Bejjort on Experiments ly Local Agricultural Societies. 261 
hunters was sound, and that it was appreciated by farmers and 
the general public as a step in the right direction. It was then 
for only five stallions, and the benefits to be derived from such 
a small number were of course of a limited character ; but it was 
the stepping-stone to something better, as from that beginning 
the Royal Commission has taken its stand. Twenty-seven 
stallions is still a small number to be spoken of in connection 
with a movement to increase the national stock of horses. The 
grant at the disposal of the Royal Commission on Horse 
Breeding is manifestly inadequate, and the insignificance of the 
amount appears still more apparent when it is remembered that 
other countries have spent millions upon what England has left 
to chance. The popular view of the subject has been made clear 
enough by all that has been seen at the two shows held under 
the direction of the Royal Agricultural Society, and it is to 
be hoped that future Governments will see the necessity of 
aiding in a cause that should be of the highest national import- 
ance, not only as an industry belonging specially to this country, 
but as a means of defence. 
XIII. — Report on the Experiments conducted in 1887 hy 
Local Agricultural Societies, in conjunction untU the Royal 
Agricidtural Society of England. By Dr. J. Augustus 
VoELCKER, B.A., B.Sc, Consulting Chemist to the Society. 
The scheme of co-operation between the Royal Agi-icultural 
Society and local agricultural societies for the carrying out of 
experiments in different districts was, it may be remembered, 
instituted in the spring of 1886. In that year four different 
societies undertook experiments, viz. : — 
The Essex Agricultural Society. 
The Royal Manchester Liverpool and North Lancashire 
Society. 
The Norfolk Chamber of Agriculture, and 
The Yorkshire Agricultural Society. 
Besides these, the Bath and West of England had already on 
foot a series of experiments of their own. The results of 1886 
are recorded in the report made by me in this 'Journal,' Vol. 
XXIII., 2nd Series, Part 1. (1887), pp. 252-73. 
The present is a report on further experiments conducted 
in 1887, the same societies taking part in them as in 1886, 
with the exception of the Yorkshire Agricultural Society, owing 
in great measure to the serious illness of Mr. John Coleman ^ 
