PROCEEDINGS AT GENERAL MEETINGS. 



19 



There is a great decrease in the total number of samples analysed, due, no doubt, 

 to the more limited use of artificial manures during the recent dull times. Dissolved 

 bones still remain the chief manure, but superphosphate shows least diminution. 

 The numbers of special manures during these three years have been respectively 33, 

 22, and 15, and the last number contains some mixtures which were made according 

 to the directions of the buyers. In 1881 these manures were sold at prices averaging 

 29s. above their value, in 1882 the prices averaged 25s. above value, and in 1883 

 the average excess of price over value was only 9s., showing that not only are 

 farmers avoiding special manures, but they are obtaining the few they require at 

 prices not so intlated as in former years. If we compare the quality of the manures 

 during these years, the improvement noticed is even more striking. Taking the 

 three most important manures the number and percentage which fell below their 

 guarantees, were as follow : — 



Generally speaking, we may say that the proportion of deficient manures has been 

 halved during the last three years. 



Nut only has the quality improved, but instances of overcharge are far less frequent. 

 By overcharge is meant the excess of the price of the manure over what is found 

 to be its value, as determined by lanits of valuation. The amount of o\ercharge 

 will depend upon the nature of the units, and these fluctuate with the market. I 

 find that when due allowance is made for variations in market prices from year to 

 year, the numl^er of samples which were bought at prices clearly in excess of their 

 fair \'alue during the last three years were as follow : — 



ago, and 



Tliere is not one-third of the overcharging that was louud three years 

 instances of gross overcharge are now reduced to a very low number. 



I think the Society is to be congratulated on these results, for although there 

 may have been other causes operating to i^roduce them, there can be no doubt that 

 this great improvement is mostly due to the various means which the Society ha^s 

 eUiplcjyed tlirough its chemical department to give farmers a better knowledge* of 

 the nature and value of manures, and the best method of purchasing them. This 

 year there are again some cases of deficiency where the (.uscrepancy between the 

 guarantees and the stulf supplied are so considerable as to require publication ; but 

 tlieir number over the whole of the associations is not so great as was found in 

 the case of only one a.ssociation last year. 



The units fur the valuation of manures for the current year will shortly bt* 

 published. The .system of valuation devised for last year has been fouuil to work 

 very well, and the returns made by the associations have shown the extreme 

 accuracy of the units which were fixed last January. The average price of bone^ 

 last year was jt'8, 7s., and their average value by the Society's units, £S, Ss. ; the 

 average price of dissolved bones was £6, 16s., and the average value by the Society's 

 units t'6, 13s., ; the average price of superphosphate was £4, 4s., and the average- 

 value by the Society's units £4, 5s. The adjustment of the units will again be 

 made with the same careful consideration as last year, and if any meniljers of the 

 Society liave any ~ ' ion to make for the imjirovement of the system of mainire 



valuation, the Ch- Committee will be glad to receive them, and now \s the 



time to make them. 



Mr LiNUs.vv, Moadortiiat, said he was sure they had listened with great pleasure to 



