THE FARMER'S MAGAZINE. 



m 



THE ROYAL AGRICULTURAL SOCIETY.-PROCEEDINGS IN COUNCIL. 



The recent proceedings of the Royal Agiicultural 

 Society have been of more than usual interest. In 

 addition to the general business of this period — where 

 shall we go ? and what shall we do ? — there have been 

 two o;.' three special questions to consider. Amongst 

 other matters, the Council have proposed to find be- 

 coming successors to such men as Mr. Pusey and 

 Professor Way. They have publicly announced that 

 the Society required a new Editor and a new Chemist, 



To only a certain extent have these wants been sup- 

 plied. The new Editor, in short, is not forthcoming; 

 and the Directorship is still to remnn with the Trium- 

 virate. If these gentlemen can devote the time they 

 have hitherto given to tiie work, we see no reason why 

 they should not continue to conduct it. The lale pro- 

 position, indeed, by no means ignored their claims or 

 abilities. We take it to be no secret that this was but 

 another reading of the Sibyl's volumes. Instead of the 

 three editors, the charge was to have been confided 

 to one of them, with such assistance as he might 

 require, and at a salary of five hundred a-year. After 

 the question had been twice adjourned, the General 

 Council have refused to sanction this recommendation 

 of their Journal Committee. They have, however, 

 left three hundred per annum at the disposal of the 

 same editorial staff". Tested by the position, tastes, and 

 habits of Mr. Pusey, it may be some time before the 

 one right man turns up. 



The solution of their other difficulty has been appa- 

 rently more readily arrived at. With high recommenda- 

 tions and long e.Kperience, Professor Voelcker now reigns 

 in place of Professor Way ; and has already read him- 

 self into office. It was only, perhaps, when hearing 

 the opening lecture of his successor, that the Society 

 could have felt the peculiar loss of such a man as Mr. 

 Way. As a teacher by word of mouth — stripping science 

 of its technicalities and pedantry — there are few, in- 

 deed, equal to him. We never listened to any one more 

 easy to follow, or that so clearly impressed upon his 

 audience those points they should remember. Professor 

 Voelcker, in short, followed close on a well-graced actor, 

 and the comparison was involuntary. We should be 

 the last to damp the spirit of the new comer, but it 

 must be confessed that as alecturer he has something to 

 learn. It could scarcely be supposed that he has had 

 the experience in this way we know him to have en- 

 joyed in the West of England. As a writer on the 

 chemistry of the farm Professor Voelcker is clear, 

 plain, and forcible ; while his brother-chemists all tes- 

 tify to his great professional attainments. As a speaker, 

 on the other hand, he is often rambling and illogical. 

 The first half-hour of his inaugural address on the old 

 hackney common-places of Science and Practice, was 

 unquestionably a mistake. One almost tired of waiting 

 for what ho was coming to. While warmly welcoming 



their presi nt officer, the Society have given their old 

 ally but a cold good-bye. We think, though, this 

 want (if expression is more with the Council tlian the 

 general body of Members. Professor Way was, and 

 deservedly, a very popular man with the farmers; and 

 he will be so still. 



There has been plenty of work to do, beyond even the 

 consideration of these important appointments, and 

 many the references to the sub or working committees. 

 The Implement committee has, more particularly, been 

 called upon. First of all, they have to reply to a me- 

 morial from the exhibitors of steam cultivators who 

 ascended the heights at Salisbury. The point of this 

 ])etition, whicli is being fully canvassed in our columns, 

 is, that the steam plough should have a little more fair 

 play at Chester ; and this the Implement committee is 

 to look to. It is really gratifying to see with how 

 much good feeling the diflt'erent inventors of steam 

 ploughs are working on to the one great end. Mr. 

 Fowler and Mr. Williams are about to unite their 

 forces ; while Mr. Fowler, in a letter addressed to us 

 only this week, bears witness to tlie results arrived at 

 by Mr. Smith of Woolstone : — " Mr. Smith has kindly 

 consented to show his farm as a practical proof of the 

 value of steam cultivation ; and I intend to station a 

 suitable person in the neighbourhood, to wait on those 

 wishing to see it.'' Or you may have the effect of 

 such a system on the farms of Mr. Mechi, Mr. Ilobbs, 

 or Mr. Killin; and this very week Mr. Williams is to 

 begin on a forty-acre piece in the occupation of Mr. 

 Owen, the chairman of the London Farmers' Club. In 

 good truth, the steam plough is again looking up — one 

 of tlic most encouraging proofs of its progress being 

 the spirit evinced by its several supporters rather to aid 

 than to retard Chtch other. 



Then, there have been numerous suggestions as to the 

 trials of the steam-engines — the " Blue Ribbon" honour 

 of the agricultural year — with already a manifest anxiety 

 as to " who is to win ?" and every district with its own 

 favourite. And further, the President has called the at- 

 tention of the Council to the completion, this year, of the 

 triennial arrangement for the trial of implements at the 

 Country Meetings of the Society, and to a consideration 

 of the propriety of its renewal or continuance for the 

 future. Acting on this hint, a committee, consisting of 

 the members of the Implement Committee, and of Mr. 

 Howard, Mr. Shuttleworth, Mr. Caldwell, Mr. Hus- 

 kinson, and Mr. Amos, is appointed, with power to con- 

 fer with a deputation from the body of the implement 

 makers, and to report to the Council at their next 

 monthly meeting in June. It may be asked who are 

 responsible for all the good or evil doings of this Im- 

 plement Committee, and we give, accordingly, the ele- 

 ments of its construction: — Ciiairmaii, Colonel Chal- 

 loner; Lord Portman, the Speaker, the Hon. W. G. 



