but those already made indicate the probability of a very large show in that department, including, from the peculiar situation of the place of meeting, an interesting exhibition in the classes of Hereford, Devon, and Welsh Cattle, Welsh Ponies, Sheep, Pigs, and Farm-poultry. The termination of several lines of railway at the Gloucester station will prove highly favourable to the convenient transit of goods and passengers from every part of the country. The Council have made increased preparations for the due trial of the Implements competing for the Prizes of the Society, and for the exhibition of Thrashing Machines to be kept in motion during the show, for the public display of their construction and powers. The Council have decided that the City of Lincoln shall be the place for the Country Meeting of the Society next year; and that the district for the Country Meeting to be held four years in advance of the present year, namely, in 1857, shall comprise the counties of Dorset, Wilts, Somerset, and Hants. The Council have the pleasure of remarking, in conclusion, that there never was an epoch in the history of the Society, since the date of its formation, when its practical objects were more fully recognized than they are at the present moment, by the spontaneous desire of so many promoters of agricultural improvement of every class in different parts of the kingdom to become enrolled as Members on its list, the number of new Members elected into the Society during the last five months being nearly equal to the total number of those elected during the whole of the previous year. By order of the Council, JAMES HUDSON, ROYAL AGRICULTURAL SOCIETY OF ENGLAND. RECEIPTS. Half-yearly Account ending the 31st of December, 1852. Balance in the hands of the Bankers, 1st July, 1852 Balance in the hands of the Secretary, 1st July, 1852 Sale of Stock Dividends on Stock Life-Compositions of Members Annual Subscriptions of Governors Receipts on account of Country Meetings Sundry items of Petty Cash £. s. d. 13 19 7 11 3 200 0 5 20 9 £6816 0 7 Balance in the hands of the Bankers, 31st December, 1852 1105 Auditors. Examined, audited, and found correct, this 20th day of May, 1853. (Signed) Essays and Reports. PRIZES FOR 1854.-All Prizes of the Royal Agricultural Society of England are open to general competition. Competitors will be expected to consider and discuss the heads enumerated. I. FARMING OF DURHAM. FIFTY SOVEREIGNS will be given for the best Report on the Farming of Durham. 1. Geological divisions. 2. Agricultural divisions of soil. 3. Causes of backward condition of agriculture in Durham. 4. Ordinary course of cropping. 5. Improved methods, where such have been practised, should be described. 6. Breed of cattle. 7. Changes, if any, which have taken place since Report of John Bailey, in 1813. 8. Changes required. II. FARMING OF OXFORDSHIRE. FIFTY SOVEREIGNS will be given for the best Report on the Farming of Oxfordshire. 1. Geological divisions. 2. Agricultural divisions of soil. 3. Usual method of treating the different soils. 4. Best method of treating them, especially the heavy clay-land known as the Oxford clay. 5. Depth and mode of draining which has been found to answer best on the different soils. 6. Injury inflicted by brooks and rivers, with description of remedies which have been or might be applied. 7. Breeds of sheep used in the county. 8. Artificial manures and food purchased. 9. General improvements which have been effected since Report of Arthur Young, in 1809. 10. Improvements still required. III. FARMING OF DORSETSHIRE. FIFTY SOVEREIGNS will be given for the best Report on the Farming of Dorsetshire. 1. Geological divisions. 2. Agricultural divisions of soil. 3. Usual method of treating the different soils. 4. Best method of treating them. 5. Depth and mode of draining which has been found to answer best on the different soils. 6. Injury inflicted by brooks and rivers, with description of remedies which have been or might be applied. 7. Breeds of sheep used in the county. 8. Artificial manures and food purchased. 9. Peculiarities of climate. 10. Extent to which downs have been or require to be broken up. 11. General improvements which have been effected since Report of W. Stevenson, in 1815. 12. Improvements still required. IV. TRUNK DRAINAGE. FIFTY SOVEREIGNS will be given for the best Account of Trunk or Arterial Drainage. 1. Effect of rivers and brooks in benefiting contiguous grass-land by occasional winter flooding, and injuring it by too long protraction of flood. 2. Injury from summer flooding. 3. Injury by flooding to arable land. 4. Injury by stoppage or prevention of under-drainage. 5. Existing difficulties in the application of a remedy which arise from the claims of mills, navigations, &c. 6. Best and cheapest modes of dealing with the aforesaid claims. 7. Best mode of correcting existing evils, with due regard to preserving the requisite moisture of subsoil in existing meadows and to irrigation. 8. Actual state of some river or rivers to be described. 9. Remedy applied to some river or brook to be described. V. UNDER-DRAINAGE. THIRTY SOVEREIGNS will be given for the best Account of UnderDrainage. 1. Kinds of soil and inclinations of surface in which underdrainage by interception of springs is the proper remedy. 2. Depth of such drains. 3. Direction of drains. 4. Mode of filling. 5. Cost of execution. 6. Description of case or cases in which such drains have been successful. 7. Description of cases in which the Parallel System has been found inapplicable. Parallel Drainage. 8. Depth at which parallel drains should be laid according to the tenacity of the soil and subsoil. 9. Materials with which they should be filled. 10. Dimensions of pipes and cost. 11. Where sockets should be employed. 12. General cost of and return from operation. 13. Best mode of draining running sands. 14. Causes of and remedies for blockage of drains. VI. GIDDINESS IN SHEEP. TEN SOVEREIGNS will be given for the best Essay on Giddiness in Sheep generally discussing the causes of that affection, the remedies for it, and preventives against it. VII. AUTUMN CLEANING OF STUBBLES. TEN SOVEREIGNS will be given for the best Essay on the Autumn Cleaning of Stubbles. 1. Forking up couch by hand-labour. 2. Paring land by horse-labour with different implements. 3. Disposal of vegetable matter arising from operation, whether by burning or carting away. 4. Subsequent management of land, if kept bare until turnipsowing. 5. Subsequent management, if a winter green or other crop be employed. VIII. SEWAGE MATTER. TWENTY SOVEREIGNS will be given for the best Essay on the application of Sewage Matter for Agricultural purposes. 1. Best mode of using night-soil from privies, destroying the offensive odour without injuring its fertilising properties. 2. Most profitable method, if any, of applying the matter issuing from common sewers. VOL. XIV. с |