V] 



Report to the General Meeting. 



condite laws of nature ; and the celebrated Professor Liebig, of 

 Giessen^ has given to the world an important contribution to the 

 Theory of Agriculture. But on this^ and on every other occasion, 

 the Council cannot too strongly express their conviction that, 

 however splendid, as works of genius, such theoretical disquisitions 

 and deductions may be, the solid advancement of practical agri- 

 culture can only be steadily and effectively promoted by sound 

 induction from careful observation and repeated experiment under 

 the most varied circumstances of locality, soil, and aspect ; and 

 they trust that the motto of the Society, " Practice with Science," 

 wall ever be the guiding rule of its members in their efforts to 

 advance the cause of good husbandry. 



The Council have watched mth much anxiety the progress of 

 the epidemic among cattle and other stock, now prevalent in so 

 many districts of the United Kingdom; and while in the treat- 

 ment of this disorder they have perceived in the remedies proposed 

 the application of no new principle different from that assumed in 

 the Society's original circular, — as to its nature, on the contrary, 

 and its mode of action on the living economy, they require much 

 further information to enable them to decide on many peculiar 

 points of the disease ; and they have, therefore, resolved to cir- 

 culate among their members a list of such queries as they trust 

 will obtain a mass of facts fully enabling them to derive just 

 conclusions on the true nature of this troublesome and inju- 

 rious complaint : for, although not very fatal in its consequences, 

 its prevalence is the cause of much suffering to the animals, and 

 disappointment and loss to the owners in the depreciation thus 

 occasioned in the value of their stock. 



By order of the Council, 



JAMES HUDSON, Secretary. 



The Society now consists of 4262 Members, viz., of 89 Life Governors, 

 205 Annual Governors, 184 Life Members, 37 77 Annual Members, and 7 

 Honorary Members. 



