at starting, and attention to other 

 details, his willow-grounds speedily became the model ^villow farm in England. Taking 

 more laud he removed from Edinburgh to Basford, Notts, iu 1852, and has since chiefly 

 devoted himself to the willow cultivation as a speciality, and thus to the taste of 

 the ladies of Edinburgh is due the merit of the medal now awarded. 



Agricultural and Forestry Exajiixations. — The examination for the Society's 

 agricultural certificates and diploma, and for the Society's certificates in forestry, 

 were fixed for the 31st ilarch and 1st and 2d April, candidates being required to lodge 

 intimation on or before 15th March, with the Secretary, from whom further informa- 

 tion may be obtained. 



Veterinary Examinations. — An aiTangement having been made with the Royal 

 College of Veterinary Surgeons that the holders of the Society's veterinary certificates 

 are to be admitted members of the Royal College, the Society is to cease holding 

 examinations ; but, not to disappoint those students who may have entered the 

 teaching schools with the view of taking the Society's certificate, the examinations ^\^ll 

 be continued till April 1881, in accordance %\'ith the former rules. The examination 

 for the present year will take place about the middle of April. Candidates' names 

 must be entered before the 31st of March, it being clearly understood that unless 

 fifteen students enter their names, uo examination will be held. 



MEETING OF DIRECTORS, 2d APRIL 1879. 



Present — The Hon. George Waldegrave Leslie ; Sir James Piaansay Gibson Maitland 

 of Clifton Hall, Bart.; Mr Dingwall, Ramornie ; Mr Ferguson, Kinnochtry ; Mr Gillon 

 of Wallhouse ; Mr Hope, Duddingston ; Mr Kennedy of Sundaywell, Brandleys ; 

 Mr Mackenzie of Portmore ; Mr Mylne, Niddrie Mains ; Mr Murray of Dollerie ; Mr 

 Ritchie of Middleton ; Mr Ross, Bachilton ; Mr Smith, Stevenson Mains : Mr Smith, 

 Wliittinghame ; Mr Walker of Bowland, C.B. ; Mr Seton Wightman of Courance ; 

 Professor Wilson ; ]Mr Yoimg of Cleish ; Dr Aitkeu — Mr Ferguson, Kinnochtry, in the 

 chair. ^ 



Mr F. N. Menzies reported apologies for the absence of Lord Polwarth ; Mr 

 Copland, Mill of Ardlethen ; INIr Dick.son of Co'rstorphine ; Mr Irvine of Drum ; and 

 Mr David Stevenson, C.E. 



Letters were read from i\Ir Richard Hunter conveying his thanks to the Board for 

 the minute of sjTupathy recorded towards his late imcle— Mr Hunter of Thurston ; 

 and from Mr J. F. Curror, returning his thanks for the sympathy expressed on the 

 occasion of the death of his late father — Mr Adam Curror of The Lee. 



Chemical Depart.ment. — At the meeting of the Board ou the 5th March, the 

 suggestion contained in the minute of the Committee of the 26th of February 

 as to the chemist being authorised to make analyses was approved of, and it 

 was remitted back to the Committee to make arrangements for carrying it 

 out. The Committee accordingly held a meeting on the 12th March, when 

 it was suggested that the Directors should authorise Dr Aitken to act as 

 analytical chemist to the Society, as well as chemist in charge of the agricultural 

 stations. From the report it appeared that Dr Aitken produc'ed to the Committee 

 a leaflet containing the scale of charges now made by him, and which, he informed 

 the Committee was the same as charged by other first-class analj-tical chemists in Scot- 

 land. The Committee recommended that the scale of charges be approved of by the 

 Directors. A copy of it accompanied their report, and copies may be had 

 either at the Society's Cliambers, or direct frc m Dr Aitken, Chemical Laboratory, 



