X 
Report to the General Meeting. 
The analyses of cakes, manures, and other substances, made 
by Dr. Voelcker, for Members of the Society, during the yeaur 
ending November 30th, 1874, were 648, a slight decrease from 
the preceding year, but still far in excess of those of some 
previous years ; and the Council have good reason to believe, 
that the action taken by their Chemical Committee in publish- 
ing the Quarterly Reports of cases submitted to their notice, i 
has had a salutary effect in reducing the number of inferior 
articles sold to their Members. The pricipal cause of complaint 
now arises in respect to cakes made from linseed not thoroughly 
screened. 
With regard to the competition for prizes for potatoes that t 
will resist disease for three years in succession, in twenty 
different districts of the United Kingdom, the Judges appointed 
to inspect the growth of the six varieties of potatoes which were 
entered for competition, and planted in trial plots in twenty > 
different places in England, Scotland and Ireland, have reported 
that none of the varieties have resisted the potato disease. 
A Special Committee has been appointed to take into con- 
sideration the Society's Charter, and to suggest what alterations, 
if any, are advisable to be made therein, for the purpose of 
bringing Members of Council into more frequent communica- 
tion with Members of the Society. 
Some important suggestions having been made by Members 
of the Society at the General Meeting held in the Show-yard at 
Bedford, they were referred to a Special Committee. On the 
report of that Committee upon those suggestions, the Council 
have resolved as follows : — 
As regards Mr. Thos. Chambers' letter respecting the Trials of 
Implements : that the Stewards of Implements and the Honorary 
Director should consider before the Council Meeting in June, 
whether any Programme of Trials can be arranged, indicating 
about what day the trials of particular classes will commence, 
so as to enable Implement Exhibitors and Members of the 
Society to attend those trials in which they are interested ; and, 
that the same be published in the Programme of the Country 
Meeting issued to the Members of the Society. 
In reference to Mr. Thos. Willson's suggestions, the Council 
are of opinion that the election of Members to replace those who 
retire by rotation should be left entirely to the Members of the 
