2 12 The Journal oj Forestry, 



offered by tlie Earl of Wemyss and by Mr. IMaclagaii, M.P., for the two 

 agricultural experimental stkions in the Lothians, formerly sanctioned 

 by the members of the society. It was further stated that the 

 Marquis of Tweeddale was very anxious to afford the society every 

 facility for carrying on the field experiments on his property at Yester. In 

 these circumstances the committee asked permission to accept of his 

 lordship's offer if the available funds would admit, and thus form a third 

 station in the Lothians. The meeting readily granted this permission. 

 The convener reported that the directors had unanimously selected for the 

 office of chemist to the society, or scientific conductor of these stations, Dr. 

 Andrew P. Aiken, Edinburgh, at an annual salary of £300. 



Dr. Aiken sketched the course which he and the committee at present 

 intended to pursue in instituting and carrying on the experiments in 

 question. The aim of the committee was to ascertain, if possible, the 

 respective agricultural values — that is, the value to the farmer— of the 

 various fertilisers commonly used. With this object in view, a complete 

 set of experiments would be conducted, not only in the field, but in tanks 

 or pots in open air, and in pots and tanks under glass. Each station was 

 to be 10 acres in extent, and these acres were to be apportioned into forty 

 plots. On one part of the station they were to start with experiments to 

 determine the comparative value of the different phosphatic manures now 

 commonly in use; in another part they were to test the value of the 

 various nitrogenous manures along with soluble and insoluble phosphates. 

 On another part they intended to test the efficacy of the different kinds of 

 .salts ; on another part, the value of sulphuric acid. The continuous corn- 

 growing system is to get a trial, and so is the natural fertility of the soil, 

 unaided by fertilisers. It is also intended to endeavour to ascertain the 

 comparative results of using the common ammoniacal guanos, and the 

 artificial imitations of these guanos. The experiments to begin with are 

 thus to be confined to the various artificial manures ; but Dr. Aiken inti- 

 mated that the committee were not wedded to their scheme in its entirety, 

 but, on the contrary, would be glad to receive and favourably consider 

 suggestions from members of the society on the subject. 



Mr. Thomson, of Holms, gave notice that at next meeting he would move 

 that in future the large committee having charge of the show arrangements 

 for the year should be nominated, one half by the commissioners of supply 

 for the counties specially embraced by the show, and the other half by the 

 members of the Society resident in those counties. Hitherto the com- 

 mittee has been elected by the commissioners of supply only. 



