10 



THE FARMER'S MAGAZINE, 



Cattle-Murrain. — Prof. Simonds delivered a 

 lecture on his recent visit to the Continent, as the in- 

 spector of the three national societies of the United 

 Kingdom, for the purpose of ascertaining the nature of 

 the Cattle- Plague or Rinderpest. This lecture occupied 

 2^ hours in its delivery, and comprised a narrative 

 of Prof. Simonds' journey through the north-west of 

 Europe, until he reached Cracow, where he fell in with 

 animals affected by the disease. He concluded his 

 subject by a statement of the symptoms he had observed 

 in the cattle affected, and the appearance of different 

 parts of the body on post-mortem examination. The 

 whole was illustrated by maps and coloured diagrams on 

 a large scale. He was requested by the Council to lose 

 no time in delivering in, for the disposal of the three 

 societies, his complete official report, in order that it 

 might with as little delay as possible be given to the 

 public. The Professor stated that he was intently 

 engaged in drawing up the required document, which 

 he hoped to complete in ten days from that date. 



On the motion of Lord Feversham, seconded by Lord 

 Walsingham, the cordial thanks of the Meeting were 

 voted to Prof. Simonds for the interesting and important 

 lecture hs had then delivered, and for the lucid manner 

 in which he had pointed out the real nature of the dis- 

 ease, and its total distinctness from pleuro-pneumonia, 

 with which it had been so frequently confounded ; as 

 well as their gratification to learn that there was no pro- 

 bability of the cattle-plague reaching this country. — 

 Col. Challoner remarked that he had attended many 

 lectures, but never one of more interest than the one to 

 which they had then listened. 



A Special Council was held on Friday, the 19th 

 of June. Present: Mr. Miles, M, P., Vice-President, 

 in the Chair; Lord Portman, Lord Berners, Colonel 

 Challoner, and Mr. Pain (Mayor of Salisbury). 



Ijord Portman, as Chairman of the Expenses' Com- 

 mittee, presented the complete report of the Committee, 

 which was taken into deliberate consideration, and una- 

 nimously adopted. The following is an outline of its 

 recommendations : 



The committee remark — 



1. That the average annual loss oa the country meeting 

 during the last five years has been £1,823. 



2. That the average annual expense of the" Journal," during 

 the same period, has been £1,602 ; and the average aanual re- 

 ceipts proceeding from its sale to the public £367. 



The committee recommend — 



1. That arrangements be made with the contractor, by which 

 the expenses of the shedding may be reduced : — 



(1.) By contracting the space allowed for bulls to two-thirds 

 of the space hitherto allowed for them. 



(2.) By charging the same rate for the shedding required for 

 the exhibition of stock, as charged for implements. 



(i.) By doubling the rate of payment made by implement 

 exhibitors for theslieddiDg they require. 



(4.) By an early settlement of the contractor's bills, whereby 

 a discount of 5 per cent, will hS made by him on the total 

 amount of his charge. 



2. That a change be made in the mode of selectiag the 

 yardmen, and in the rate at which they have hitherto been 



paid. At past country meetings they have been paid 73. a-day 

 each, on the condition of taking their turn at night, if required. 

 The committee recommend that the rate of payment should be 

 reduced to Ss. a-day, allowing 23. extra to each yardman em- 

 ployed in night work. 



3. That the number of judges be reduced from 33 to 20, 

 agreeably with the following arrangement: — 



(1.) The judges of implements to be reduced to two in the 

 field and two in the yard, the consulting engineer, in case of 

 difference of opinion, to be called in as umpire, according to 

 the practice hitherto followed in the awards on the steam- 

 engine. 



(2.) The judges of stock to consist of two for Shorthorns^ 

 two for Herefords, Devons, and other cattle, two for horses, 

 two for short-wooUed sheep, two for Hampshire Downs (for the 

 Salisbury meeting especially), two for loug-woolled sheep, two 

 for pigs, two for poultry — the stewards of the yard having the 

 power to appoint, in each class, a third judge, to assist in case 

 there should be a difference of opinion. 



4. That a more stringent limitation be placed upon the 

 insertion of descriptive matter in the implement catalogue. 



5. That the practice of erecting a pavilion for the society's 

 dinner at the country meeting be discontinued. 



G. That a steward of admission be appointed to each 

 entrance turnstile of the showyard, for which he shall be 

 responsible, he having, however, the power of appointing any 

 member or members of the society, or a paid agent, should he 

 think necessary, to assist him. 



7. That the local bankers at the country meeting be in- 

 structed to open an account with the Royal Agricultural 

 Society of England, to the credit of which all moneys received 

 by any officer of the society at the country meeting shall be 

 paid direct ; and that all payments at the country meeting 

 shall be made by checks drawn on such bankers, signed by 

 the president and secretary; or, in the absence of the presi- 

 dent, by a trustee and the secretary, 



8. That fresh arrangements be made in reference to the 

 appoiutinent of metropolitan police at the country meetings of 

 the society. 



9. That the amount to be offered for prizes at the country 

 meeting be taken into deliberate consideration, with a view to 

 a proper reduction on a permanent plan. 



10. That the showyard at the country meeting be opened on 

 the last day of the show, namely, on Friday, at eight o'clock 

 in the morning, and closed at six ; after which time the stock 

 and implements may be removed. 



11. That the attention of the House Committee be called 

 to the accumulation of many useless objects sent to the coun- 

 cil from time to time as models ; and to the great number of 

 books in the Societj's library, not of an ae;ricultur8.1 character. 

 Ti;e committee recommend that all which is not suitable for 

 the purposes of the Society be forthwith disposed of by the 

 House Committee. 



Journal. — The Committee are not at present able to 

 suggest any mode of reducing the expenses connected 

 with the " Journal" ; but they would advise that the 

 Journal Committee be requested specially to consider 

 whether any improvement tending to diminish the ex- 

 pense cun be effected. 



General Expenditure. — The Finance Committee 

 will be able to suggest such proper reductions under the 

 other heads of expenditure, as they may from time to 

 time think expedient; and the Committee advise the 

 Council to place the general expense of the Society on a 

 regular, and, as far as possible, on a permanent system ; 

 allowing of no additional order for expense, without 

 very full and extended notice to every member of the 

 Council. 



