Reports of Committees. 
xxxvii 
working of the Fertilisers and 
Feeding Stuffs Act had been very- 
similar to that reported last month. 
Two samples had been sent which 
were known to have come out below 
the guarantee given, but no further 
steps appeared to have been taken in 
either case. In one case an order had 
been given for linseed cake, but when 
a sample was submitted the word 
“linseed” had been struck out of the 
delivery note, and the name “ Dyeff- 
kin ” substituted, a label having been 
pasted on the note, which had printed 
on it, “ We sell this cake as being of 
the usual merchantable quality of the 
brand named ; exact composition un- 
known.” This, of course, supplied no 
guarantee whatever. 
On the motion of Viscount Emlyn, 
the Quarterly Report of the Committee 
was adopted, and ordered to be 
printed in the next number of the 
Society’s Journal (see p. 127). 
Seeds and Plant Diseases. 
Mr. Ashworth reported that the 
Consulting Botanist had dealt with 
an inquiry as to the best means of 
extirpating ColcMcum, or autumn 
crocus, a plant which was poisonous 
to cattle. Lord Moreton had men- 
tioned that be had succeeded in con- 
siderably reducing the growth of 
this plant by stabbing it in the 
ground whilst in leaf. This plan had 
t he effect of starving the roots and so 
destroying the plant. An inquiry had 
been received as to the presence of 
ergot amongst oats to be sown as 
seed. The Consulting Botanist had 
examined the seed, and had found 
that it contained an admixture of rye, 
which probably accounted for the 
presence of the ergot. Although 
ergot had not hitherto been known to 
attack oats, there was no reason why 
it should not do so, as all gramineous 
plants were liable to ergot, and under 
the circumstances it would be wiser 
not to sow the seed. The Committee 
recommended that in future it be 
known as the “ Botanical and Zoo- 
logical Committee,” instead of the 
“ Seeds and Plant. Diseases Com- 
mittee,” as it was considered that the 
latter title did not adequately indicate 
the nature of the subjects with which 
it dealt 
Veterinary. 
Sir John Thorold (Chairman) 
reported that the Special Committee 
on Abortion in Cattle had met on the 
afternoon of Monday, March 5, and 
had examined three witnesses. A 
considerable number of replies bad 
been received to the Society’s circular 
letters of inquiry upon the subject, 
and these were in the hands of Pro- 
fessor Brown for examination and 
analysis. The Special Committee 
would again meet on Monday, April 
2 next, when further witnesses would 
be examined. A communication had 
been received from the Highland and 
Agricultural Society of Scotland, for- 
warding copies of a resolution passed 
by the Board of Directors on the sub- 
ject of the fraudulent sale of foreign 
meat, and suggesting that the Society 
should take similar action. After some 
discussion, it had been resolved to 
recommend that the following resolu- 
tion of the Highland Society be adop- 
ted by the Council and forwarded to 
the Board of Agriculture : 
That the Council desire to urge upon the 
Board of Agricidture the extreme import- 
ance of taking immediate steps to prevent 
the sale of foreign meat in name and form 
of British meat, and, if necessary, of calling 
upon the Government to introduce such a 
measure as would enable the authorities to 
effectually put an end to this fraudulent 
practice. 
The Examiners in Cattle Pathology 
for the Diploma of the Royal College 
of Veterinary Surgeons in 1893 had 
reported that the following gentlemen, 
placed in order of merit, were 
entitled to the medals offered by the 
Society : — 
(1) Mr. H. T. Sawyer, Veterinary- 
Lieutenant, A.V.D., care of 
Veterinary-ColonelLambert.C.B., 
5, King Street, Westminster, S.W. 
(2) Mr. E. T. Thorburn, Morton 
House, Frome, Somerset. 
The Committee recommended, 
therefore, that the Society’s large 
medal be given in silver to Mr. 
Sawyer, and in bronze to Mr. Thor- 
burn. 
Professor Brown had presented the 
following report 
Plecro-pneumoxja. — No ease of this 
disease has been discoveied in Great Britain 
since the end of last year, but several sus- 
pected cases were reported, and 9 of the 
suspected cattle were slaughtered, aud found 
