Monthly  Council,  December  8,  1909. 
XXXI 
His  Gkace,  in  opening  the  proceedings,  read  a telegram  expressing  Lord 
Jersey’s  deep  appreciation  of  the  sympathy  extended  to  him  in  his  illness,  and 
his  regret  that  he  was  unable  to  be  present  at  the  meeting  that  day. 
The  minutes  of  the  last  meeting  of  the  Council,  held  on  November  3,  1909, 
were  taken  as  read  and  approved. 
Forty-five  duly  nominated  candidates  were  admitted  into  the  Society  as 
Members. 
The  Keport  of  the  Finance  Committee  was  received  and  adopted,  together 
with  the  Balance-sheet  of  the  Gloucester  Show,  as  to  which  an  explanatory 
statement  was  made  by  Mr.  Adeane. 
In  presenting  the  Report  of  the  Stock  Prizes  Committee,  Mr.  Reynard 
Siid  he  wished  gratefully  to  acknowledge  the  continued  hearty  support  of  the 
Breed  Societies  and  others  who  had  assisted  them.  Without  this  help  and 
co-operation,  it  would  be  impossible  t»  present  a prize-sheet  with  a classification 
so  large  and  liberal  as  the  one  proposed. 
On  the  motion  of  Sir  John  Thorold  (Chairman  of  the  Committee  of 
Selection),  seconde<l  by  Lord  Moreton,  it  was  unanimously  decided  that  Sir 
Gilbert  Greenall,  Bart.,  should  be  recommended  to  the  Annual  General  Meeting 
for  election  as  President  of  the  Society  for  the  year  1910. 
The  Chairman  then  announced  that  Sir  Arthur  Grey  Hazlerigg,  Bart., 
Major-General  J.  F.  Brocklehurst,  Mr.  R.  G.  Patterson,  Mr.  W.  T.  Game,  and 
Mr.  Alfred  Mansell,  newly-elected  Members  of  Council,  were  present  at  the 
meeting.  On  behalf  of  the  Council,  he  extended  to  them  a most  cordial  welcome. 
The  following  Standing  Committees  were  appointed  for  1910  : — Finance, 
Journal  and  Education,  Chemical  and  Woburn,  Botanical  and  Zoological, 
Veterinary,  Stock  Prizes,  Implement,  Showyard  Works,  Selection,  and  Hairy 
and  Produce.  The  present  Members  of  the  various  Standing  Committees  were 
(with  some  exceptions)  re-appointed  to  those  Committees.  Mr.  Luddington 
was  added  to  the  Journal,  Chemical,  Botanical,  and  Implement  Committees  ; 
Mr.  Mansell  to  the  Journal,  Veterinary,  and  Stock  Prizes  Committees  ; Viscount 
Ridley  and  Sir  Arthur  G.  Hazlerigg  to  the  Botanical  Committee  ; Major- 
General  Brocklehurst  to  the  Chemical  and  Woburn  Committee  ; Mr.  Game  to 
the  Veterinary  and  Stock  Prizes  Committees  ; Mr.  Patterson  to  the  Implement 
and  Dairy  Committees  ; . the  Hon.  J.  E.  Cross  to  the  Implement  Committee  ; 
Mr.  Crutchley,  Mr.  Hobbs,  and  Mr.  Tallent  to  the  Committee  of  Selection. 
The  Chairman  said  he  was  sure  they  all  regretted  that  advancing  years 
and  impaired  health  had  necessitated  the  retirement  of  Mr.  Carruthers,  who 
had  been  Consulting  Botanist  to  the  Society  for  nearly  forty  years,  during 
which  time  he  had  rendered  very  important  service  to  agriculturists  in  securing 
improvements  in  the  quality  of  farm  seeds.  He  had  also  carried  out  many 
investigations  and  experiments  which  had  been  reported  in  the  Society’s  Journal 
and  formed  a valuable  record  of  the  Society’s  scientific  operations  in  relation  to 
the  plant  and  vegetable  life  of  the  farm.  The  advice  of  Mr.  Carruthers  as  one 
of  the  Society’s  Consulting  Officers  had  also  been  sought  by  the  Agricultural 
Societies  of  various  foreign  countries,  and  also  by  the  Home  Government  and 
Municipal  Authorities.  He  felt  that  the  Council  were  thoroughly  justified  in 
the  step  which  they  took  on  July  28  last,  in  asking  Mr.  Carruthers  to 
accept  the  Honorary  Membership  of  the  Society.  The  Council,  in  appointing 
Mr.  Biffen,  felt  sure  that  the  excellent  work  inaugurated  and  carried  on  by 
Mr.  Carruthers  would  be  continued  and  maintained  at  the  same  high  level.  In 
presenting  the  Diploma  of  Honorary  Membership,,  they  were  reminded  that 
the  connection  which  had  so  long  existed  would  still  go  on,  and  the  Council 
sincerely  hoped  that  Mr.  Carruthers  might  be  spared  to  enjoy  for  many  years 
the  retirement  he  so  richly  deserved. 
On  behalf  of  the  Council,  His  Grace  had  the  greatest  pleasure  in  handing 
to  Mr.  Carruthers  the  Diploma  of  Honorary  Membership. 
B Mr.  Carruthers,  in  reply,  said  he  deeply  appreciated  the  honour  that 
the  Members  of  Council  had  conferred  upon  hini  in  enrolling  his  name  amongst 
