40 PROCEEDINGS AT GENERAL MEETINGS. 



between dissolved and undissolved phosphates, and showed that while the application 

 of dissolved phosphates produced the larger crop, yet the increase was due to the 

 greater amount of water in the bullis, and that the total quantity of solid matter 

 per acre was reaUy diminished by the application of that form of phosjihate. A 

 considerable part of that deficiency was borne by the albumenoiil matter, and thus 

 a marked diminution in the feeding (juality of the bulbs was indicated. The estima- 

 tion of the ash also showeil that the decrease of animal food per acre was accompanied 

 liy an increased abstraction of mineral matter from the soil ; and it seemed as if 

 tlie application of phosphates in the dissolved form to the turnip crop had the 

 effect of hastening the impoverishment of the land without proiiortionately enriching 

 the animals fed on it. He thought it expedient to lay before them, at the earliest 

 opportunity, some of the results obtained with the barley crop upon the correspond- 

 ing plots at the other experimental station during the season just past. The seed 

 was so^^1l on the 21st May, but, owing to the cold sunless summer, the crop was not 

 ripe until the last week of September. That long period of four months was 

 favouralile to the growth of the crops, whicli had received slow-acting manures ; 

 and from observations taking during frequent visits, it was noticed that these plots 

 made a gi'o\\'th late in the season, which they could not have done had the summer 

 been hot and dry. Of the phosphate plots, it was noticed that those with dissolved 

 phosphates were the first to rii^en, and this corresponded with what was observed 

 regarding the turnip crop of the former season at both stations. The advantage 

 was in favour of the dissolved phosphates in every iustance except in the case of 

 one plot ; and thLs exception was able to be satisfactorily accounted foi'— the soil on 

 that jslot, owing to a treatment it received before coming under their care, being 

 superior to any other on the station. From the results obtained at Pumpherston, 

 it was apparent that the barley grown on the plots with undissolved phosphate con- 

 tained a larger percentage of water, and was less regular in its composition. The 

 increase of solid matter in the barley grown with dissolved phosphates amounted to 

 full 1| per cent. The dissolved phosphates produced 182 lbs. per acre, or about 18 

 ]ier cent, more solid matter per acre than the others. The analysis of this solid 

 matter showed that, unlike the case of the turnips, a considerable proportion of that 

 increase was due to albumeuoid matter, the increase amounting on the average to 

 about 1 per cent. As regards the amount of mineral matter contained in the crop, 

 it was found, as iu the case of the turnips, that those crops which received dissolved 

 phosjihates contained the most. In view of the interest which had recently attached 

 to the question of the action of phosphates on the turnip crop, a yearly investiga- 

 tion of that subject was much to be desired ; and it was with pleasure that he had 

 to acknowledge the obligation they were under to the Marquis of Tweeddale, who had 

 this season repeated some of the more important of their experiments with phosphates 

 upon the home farm of Yestermains. The detailed results of these experiments would, 

 be published in the " Transactions" along with the results of their own stations, as it 

 was Lord Tweeddale's intention that they should form an adjimct to the experiments 

 of the Society, and be continued year after year. He conducted a series of pot experi- 

 ments under glass at Libertou. They were an exact duplicate of the Society's plots, 

 laid down with great accuracy, and were put imder the care of Mr Thomas White, 

 to whose skill and attention the success of the experiments is due. The residts 

 obtained in the phosphate pots were quite confirmatory of those obtained iu the 

 field. Here the dissolved phosphates produced half as much again as the undissolved, 

 both in grain and straw. 



Hall a>d Chambers. — Mr Johx Ord Mackenzie of Dolphinton gave in the 

 report of tlie Hall and Chambers Committee, which was to the effect that they held two 

 meetings — namely, on the 17th December and 6th .January — when, after very careful 

 inquiry, it was resolved to report that they had failed to find suitable premises in the 

 Old TowTi, and that only three alternatives appeared to them — First, That tlie present 

 liall lie converted into a laboratory, and accommodation for the general meetings found 

 outside ; or, second, that rooms be rented in India Buildings for a laboratory ; or, 

 third, that the Directors be authorised to purchase any suitable premises that may 

 come into the market, whether in the Old or New Town. The Directors approved of 

 this report ; and Mr Mackenzie suggested that the matter should be remitted back 

 to the committee with sucli instructions as the present meeting might think proper to 

 give. 



The noble Chairman said he thought it was very doubtful whether a general meet- 

 ing like this would give any definite instructions. 



Mr Mackenzie of Portmore said it would be utterly impossible to buy premises if 

 the committee had to come and get the sanction of the general meeting. If it were 

 known that the Society was in the market for certain premises, their cost would be 

 certain to be up 60 or 100 per cent. It would be better if the Society could be induced 

 to give the Hall and Chambers Committee some instructions. 



The noble Chair.man thought there coidd not be a better way of raising the value 



