EDINBURGH TO THE ROMAN CAMP» 77 



spective of those whicli were comprehended iu the 

 August Show district of the year. Agricultural edu- 

 cation was provided for by a supplementary charter 

 of 1856, hj which diplomas were granted, and £100 

 is laid out annually in prizes according to the report 

 of the Board of Examiners, which comprises, along 

 with Professors John Wilson, Ba^lfour, Anderson, 

 Allman, Dick, &c., the well-known agricultural 

 names of George Hope of Fenton Barns, Robert 

 Russell ofPilmuir, John Wilson of Edgington Mains, 

 and Peter M'Lagan of Pumpherston. As far back as 

 1824, we fmd Professor Dick^s name as lecturer to the 

 Society on '^ the diseases of black cattle -/' and money 

 was then voted to set up a forge at his Veterinary Col- 

 lege, in order to teach the young farmers shoeing. 

 In 1849, Dr. Anderson was appointed Consulting 

 Chemist, and gives his advice from '^ complete ana- 

 lysis of a soil, including determination of Alkalies 

 and Phosphates, £3," down to "letters asking 

 advice on subjects within the department of the 

 chemist, 5s.," on a regular scale sanctioned by the 

 Societ}^ 



From the first, the Society's intellectual activities 

 have been boundless, and have extended even to bee 

 husbandry. Was it locomotion ? They were looking 

 after the improvement of the Highland ferry-boats ; 

 they were resisting the attempt to get rid of the 

 ancient drove-roads, and confine the cattle to turn- 

 pikes; and as far back as 1818 they proposed a 

 50-guinea prize essay on railroads. Was it cropping ? 



