The Wohirn Expei-imental Farm. 
xxxi 
The President congratulated Dr. 
Voelcker upon his safe return home, 
and hoped that he had derived much 
benefit from his visit. 
Services of Mr. E. W. Voelcker. 
Lord Emlyn tlien said lie was sure 
that he expressed the feeling of all 
■who had been brought into contact 
wiith Mr. E. W. Voelcker as Acting 
Consulting Chemist in saying that 
Mr. Voelcker had thrown himself 
heartily into the work of the Society, 
and that his tact and ability in the 
discharge of his duties could not be 
too highly commended. The Chemical 
Committee had had under considera- 
tion the form which their recognition 
of Mr. Voelcker's services should take, 
and on the whole it was thought 
that the offer of the life membership 
of the Society would be the most 
useful as a compliment to Mr. 
Voelcker. He had great pleasure, 
therefore, in moving the following 
resolution : — 
The Council cannot allow their 
connection with Mr. E. W. Voelcker 
to cease without placing on record 
their high sense of the very able 
manner in which he has fulfilled the 
duties of Acting Consulting Chemist 
during the past year, and they re- 
quest his acceptance of the privileges 
of a life membership of the Society 
in recognition of their appreciation 
of these services. 
Lord Emlyn's motion having been 
seconded by Mr. iJE^iT and carried 
unanimously, 
Mr. VOELCKEE said he could not 
adequately express to the Council his 
gratitude for the very high honour 
that had been conferred upon him by 
the adoption of the resolution of Lord 
Emlyn. When he took the charge of 
the Chemical Department of the 
Society, he felt a very great respon- 
sibility, but. at the same time, a great 
privilege had been given to him. He 
was very proud to think that the 
Council, by their resolution, had 
shown him that he had done his 
duty. Without the cordial co-opera- 
lion of every one with whom he had 
been brought into contact, he would 
not have been able to fulfil the duties 
of the position. He thanked all the 
members of the Chemical Committee, 
and especially Lord Emlyn, for their 
kind help and assistance on every 
occasion. In connection with the 
Wobum Experiments, his especial 
thanks were due to Mr. Charles 
Howard for his generous counsel and 
advice. To Mr. Clarke and to all 
the officials of the Society he was 
very greatly indebted. He should 
always have the greatest pleasure in 
possessing the life membership of the 
Society, because it would give him a 
feeling of permanent connection with 
the Society, which he should value 
immensely. 
The Wohurn Experimental Farm, 
Mr. Waeren said he should be 
glad to be permitted to state that he 
had received a letter written on behalf 
of the present Duke of Bedford saying 
tliat his Grace was " only too anxious 
to carry on the Experimental Farm 
at Crawley as it had been hitherto, 
if the Royal Agricultural Society 
would allow him to do so under their 
kind guidance and advice." Mr. 
Warren said it was not fully known 
to the general body of members of 
the Society, and not even to all the 
members of the Council, what a large 
expense this experimental farm in- 
volved. The late Duke had gene-ouslj^ 
granted them a sum of from £800 to 
£1,000 a year for the purposes of the 
experiments. They would see, there- 
fore, how great was the value of the 
intimation of the present Duke that he 
would continue to carry on tne farm as 
hitherto. 
The PltESIDE^-T said that the sin- 
cerest thanks of the Council were due 
to the Duke of Bedford for his muni- 
ficent offer. He felt sure they would 
join in a most cordial expression of 
gratitude for his Grace's generosity 
in continuing to defray the cost of ex- 
periments of so much value alike to the 
Society and to agriculture generally .j 
A resolution in this sense was car- 
ried unanimously, and the President 
undertook to convey it to his Grace. 
Seeds and Plant Diseases. 
Mr. Whitehead reported his elec- 
tion as Chairman of the year. In 
accordance with the request of the 
Committee made at their last meeting, 
the Consulting Botanist had brought 
up a recommendation as to the issue 
