PKOCEEDIXGS AT GENERAL MEETINGS. 13 



purgose. His object, accordingly, was to get the Highland and Agi-icultural Society 

 to recognise these district associations, and encourage them in their good -work. By 

 the exjienditure of a comparatively small sum in the way proposed, this Society had 

 an opportunity of confeiTing a substantial benefit on agrioulture which it could in vain 

 hope to do by the proposal to subsidise its own chemist in Edinburgh, so as to enable 

 him to make" analyses for its members at a reduced rate, or, indeed, by awj alternative 

 method that he had yet heard suggested. He was glad to be in the position of not 

 being called upon to offer any arguments against the Perth resolution, seeing that its pro- 

 jioser, Mr Hope, and its seconder, Mr Glendinning, were prepared to its being rescinded, 

 and were ready to accept the proposals he made in its stead. He might mention that 

 all analytical associations had been communicate<l with, and the greater number of 

 them had, at special meetings, considered his resolutions, and intimated their hearty 

 approval of them ; and the leading manure merchants also welcomed the movement 

 with heartiness, being convinced that the adoption of it would place the trading in 

 these stuffs on a much more satisfactory and solid footing. They would notice that, 

 by this scheme, the principle of local self-government which had been found to work 

 so efficiently and economically in this matter of analysis, was not interfered with, but 

 encouraged, indeed enforced ; at the same time, through the agency of this Society, the 

 work ol all the different local associations would be conducted on a uniform system, 

 both as regards the nomenclature used in describing the ingredients of manures, and in 

 their valuation. 



Mr John W. Hope (in the absence of Mr W. P. Hope, Leith , through indisposition), 

 seconded the motion, and in doing so read a statement on the subject by his fatiier, 

 the proposer of the motion carried at Perth — to the effect that the Society should sub- 

 sidise their chemist, so that the members might have analyses of manures at the same 

 rate as was charged by local analytical associations. He Avas desirous, he said, to 

 testify his sympathy with the motion of Mr Scott-Dudgeon, even though it was 

 apparently a cancelment of the motion which he made last year at Perth. It was 

 stated on that occasion, and since, that the large niajority by which the niotion was 

 then carried was due to a feeling of dissatisfaction with the Directors. He most em- 

 phatically denied that any such feeling animated him or many who supported his 

 motion. Their sole object was to obtain for struggling agriculture, at a time when it 

 was peculiarly wanted, assistance towards the better management of its affairs by the 

 much wanted scientific education without which he did not believe that agriculture iu 

 this country could possibly hold its own. The question was perhaps the most import- 

 ant which the Society had ever had to deal with, and it was peculiarly one with which 

 the Society ought to be associated. He hoped, therefore, that the Directors would not 

 only give their support to the motion, but by a hearty and prompt line of action, so 

 as to give it immediate effect, would set at rest the murmurings of disappointment and 

 dissatisfaction to which he had already referred. He felt bound to inform the meeting 

 that the Manure Manufacturers' Association, which now comprised 90 per cent, of the 

 trade in the United Kingdom, had been actively exerting itself towards the object 

 which the motion had in view, and had come to an arrangement with the agricultural 

 societies' chemists of the three kingdoms to adopt a uniform and simile form of 

 analysis which would go far to aid farmers in becoming acquainted with the value of 

 the articles they l)ought. He could vouch for it that the Association was most anxious 

 to see this motion carried out, as they felt that as the trade was at present carried on 

 they Avere oft-times gros-sly misunderstood and their goods very much undervalued. 



Sir Jamks Gibson Maitland of Clifton Hall, Bart., moved an amendment which, 

 .starting by way of preamble with the first head of the motion down to the words 

 "resolves to rescind such resolution," proceeded : — *' Remit the whole subject matter 

 embraced in the remaimler of Mr Scott-Dudgeon's proposed resolutions to the Directors 

 with the recommendation that they appoint a committee, comjjosed one-lialf of their 

 own body and one-half of members who are not on the directorate, to consider and 

 report to a subsequent general meeting of the Society." He thought it would be a 

 <langerous precedent if at a meeting held during a local show they passed any such 

 resolutions. 



Mr ViLLiKRS, Closeburn Hall, seconded the amendment. He thought the project, 

 the importance of which they all recognised, could be carried out in a more useful autl 

 orderly manner, if remitted to a committee, than if the resolution was parsed at a 

 meeting where it could not be satisfactorily discussed. 



Mr Nicoi.L, Littleton, regretted that the Directors would not accept the resolutions, 

 as thereby they would have regained the ('onfideiice anil goodwill of the membership, 

 wljich to a great extent they had lost. Gentlenu'n who said " No" evidently for<:ot 

 the tone and temper of the meeting which was held at Perth last year, and tliey were 

 evidently unaware of the feiding whicli existed outside this hall that day. Mr Scott- 

 Dudgeon's propo.sals were not so wild and revolutionary as some gentlemen would 

 lead them to in:agiiie. 



Mr Smith, Whittiughame, su2)ported the amendment, and indicated his belief that 



