284 BOARD OF AGRICULTURE. [Jan. 



The Royal Society holds examinations to test the qualifica- 

 tion of individuals in the following-named subjects, and 

 gives suitable rewards or certificates for successful passing 

 of the same. They are divided into senior and junior. 



The latest list of examination papers at my command is 

 for 1889, and these are given as a sample : — 



Senior Examinations, 1889. 

 I. Examination in agriculture, written and oral. 

 II. Examination in book-keeping, neatness and rapidity of 

 working considered. 



III. Examination in chemistry : a, general chemistry ; 5, 



agricultural chemistry. 



IV. Examination in mensuration and land surveying. 

 V. Examination in agricultural engineering. 



VI. Examination in botany. 

 VII. Examination in geology. 

 VIII. Examination in anatomy and physiology. 



Junior Examinations, 1889. 

 I. Examination in agriculture. 

 II. Examination in elementary chemistry. 



III. Examination in mechanics and natural philosophy. 



IV. Examination in mensuration and land surveying. 



I have stated at some length those characteristics of the 

 Royal Society of England, for which it commands the 

 respect, and interest in its welfare, of everyone who knows 

 about its work, which is strictly and purely agricultural, 

 in the most advanced sense ; and I desire to have our 

 agriculturists thus become familiar with its system of work. 



It has set an example, which has been approved and fol- 

 lowed by the New York State Agricultural Society, in its 

 system of fairs, and, to a more lim'ted extent, otherwise. 

 It has been the aim of the Bay State Agricultural Society to 

 also adopt its system of fairs, at the three exhibitions which 

 it has held, so far as its facilities and opportunities have 

 allowed. There is, of course, a greater liability to financial 

 loss in such a fair, where agricultural exhibits are solely 

 relied upon to draw admission payments, and other methods 

 are not adopted as an offset to a possibility of loss ; but the 

 State of New York recognizes their value, and makes an 



