( xxxiii ) 
GENERAL MEETING, 
12, IIakover Squake, Wednesday, JIay 22, 1808. 
KEPORT OF THE COUNCIL. 
Since the last General Meeting in December, 4 governors and 42 
members have died, the names of 189 members have been 
removed from the list, 139 members have been elected, so that 
the Society now consists of 
75 Life Governors, 
74 Annual Governors, 
1409 Life Members, 
3888 Annual Members, 
15 Honorary Members, 
making a total of 5461, being a decrease of 97 names. 
It is with great regret the Council have to announce the death, 
on the 12th instant, of Mr. P, H. Frere, the highly respected 
and talented Editor of the ' Journal.' 
While the expenditure of the Society is yearly increasing from 
the greater extent of its prizes, and the costly nature of the pro- 
longed and scientific trials which are required for implements, 
the Council regret to observe this diminution in the number of 
members, and they are driven to the necessity of asking whether, 
if the Society is fulfilling the objects for which it was instituted, 
it receives the support which it deserves. In promoting the im- 
provement of the breeds of stock, in testing the quality and 
usefulness of the implements required for the cultivation of the 
soil, in making detailed inquiry into the relations of science 
with agriculture through the researches of practical and profes- 
sional men, and in spreading information by means of their 
Journal, their efforts have been continuous — and on the whole. 
