ledge of the theory and practice of agriculture; of mechanics and mensuration; of the physiology and treatment of domesticated animals; and of the applications of botany, chemistry, and natural history to agriculture. VII. That a diploma in the following terms, bearing the corporate seal of the Society, and signed by the President or VicePresident of the Council on Education, and by the Secretary, shall be granted to candidates passing the second examination :"These are to certify that on the day of A. B. was examined in the arts and sciences connected with agriculture, and has been reported to be proficient therein by a Board of Examiners nominated by the Council of the Highland and Agricultural Society of Scotland on Education, in terms and by authority of a Charter, given under the Great Seal, on the 18th day of August, 1856." VIII. That a sum not exceeding £100 per annum shall be placed at the disposal of the Examiners, to be applied in prizes to candidates who pass with distinguished merit, and on a standard exceeding that required for the diploma. CHEMICAL DEPARTMENT. The objects of the Chemical Department are threefold :— I. The prosecution of researches in various subjects connected with Agricultural Chemistry, the results of which are published at intervals in the Transactions. Dr. Anderson will be glad at all times to receive suggestions from Members of the Society regarding subjects they may consider worthy of investigation, and which will be laid before the Chemical Committee. II. To assist in the performance of minute and accurate Field Experiments. For this purpose it has recently been resolved to institute field experiments on a systematic plan, and in such a manner as to obtain exact and comparable results. The experiments will be conducted in different districts under the superintendence of a Committee, who will fix the precise nature of those to be made in each year, and see that the precautions required to secure accuracy are properly attended to. The furnishing the requisite chemical data for these researches will in future form an important part of the business of the laboratory. Gentlemen who have any suggestions to make regarding subjects deserving investigation are requested to communicate with Dr. Anderson. III. The performance of Analyses of Manures, Soils, Vegetable Products, &c., for members of the Society at reduced fees. In purchasing manures, cattle foods, &c., Members are recommended, in all cases, to do so by guaranteed analysis, and to ascertain that the article delivered corresponds with it. Partial analyses, such as Nos. 6 and 7 of the accompanying list, will generally suffice to check the correspondence of the stock with the guarantee, and give an approximate though not a precise estimate of its value. When an exact estimate is required, a complete analysis is necessary. Samples intended for analysis should be sent (carriage paid) addressed to Dr. ANDERSON, 15, SHUTTLE STREET, GLASGOW, and when of small size, they are most cheaply and expeditiously forwarded by post. They should be distinctly labelled, marked with the name and address of the sender in full, and accompanied by a letter, specifying the particular analysis required, according to its number in the following list,-and, if possible, the object in view,-as, by doing so, much trouble and delay will occasionally be saved. Some inconvenience having been experienced by persons sending samples for Analysis which had not been selected with sufficient care, and were afterwards found not to represent the average composition of the substance, it is particularly requested that the following instructions may be attended to as closely as circumstances will permit. INSTRUCTIONS FOR SELECTING SAMPLES FOR ANALYSIS. Manures.-A large double handful of the Manure should be taken from each of at least five or six different bags; and if any lumps are found in it, a due proportion of these should also be taken. The whole being laid on a large sheet of paper, should be carefully mixed by rubbing with the hand, the lumps being broken down and mixed as uniformly as possible with the powdery part. If this mixture be carefully made, a quantity of it not exceeding two ounces will suffice for the analysis. It should be folded up in tinfoil to prevent its becoming dry. In default of tinfoil, the sample may be wrapped in double folds of strong writing paper. Should the manure contain stones, or be very moist, or should any difficulty be experienced in making a uniform mixture, it is desirable that two or three pounds should be sent. Soils. In selecting Soils for analysis, five or six spadefuls should be taken from different parts of the field, and after being spread out in a thin layer for several days to dry, should be put two or three times through a fine sieve, so as to insure uniform mixture. For a complete analysis, not less than two pounds, should be sent; for a partial analysis, three or four ounces will be sufficient. Waters. For the complete analysis of a Water, from two to three gallons are required; for the determination of the amount of salts in solution, and lime thrown down by boiling, two quarts will suffice. A well water may be selected at any time; but the water of a spring or running stream should be taken in dry weather. The jars or bottles in which they are sent must be tightly corked and sealed. In the analysis of a mineral water, it may sometimes be desirable to determine the amount of gases held in solution; in which case certain precautions must be observed which require the presence of a chemist at the spring. Limestones, Clays, Ironstones, &c.-If the bed of any of these substances of which the analysis is required be very uniform in appearance, a piece of two or three ounces' weight taken from any part of it will be enough for analysis; but in all cases it is better to send three or four chips from different parts of its thickness. Sometimes where the characters of different parts of the bed vary much, separate analyses of these portions may be requisite, in which case two ounces of each may be sent. The following are the rates at which analyses, &c., are furnished to Members of the Society, and it is requested that the fee be remitted along with the sample : 1. Complete analysis of a Soil, including determination of Alkalies and Phosphates, £3. 2. A partial analysis of a Soil, such as the determination of the quantity of Organic Matter, and relative proportion of Clay, Sand, and Carbonate of Lime it contains, 10s. 3. Quantitative determination of any one ingredient of a Soil, 7s. 6d. 4. Complete analysis of Saline Manures and other substances, such as Gypsum, Nitrates of Soda and Potash, Ammoniacal Salts, Guano, Oil-cake, Bone-dust, Rapedust, Superphosphate of Lime, £1. 5. Testing the above substances for adulterations-for each sample, 5s. This examination is generally sufficient to determine whether or not any of these substances are grossly adulterated, but it gives no idea of the comparative value of different Samples, where all are genuine. 6. Determination of the percentage of Phosphates and Ammonia in a Guano, 10s. 7. Determining the quantity of Soluble and Insoluble Phosphates in a Superphosphate, 10s. This and the preceding determination generally suffice to show whether the sample is of fair quality, and corresponds with the analysis by which it was sold, but not to fix its exact commercial value. 8. Complete analysis of Limestone, Marl, Shell-sand, &c., £1. 9. Examining any of the above substances for the quantity of Lime, and ascertaining in the same the presence of Magnesia and Alumina, 7s. 6d. Ascertaining the proportion of these, 2s. 6d. additional for each substance. 10. Complete analysis of the Ash of any Plant, £3. 11. Complete analysis of a Water, £2. 12. Determination of the amount of Salts in Solution, and of the Lime thrown down by boiling in any water, 10s. 13. Analysis of Tile or Fire Clay, £1 10s. 14. Complete analysis of Roots, Grains, and other Vegetable Products, £1. 15. Examining products of Vegetation, or of the Dairy, such as Nutritive Matters in Wheat, or other grain— quantity of Butter or Cheese in Milk-5s. for each ingredient. 16. Determination of the quantity of Nitrogen in any substance, 7s. 6d. 17. Answers to letters asking advice on subjects within the department of the chemist, 5s. The charges for other Analyses not specified in the list will be settled by the Committee of Management, with reference to the amount of work which they involve, and on a scale similar to the above. F. N. MENZIES, Secretary. EDINBURGH, February, 1867. |