Report to the General Meeting. 
xlv 
The Quarterly Reports of the Chemical Committee have 
recently contained satisfactory evidence that the quality of the 
manures and feeding-stuffs now supplied to Members of the 
Society is much better, on the whole, than was formerly the case. 
Articles which Dr. Voelcker has found on analysis to be of 
inferior quality, have been frequently ascertained to have been 
sold, not as " pure," or by the exact name which the jiurchaser 
mentioned in his first communication to the Consulting Chemist. 
In such cases the purchaser has no redress, and he should 
therefore be careful to ascertain that his linseed-cake is invoiced 
to him as " pure," that " Bone-dust " is not called " Bone 
anure," and so on with other substances. 
In consequence of the discontinuance of the Government 
returns of the number of animals affected with Foot-and-Mouth 
disease, Pleuro-pneumonia, and other contagious diseases, no 
record exists of the increase or diminution of such diseases 
throughout the country, or of the effect of the Orders in Council 
relating thereto. The Council, therefore, communicated with 
the Chairmen of Quarter Sessions in each county, with the view 
of obtaining the reports of the inspectors under the Contagious 
Diseases (Animals) Act, and anj^ other information in connec- 
tion therewith that they may be able to supply ; but up to the 
present time they had received reports from only 14 counties. 
The Shorthorn Society of Great Britain and Ireland having 
applied for rooms in the Society's House, the Council have 
resolved to let the second floor to that Society. 
The examination of candidates for the Society's prizes and 
certificates, including the Life-Membership of the Society, took 
place as usual at the Society's rooms, from April 13th to 17th 
inclusive. Six candidates having entered their names in accord- 
ance with the regulations, duly presented themselves for 
examination. Two of these, Messrs. Cathcart and Wilson, of 
the Royal Agricultural College, Cirencester, obtained First- 
Class Certificates and the Life Membership of the Society ; the 
former also gained the First Prize of 25/., and the latter the 
Second Prize of 15Z. All the other candidates failed to satisfy 
the Examiners in Chemistry and in one other necessary subject. 
By order of the Council, 
H. M. Jenkins, 
Secretary. 
