78 REPORT OF THE CONFERENCE ON GENETICS. 
nearer than it was. The diseases which used to carry off our livestock 
and other animals in this country—literally in their hundreds and 
thousands—are no more existent among us, and as one single example 
I would only refer to one disease stamped out altogether from this country, 
a disease which affected not only the canine race but the human race— 
the disease of rabies. I believe that the work done in extirpating that 
disease is a feather in the cap of the Board. 
But although I feel tempted on this occasion to speak at great length 
on the work of the Department, I would much prefer to dwell on the work 
that has been done by this Conference. I wish to say on behalf of the 
noble President of the Board of Agriculture—the Karl Carrington— 
and on behalf of every member of his Department, that we value ~ 
most highly the scientific work which has been done at this Conference. 
We naturally look to the economic side, and we firmly believe that 
you have it in your power to confer increased prosperity—increased 
economic prosperity—on all those who are engaged in the cultivation 
of plants of every kind in this country. Therefore we wish you most 
heartily God-speed in your work. We believe your work is capable of 
bestowing the greatest benefits, and that it will promote the happiness, 
prosperity, and welfare of mankind. I thank you for the way in which 
you have drunk the toast, and I assure you of our appreciation of the 
benefits which your researches have already conferred upon us, and of our 
good wishes for your further success and prosperity at all times. 
The Right Hon. Viscount Mountmorres rose to propose the toast of “ Sir 
Trevor Lawrence, Bart., K.C.V.0., V.M.H., President of the Royal Horti- 
cultural Society.’’ He said: Ladies and Gentlemen,—It needs no words of 
mine to commend this toast to the enthusiasm of this or any gathering in 
this magnificent’hall. WhenI came in Sir John Llewelyn reminded me of 
the proposer to a toast at the end of the evening who explained that he could 
say nothing because everything he had intended to say had already been 
said. That, I am thankful to say, is not my position. I could, if it were 
necessary, expatiate—even if, as our President has already said to-night, the 
twenty-four hours of the day were prolonged to thirty—on the merits 
of the subject of my toast, and on the reasons why, to-night especially, he 
is deserving of a most cordial and hearty reception at your hands. 
You are aware—everyone in this hall, I am certain, is aware—of the 
magnificent work Sir Trevor Lawrence has done for the Royal Horti- 
cultural Society. Twenty-one years ago, when he took over the presidency of 
the Society, it had only 550 paying members; it was a Society without a 
home, and at that time with no very definite objects. But it was a Society 
of honourable and noble traditions ; it had been one of the most energetic 
Societies devoted to the advancement of science; it dated from the 
earliest days of the nineteenth century; it had been active in sending 
out its collectors into foreign lands in the interest of that branch of 
science in which it was more particularly interested ; it had had many 
honourable and distinguished men occupying its presidential chair. But 
it had at that time, about twenty-one years ago, fallen on evil days, and I 
think I am not exaggerating, speaking as a layman—I am not exaggerating 
in saying that the world recognises that it is very largely due to the energy 
and the ability, and to the untiring zeal of your President to-night—the 
