( iii ) 
3aopal ^HpuiiUural Society of a^nglanli* 
GENERAL MEETING, 
12, Hanover Square, Monday, May 23, 1859. 
REPORT OF THE COUNCIL. 
The Society consists at the present time of — 
78 Life Governors, 
130 Annual Governors, 
927 Life Members, 
4008 Annual Members, and 
18 Honorary Members, 
making a total of 5161 names on the list. The Council has 
elected Lord Leigh, of Stoneleigh Abbey, a member of the 
Council, to supply the vacancy caused by the resignation of Sir 
Archibald K. Macdonald, Bart. 
The funded capital of the Society stands at 10,000/. stock, in 
the New Three per Cents. 
The Council has appointed Professor Spooner, of the Royal 
Veterinary College, joint Veterinary Inspector with Professor 
Simonds, at the Annual Country Meetings of the Society. This 
step has been found necessary in order that every facility may be 
afforded for a thorough examination of the animals sent to the 
shows, more especially as to their freedom from any hereditary 
diseases, which might be tiansmitted to their progeny ; and also 
as to whether the state of dentition fully bears out the ages stated 
in the certificates. 
The Council has decided that Professor Voelcker, the Society's 
Consulting Chemist, shall investigate the following subjects : — 
1st. The changes that take place in liquid manures in passing 
through different soils. 
2nd. Experiments on top-dressing wheat and barley. 
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