The Sun.
London, England, 1865-05-23 00:00:00

Royal Agricultural Society of England.

Yesterday the annual meeting of this society was held at
their house in Hanover-square ; Sir E. Nerrison, M.P., took
the chair, and was supported by Lord Tredegar, Lord
Feversham, Lord Walsingham, Sii Walter Stirling, Sir J.
Boileau, Sir A. Macdonald, Colonel Kingscote, M.P., Mr.
Acland, M.P., Mr. E. Holland, M.P., Mr. J. Dent, M.P.,
the Hon. General 'Wood, Si F. Western, Professor Willson,
&c. Lord Tredegar was unanimously elected president of
the society for the year ensuing. Mr. H. Hall Dare, the
secretary, read the report, which stated that since the last
general meeting, in December, 41 members had died ;
220 names had been removed from the list by re-
tirement, while three governors and 95 members had been
elected, so that the society c3nsisted of 79 life governors,
81 annual governors, 1,386 members, 4,190 annual mem-
bers, and 16 honorary members, making a total of 5,752.
The funded capital•stood at £21,027195. 6d. in the New
Three per Cents., £l,OOO remained on deposit with the
society's bankers, and the current cash balance in hand was
£1,981 17s. 2d. With regard to the important question of
education the report stated :—" The Council, after much
deliberation, have decided for this year to limit their
prizes to candidates examined at the local examinations
held by the Universities of Cambridge and Oxford. They
consider that sufficient atten:,ion has not hitherto been
given to the general education of the sons of agri-
cultur:sts. A good sound education once obLained,
special education may bo rproperly rewarded. The
groundwork of chemistiy, botany, zoology, geology,
and mechanics, and the study of mathematics are
included in the subjects for examination both, of Cambridge
and Oxford. To candidates, who shall be recommended by
any member of the Royal Agricultural Society of England,
and who must be persons in some way dependent on the
cultivation of the land for their support, or intending to
snaking agriculture their profession, the Council offer the
following prizes, viz.:—£loo in prizes among those who
shall pass the Cambridge or Oxford senior or junior exami-
nations; £lOO to those at the Cambridge and Oxford exami-
nations who, having passed the preliminary examination,
shall have distinguished themselves in mathematics, me-
chanics, chemistry, physics, botany, zoology, or geology. In
addition to these prizes, the committee are in negotiation
with the authorities at Cambridge in order that papers bear-
ing upon special subjects connected with agriculture may be
set at the next examination in December. Should these
negotiations be successful a sum of £6O will be offered
for two papers—one on agricultural chemistry, and one on
mechanics as applied to agriculture, which papers will be
prepa-fed by gentlemen appointed by the Royal Agricultural
Sodiety of England, and reported upon by them. Candi-
dates of any age may compete for these special prizes. The
objects which the Council hope to attain are to improve
sound general education and to encourage proficiency in such
branches of scionce:a3 are applicable to the study of agricul-
ture and calculated to prepare the mind of the student for
the pi oper reception of that practical education which can
only be completed by observation of the working of a farm
where he may be enabled to test the value of such theories
as may bo presented to him." In conclusion, the report
said that the arrangements for the Plymouth meeting, com-
mencing on July 17, were progressing satisfactorily. The
country meeting for 1866 would be at Bury St. Edmunds,
and the district for the meeting of 1867 would include the
counties of Derby, Leicester, Lincoln, Nottingham, and
Rutland. Mr. Morton then moved a resolution receiving
the report, but expressing a desire that all efforts in con-
nexion with the education question should be especially
directed towards the promotion of professional education.
Mr. B. Brown seconded the proposition, which was tanta-
mount to an amendment to the motion put, the adoption of
the report. A very long discussion arose, in which the de-
termination of the Council, as set forth in the report, was
wamly supported, and eventually the proposition of Mr.
Morton was negatived. Upon the motion of Mr. Fowler,
seconded by Mr. Hersell, the report was adopted by a large
majority. The Council were then elected, and the auditors'
services acknowledged. Lord Faversham then proposed a
cordial vote of thanks to the President for the able dis-
charge of his duties, and the meeting separated.