14 PEOCEEDINGS AT GENEKAL MEETINGS. 



opinion as to the evils arising from the introduction of disease. To that circular they 

 Jiad had a very favourable reply. 



Agiucultural Education. — Mr Mylne, Niddrie Mains, reported that the annual 

 examination of candidates lor the Society's diploma and certificates in agriculture, was 

 held on the 26th, 27th, and 28th March. The number of candidates who presented 

 themselves was eighteen. The examination resulted in five candidates passing for the 

 diploma, seven for the first, and three for the second class certificate, viz. : — Fw 

 Diploma — J. Bardgett ; Giris Chandra Basu ; Herbert W. Hamilton ; John H. Tiflfen ; 

 Henry A. Watson. For First-Class Certificate — Walter de Hoghton Birch ; Alex- 

 ander H. Gibson ; Arthur H. Kerr ; P. Lauderdale Maitland ; John Malcolm ; Henry 

 B. Mayne ; Robert R. Peter. For Second-Class Certificate — Herbert G. Aylen ; 

 Robert J. Campbell ; John K. Ledingham. Mr Mylne also mentioned that a letter 

 had been recently received from Sir Francis R. Saudford, Secretary of the Scottish 

 Education Department, sending copy of the Scotch Code for 1883, showing that the 

 principles of agriculture are now included in the list of specific subjects for which a 

 grant is offered ; and that agiiculture is there recognised by the Department as a 

 subject of instruction for pupil-teachers and scholars. He further stated that the two 

 prizes of £6 and £4 given by the Society in books to the class of agriculture in the 

 University of Edinburgh had been awarded, after special examination, to — 1, Alex. 

 H. Gibson ; 2, Herbert W. Hamilton. 



Forestry Department. — Dr Cleghorn reported that the examination of candidates 

 for the Society's certificates in forestry was held at the same time as the agricultural 

 examinations. Four candidates presented themselves, but only one second-class 

 certificate was awarded — viz., to Peter Reid. He also stated that a proposal to hold 

 an International Forestry Exhibition in Edinburgh next year had been for some time 

 Vjefore the public, and that, at the request of those in charge of the matter, the 

 Directors had named ten gentlemen to join the Provisional Committee in carrying out 

 the object in view, all of whom have agreed to act. Towards the guarantee fund the 

 Directors had subscribed £100. 



Chemical Department. — Dr Aitken then gave in his report. After stating, 

 regarding the progress of the work of the chemical department, that the experiments 

 at the Society's station have been successfully laid down, he said — "A large number 

 of schedules have been sent out to farmers in various parts of the country, describing 

 a simple method of testing the fertility of the soil, and so enabling farmers to discover 

 what manurial ingredients their soils most require. It is a small experiment applied 

 to the turnip crop, costing almost no money and very little trouble, and is capable of 

 yielding information which will enable those who try it to effect some economy in the 

 manuring of their land. The silo at Portmore, whose construction was sanctioned by 

 the Society at its last meeting, has now been built. It is made of concrete, and has a 

 capacity of about 170 cubic yards, and is capable of accommodating about 100 tons of 

 ensilage. The crops to be put into it are of several kinds, viz., about 8 tons clover 

 grass ; about 20 tons natural grass, cut from plantations and roadsides ; about 12 tons 

 of green oats, partly after lea and partly sown out ; about 30 tons of corn and peas ; 

 and about 30 tons of tares. These will all be cut and siloed at their greenest, and 

 kept during the winter under a pressure of about 200 lbs. per square foot of surface. 

 In addition to this silo, Mr Mackenzie is contsructiug another of slightly larger dimen- 

 sions to store the produce of 12 acres of natural grass and 8 acres of clover grass, and 

 also a sih; on the hill farm consisting of a pit dug in the dry earth, and intended to 

 hold about 10 tons of bog grass. The purpose of these experiments is not only to test 

 the suitability of silos for the preservation of fodder crops grown in this part of the 

 country, but also to furnish information regarding the value of fodder so preserved 

 compared with that of the crops at the time of cutting, and with the same when made 

 into hay. Intimation will be given of the time when the silos are to be filled, sn that 

 any members of the Society who are interested in the experiment may have an oppor- 

 tunity of witnessing the oi^eration." 



The Transactions.— Mr Irvine of Drum laid on the table vol. xv. (fourth series) 

 of the Transactions. 



New Veterinary College, Leith Walk. — Colonel Gillon said that in the absence 

 of Mr Hope he had been asked, as a member of the Veterinary Committee, and also as 

 an old convener, to inform the meeting that a new Veterinary College was being built 

 in Leith Walk, and that it would be opened on the 24th of October next. Principal 

 Williams had asked that the Directors should send a deputation to the opening. As 

 there would be no meeting of the Directors at that time, he thought the best way 

 would be to ask the Secretary to arrange for a deputation attending. (Agreed.) 



Destruction of Weeds. — Mr Macfie of Gogar called the attention of the Directors 

 to the advisability of proprietors and others destroying nettles and noxious weeds by 

 the sides of roads and banks of rivers. 



On the motion of Colonel GiLLON, a vote of thanks was given to the chairman, and 

 the pro:eedings terminated. 



