xviii Report to the General Meeting. 



6. The results of drilling wheat or harley at different distances 



with the same quantities of seed ; and also with varied 

 quantities of seed per acre £10 



7. On. the early or late sowing of root crops 10 



8. On the compai'ative advantages of sowing beans in spring 



and autumn 10 



9. Any other agricultural subject 10 



Professor Way, the Consulting Chemist to the Society, has 

 delivered to the Members a second time his lecture on the 

 chemical composition of the waters of land-drainage, for the 

 purpose of detailing the further progress of his researches on that 

 subject ; and the Council have adopted a new^ scale of charges to 

 be made to those Members of the Society who may avail them- 

 selves of their privilege of consulting him, or obtaining from his 

 laboratory chemical analyses, at reduced rates. Professor 

 Simonds, the Veterinary Inspector of the Society, has delivered 

 the concluding portion of his lecture on destructive parasites 

 attacking the internal organs of the body in the case of different 

 domesticated animals. 



The Country ^Meeting at Chelmsford has proved eminently 

 successful in carrying out the objects of the Society, although 

 the expenses incurred have entailed a heavy charge on its general 

 funds. The interest attached to the exhibition of live stock, on 

 that occasion, Avas increased by the great number of horses shown 

 for the Local Committee's Special Prizes, and the select Speci- 

 mens of Foreign Stock sent over to the meeting at great ex- 

 pense by the French Government, as a token of friendly regard 

 towards the Society and its national objects. The implements 

 gave evidence of distinct improvement in their simplicity and 

 efficiency ; and the trials in the field, as well as the public work- 

 ing of machinery in the show-yard, were witnessed with deep 

 interest by a numerous concourse of spectators. The reaping- 

 machines and steam-cultivators were reserved for subsequent 

 trial ; and the Council have voted to Mr. Fisher Hobbs their best 

 acknowledgments of the kind manner in which he offered his land 

 for the purposes of that trial, which took place in August last ; 

 for the liberality with which he placed men and horses at the 

 disposal of the Stewards and Judges for working the machinery ; 



