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Wednesday , December 10, 1913. 
On the 6th May last, a deputation waited upon the President 
of the Board of Agriculture on the subject of the pro- 
posed establishment in England of a National Seed Testing 
Station. In addition to the Royal Agricultural Society there 
were also represented the London Chamber of Commerce, the 
Central Chamber of Agriculture, the Agricultural Seed Trade 
Association, and the British Sugar Beet Council. Lord 
Desborough introduced the deputation, and the position ot the 
Royal Agricultural Society with regard to the question was 
explained by Mr. C. Coltman Rogers (Chairman of the Society s 
Botanical and Zoological Committee). The views of the other 
bodies were also stated by their representatives, and Mr. 
Runciman kindly undertook to give the matter his consideration. 
Advice has been given to Members during the past year in 
a large number of cases of insect attack; obscure points m the 
life-history of certain pests have been investigated; and 
numerous zoological specimens have been received for identifi- 
cation. The mild winter of 1912-13 led to the early appearance 
of many pests, and, with the cold dry early summer, gave weather 
conditions very favourable to certain kinds of injurious insects, _ so 
that the Zoological Department was kept particularly busy during 
the first six months of the year. Various Aphis attacks were 
especially severe, and one, that of the Spruce Aphis, occurred 
to an extent not previously recorded in this country, and much 
attention was devoted to it. The study of the life-history of the 
Raspberry Beetle has been brought to a conclusion, and im- 
portant observations have been made on the habits of other 
pests. 
The outbreaks of anthrax confirmed by the Board of 
Agriculture during the year show a marked decline as compared 
with the previous year. The reported outbreaks of glanders 
have been slightly fewer than during the previous year, but 
there has been a slight increase in the number of animals 
attacked. The decline in the prevalence of sheep scab which 
began to show itself m 1911 has been continued throughout the 
current year. Unfortunately, the position with regard to swme 
fever remains unsatisfactory, although the reported outbreaks 
during the current year are somewhat fewer than in 1912. 
Parasitic mange in horses still appears to be widely prevalent. 
The country has been quite free from foot-and-mouth disease 
throughout the year. 
The experiments which were begun at Woburn early in 1911 
for the purpose of demonstrating that by means of isolation 
it is possible to rear healthy stock from tuberculous parents 
have been brought to a close. One of the experimental animals 
was killed in December last and the others in the course of the 
present year. After slaughter a searching post-mortem 
examination was made, but no evidence of tuberculosis was 
found in any case. A full account of the experiments will be 
published later. 
On the recommendation of the Veterinary Committee, the 
Council last year appointed a Sub-Committee, under the Chair- 
manship of the Earl of Northbrook, “to consider questions 
