890= 62-/ The Royal Agricultural Society of England. 
These two periods in the history of the ' Journal ' were, ten 
years ago, succeeded by a third. The Prize-system had become 
inadequate to supply sufficiently meritorious essays upon the 
subjects which then began to demand attention. Our agri- 
culture had become more scientific, and our food-supplies more 
dependent upon the wants and crops of other nations. There- 
fore the information required by the Society's Members was 
in most cases of such a nature as to require a special investiga- 
tion by a trained mind, or a special journey to a foreign country. 
Realising this alteration in the circumstances of agriculture, the 
Journal Committee gradually modified their practice in the 
conduct of the 'Journal,' until, as at the present time, and for 
some years past, each half-yearly number may be regarded as a 
collection of exhaustive essays upon their several subjects, not 
the least useful and interesting being the Official Reports on 
scientific investigations — Veterinary, Chemical, Botanical — and 
on practical competitions for prizes offered for Farms, Live- 
stock, and Implements. 
Its usefulness. Notwithstanding these alterations in the system of conducting 
the ' Journal,' in conformity with the spirit of the times when 
they were made, it may be safely asserted that no other publica- 
tion bearing upon agriculture contains such an amount of useful 
matter connected with so little that is irrelevant. The Chair- 
men of the Journal Committee (who, until the last twenty years, 
were also the editors of the ' Journal ') are singularly few in 
number, namely, Mr. Pusey, Sir H. S. Meysey Thompson, and 
Mr. Dent ; and the result of their successive labours is a most 
valuable magazine of facts, figures, and principles, elucidating 
the Science and Practice, as well as the History, of European 
Agriculture. 
Agricultural Education. — The Society has made many efforts to carry out 
education. the seventh "Object" enumerated in the Charter, • namely, " to 
take measures for the improvement of the education of those 
who depend upon the cultivation of the soil for their support." 
Many schemes have been tried, and all have more or less failed. 
At the present moment the only measures taken with a view 
to stimulate purely agricultural education are the encouragement 
of young men at College and boys at school to a^ply them- 
selves to the study of agriculture, and the sciences which are 
most necessary to its successful practice. 
Senior The Senior Examination, chiefly applicable to young men 
Examination, leaving College, is held every April ; prizes and certificates are 
offered to the successful candidates, and every First-class Cer- 
tificate carries with it the Life-Membership of the Society. 
Very few candidates present themselves for examination ; and 
