PEOCEEDINGS AT GENERAL MEETINGS. 35 



pursued in this eovintry, different districts differ widely in tlieir practice and aims, 

 and it is the desire of tlie Chemical Department to aid, as far as possible, in 

 improving and developing the agriculture of different districts in any way in which 

 chemistry can be of service. The scheme is at present receiving the attention of the 

 Directors. 



Anahjtical Associations.— The number of associations applying for grants this year 

 is fifteen — two less than last year. The number of analyses for which grants were 

 given was 182, and the amount of the grants £76, 10s. The number of samples de- 

 ficient from their guarantees was much less than usual, but there are a few so 

 deficient that the details will probably be published in the next volume of the 

 Transactions. Out of the 182 samples there were only twelve feeding stuffs. There 

 may have been more analyse<l, but only those having an analytical guarantee are 

 eligible for the Society's grant. All such guarantees as j;«?-e, genuine, concentrated, 

 and the like are quite useless. They give the buyer no indication of the feeding 

 value of the stuff. If feeding operations are to be carried on with any precision, the 

 feeder must know the composition of the food he is using. He ought to know what 

 he wants, and to see that he gets it. Sellers are frequently unable or unwilling to 

 supply the analyses of the cakes they sell ; but if farmers insist upon it they will get 

 it. Some years ago sellers objected to supply analyses with the manures they sold; 

 but they do it now, and farmers know what they are about in purchasing these. 

 The sooner that feeding .stuffs are sold in a similar way the better. If feeders would 

 simply refuse to buy a fodder whose albuminoids and oil were not guaranteed at so 

 much per cent., the worthless guarantees at present in vogue would go out of 

 fashion. 



There has been a gradual falling off in the number of analyses sent in by the 

 associations, and the drop this year is very considerable. The numbers for the last 

 four years have been 273, 262, 239, and 182. This may be due to hard times causing 

 a diminution in the number of members and the number of their purchases ; but 

 whatever the causes are, the fact is before us that the number of analyses returned 

 by the associations is not one-seventh of what was expected at first. It must not be 

 inferred from this that the connection of the Society with the associations has been a 

 failure. It has been a marked success, and has done an incalcvdable amount of good. 

 The quality of the work done is excellent, but the quantity is deficient. When the 

 association scheme was started, it was hoped that the members of the Society might be 

 reached through the associations ; but the committee feel that the members— whose wel- 

 fare they are in the first place bound to consider — have not been got at in that way. 

 Not one-third of the analyses for which grants were given last season were made for 

 farmers who are members of the Society, and the total number of members of the Society 

 who had their purchases analysed through the associations last year was only thirty-five. 

 It is one of the conditions attached to the receiving of grants by associations that they 

 shall make analyses for any members of the Society who may send samples for that 

 purpose, and that the fees charged to the member shall be lessened by the amount of 

 the Society's grant for each analysis. I am not aware of more than two instances in 

 which, during all these years, this privilege has been taken advantage of by independ- 

 ent members of the Society. 



In these circumstances the Directors have resolved, on the recommendation of the 

 committee, to give to the members of the Society privileges in respect of analyses in 

 a direct manner as well as through the medium of associations, and the following 

 are the terms of the resolution of the Board : — 



Members' Privileges in Respect of Anahjses. 



The fees of the chemist for analyses made for members of the Society shall be as 

 follows : — 



The estimation of one ingredient in a manure or feeding stuff, 5s. 



The estimation of two or more ingredients in a manure or feeding stuff, 10s. 



These charges apply only to analyses made for the sole and jjrivate use of members 

 of the Highland and Agricultural Society who are not engaged in the manufacture or 

 sale of the substances analysed. 



If the sample represents a substance bought under a giiarantee, and if it is found 

 to be notably deficient, the Chemical Committee shall take cognisance of such a 

 deficiency in the same manner as they do in the case of deficient manures and feeding 

 stuffs supplied to members of analytical associations, provided that the Society's 

 regulations as regards samijling are carried out, and that the seller's guarantee 

 accompanies the sample. 



Also, that valuations of manures, according to the Society's scale of units, shall be 

 supplied in all cases in which the cash price asked by the seller accompanies the 

 sample. 



The committee hope that the result of this reduction in the cost of analysis will be 

 to cause many members of the Society to put their purchases under analytical control 



