320 
The late Dr. Voelcher. 
his scientific labours among the most intelligent of practical 
agriculturists, was the fact of his election as Chairman of the 
Club in 1875. Both before and since, he was a frequent 
attendant at the Meetings of the Club, contributed papers from 
time to time, and frequently took part in the discussions. 
As is well known, on coming to London in 1863, in addition 
to his duties as Consulting Chemist to the Rojal Agricultural 
Society, Dr. Voelcker commenced private practice as Con- 
sulting Chemist generally, and established the Laboratory in 
Salisbury Square, which is still carried on by two of his sons 
(Dr. John Augustus, and Mr. William Voelcker), who were his 
partners before his death. He very soon acquired considerable 
repute in this capacity, and gained a very extensive practice, not 
only in connection with Agriculture, but with many other 
Industries, and he was frequently engaged on important trials. 
In addition to such cases, he was from time to time called upon 
to give evidence before Parliamentary Committees, or Royal 
Commissions, in relation to such matters as Gas, Water, and 
Sewage Bills, the Agricultural Holdings Act, River Pollution, 
and so on. He was one of the Jurors of the International Exhi- 
bition of 1862, of the Fisheries Exhibition in 1883, and of the 
Health Exhibition in 1884. 
Such is a brief and very imperfect outline of the extremely 
active and extremely useful career of Dr. Augustus Voelcker, 
late Consulting Chemist to the Royal Agricultural Society of 
England. There is every reason to believe that those who have 
been responsible for the arrangements of the Society in the 
interest of its Members, have felt that the duties to which they 
appointed him could not have been better performed than he 
performed them. There can, indeed, be no doubt that he suc- 
ceeded in a remarkable degree, not only in the furtherance of 
actual improvements in practice in accordance with scientific 
principles, but in thoroughly gaining the confidence of tHe prac- 
tical farmer, and securing his appreciation of the aids which 
practice can derive from science. 
Not the least of the services which the late Dr. Voelcker has 
rendered to British agriculture is the training up of a number 
of analysts and consulting chemists, including two of his own 
sons, who devote themselves specially to the applications of 
chemistry to agriculture. Several of these were, indeed, in a 
position to come forward as candidates for the office in the 
Society which his death vacated, with no inconsiderable claims 
for consideration. The responsibility of succeeding him, and 
of maintainins: and extendinjj the union of '■'■Practice irith 
Science," which his father kept so steadily in view throughout 
his career, has devolved upon his eldest surviving son. Dr. John 
