254 Report to the Annual General Meeting, 



as during the preceding twelve months, this being 426. Special 

 reference has been made, in the reports of the Chemical 

 Committee, to Bombay cotton cake containing excessive sand, 

 rice meal composed mamly of rice " shudes " (husks), barley meal 

 adulterated with pea husks, and sharps adulterated with pea 

 husks and containing an excessive amount of sand. In con- 

 nection with the Society's Show at Doncaster, 36 samples of 

 Cider were analysed, but, in consequence of the cancelling of the 

 Cattle classes, there were no samples of Milk taken. 



26. If 1911 was an exceptional season for the Society's 

 Experimenta,l Farm at Woburn, 1912 was equally so, though in 

 a different direction. The wheat and barley crops, after looking 

 well at first, failed to ripen properly, through the absence of sun 

 and warmth and the influence of the persistent downpour 

 experienced in August. At the Woburn Farm there were no less 

 than 26 out of the 31 days of August on which rain fell. The 

 wheat, which was cut early in the month, began to sprout in the 

 shocks, and had to be threshed out at once , the barley, which 

 was later and was left standing until September, fared, on the 

 whole, rather better, but the quality was, as in many other 

 districts, very inferior. Fortunately, the hay crop had been got 

 in well and was a very fair yield. Root-crops also were excellent, 

 these including experimental plots of sugar-beet. An interesting 

 series of experiments on varieties of lucerne and on methods of 

 sowing this crop was carried forward, the best results coming 

 from Russian (Europe) lucerne, and then from Canadian and 

 Provence seed. The plots sown on bare ground were uniformly 

 better than those laid down in a barley crop. There were also 

 trials with different varieties of wheat — including French wheats 

 — and of barley. k.n experiment in the rearing of calves gave 

 rise to much interest and, so far as it has gone, has shown the 

 best results, as regards the animals, from the giving, in the early 

 stages, of whole milk, or of crushed oats along with separated 

 milk. 



27. At the Pot-culture Station, the Hills' experiments have 

 been carried further, lithium, zinc, and lead salts being the 

 special subjects of enquiry. More work has been done on the 

 influence of magnesia in soils, and on the heating and sterilising 

 of soils. 



28. During the season the Farm has been visited by parties from 

 the Glamorganshire County Council, the Leicestershire Chamber 

 of Agriculture, and the Tunbridge Weils Farmers' Club, as well 

 as by many private individuals. On July 23rd, the annual visit 

 of Members of the Society took place, about 50 Members joining 

 in it, while on August 1st the Council made its official inspection 

 of the Farm and Experimental Station. 



29. On May 8th an influential deputation from the Council 

 waited upon the President of the Board of Agriculture to urge 

 upon him the claims of the Woburn Experimental Station for 

 recognition under the Development Fund scheme. So far, how- 

 ever, no definite action has been announced 



30. Mr. W. H. Hogg, who has been the Manager of the 

 Experimental Farm for the last eleven years, has resigned his 

 post in consequence of his having obtained an appointment as 



