Report to the General Meeting. 
sxiii 
The House Committee have reported the execution of the 
various alterations and repairs required in the Society's house ; 
the progress of the plans for the arrangement of the specimens of 
wheat, and of the models and implements presented to the Society ; 
and the completion of alphabetical and classed catalogues of the 
books in the library. 
A vacancy having occurred in the list of the Trustees of the So- 
ciety, by the lamented death of John Charles, Earl Spencer, the 
Council, in unanimously electing Frederick, Earl Spencer, to fill 
that office, have availed themselves of the opportunity of recording 
on their minutes an expression of their sincere regret at his loss, and 
their deep sense of his private >4rtues, and of the valuable services 
he had so uniformly and unweariedly rendered to the Societv in 
promoting every practical object cormected with its welfare, and the 
general advancement of agricultural improvement. They have 
elected Mr. Grey, of Dilston, a member of the Council, in the 
vacancy caused by the transfer of Frederick, Earl Spencer, to the 
list of trustees. 
The Council beg, in conclusion, to congratulate the members 
on the steady progress of the Society in the advancement of its 
various objects ; and on the distinct evidences, throughout the 
country, of the impulse given to the national cause of agricultural 
improvement by its movements. They are more and more con- 
vinced, as their labours proceed, that, in every attempt to establish 
sound principles of practical agriculture, the indispensable neces- 
sity exists of combining the application of abstract reasonings with 
a careful collection of facts, aided by that discussion- of the rich 
store of practical experiment to which every member of the So- 
ciety, from within the sphere of his own local observation, has it in 
his power more or less to contribute, and especially at the weekly 
Councils, which will be held as usual, during the session of the 
Society, from February to August. 
By order of the Council. 
(Signed) JAMES HUDSON, 
Secretary. 
