other special subjects had been withdrawn, and agriculture was now included under what was called nature knowledge. He was very much afraid that this meant that it was shelved altogether, and he hoped that meeting, and agriculturists everywhere, would support the Highland and Agricultural Society, and every other effort made to get instruction in the elements of agriculture imparted in rural schools.

ENTOMOLOGIST'S REPORT.

The annual report from the Society's Entomologist, Dr R. S. MacDougall, stated that a good many complaints of insect attacks had been received during the past year, the fine weather having favoured the development and multiplication of insect life. Attacks by the following insects were investigated and reported upon-viz. : (1) On agricultural crops-diamond-backed moth, turnip moth, and the granary weevil; (2) on fruit and fruit-trees-strawberry beetle, raspberry moth, apple blight, and the small ermine moth; (3) on trees-the pine beetle, the pine weevil, the pine tortrix moth, the larch moth, and the wood wasp. Dr MacDougall continued his investigations regarding the disease which did so much damage amongst swedes two years ago, especially in the south-west of Scotland. He has proved that the disease is caused by bacteria. From cultures prepared from diseased plants he has experimentally produced the disease in healthy turnips. Although the bacteria are not able to invade a perfectly sound turnip, they gain entrance by a wound, such wound being in many cases caused by insect attack. In turnips grown in three widely separated districts, Dr MacDougall found at work grubs which, on being fed and bred up to the adult stage, produced flies, which, so far, remain undetermined. They are certainly new to us in Britain, and, it is believed, may be new to science.

Professor WALLACE asked whether it would not be well for the Society's entomologists to give attention to the question whether this disease might not be imported in the seed? He was confident from investigations that it had been imported in that way. His idea was that it was imported in foreign seed about sixteen years ago, and lurked in out-of-the-way corners to a greater extent than perhaps farmers were aware of. He hoped this would receive the attention of the Society.

FORESTRY.

Sir ROBERT MENZIES moved that the grant of £50 to the Lecturer on Forestry in the Edinburgh University be continued for the current year. He also reported that the next examination for the Society's certificate in Forestry would be held, in accordance with the new regulations, in April 1903.

PUBLICATIONS.

Dr GILLESPIE reported that the volume of the 'Transactions' for the current year was now being prepared, and would be issued to members in March.

1. THE SCIENCE AND PRACTICE OF AGRICULTURE-FOR APPROVED

PAGE

3

3

5

7

9

10

11

18

18

24

28

34

36

REPORTS ON

1. Rural Economy abroad susceptible of being introduced into
Scotland

37

2. Other suitable subjects

2. ESTATE IMPROVEMENTS-FOR APPROVED REPORTS ON

37

1. General Improvement of Estates by Proprietors

37

2, 3, and 4. Reclamation of Waste Land by Proprietors or

Tenants

37

5 and 6. Improvement of Natural Pasture by Proprietors or

Tenants

38

3. HIGHLAND INDUSTRIES AND FISHERIES-FOR APPROVED REPORTS ON1. Mode of treating Native Wool

38

4. MACHINERY-FOR APPROVED REPORTS

38

VOL. XIV.

1

5. FORESTRY DEPARTMENT-FOR APPROVED REPORTS ON1. Planting on Peat-bog

CLASS II.-DISTRICT COMPETITIONS.

1. STOCK

2. DAIRY PRODUCE

3. SPECIAL GRANTS

4. MEDALS in aid of Premiums given by Local Societies 5. PLOUGHING COMPETITIONS

CLASS III.-COTTAGES AND GARDENS.

1. PREMIUMS for BEST KEPT COTTAGES and GARDENS

49

2. MEDALS for COTTAGES and GARDENS or GARDEN PRODUCE and BEE-KEEPING

50

GENERAL SHOW AT ABERDEEN IN 1902

53

77

GENERAL SHOW AT DUMFRIES IN 1903

LIST OF MEMBERS ADMITTED IN JUNE 1901 AND JANUARY 1902

3

GENERAL NOTICE.

THE HIGHLAND SOCIETY was instituted in the year 1784, and incorporated by Royal Charter in 1787. Its operation was at first limited to matters connected with the improvement of the Highlands of Scotland; but the supervision of certain departments, proper to that part of the country, having been subsequently committed to special Boards of Management, several of the earlier objects contemplated by the Society were abandoned, while the progress of agriculture led to the adoption of others of a more general character. The exertions of the Society were thus early extended to the whole of Scotland, and have since been continuously directed to the promotion of the science and practice of agriculture in all its branches.

In accordance with this more enlarged sphere of action, the original title of the Society was altered, under a Royal Charter, in 1834, to THE HIGHLAND AND AGRICULTURAL SOCIETY OF SCOTLAND.

Among the more important measures which have been effected by the Society are1. Agricultural Meetings and General Shows of Stock, Implements, &c., held in the principal towns of Scotland, at which exhibitors from all parts of the United Kingdom are allowed to compete.

2. A system of District Shows instituted for the purpose of improving the breeds of Stock most suitable for different parts of the country, and of aiding and directing the efforts of Local Agricultural Associations.

3. The encouragement of Agricultural Education, under powers conferred by a supplementary Royal Charter, granted in 1856, and authorising the Society to grant Diplomas to Students of Agriculture; and by giving grants in aid of education in Agriculture and allied sciences. In 1900 the Society discontinued its own Examination, and instituted jointly with the Royal Agricultural Society of England an Examination for a National Diploma in Agriculture.

4. The advancement of the Veterinary Art, by conferring Certificates on Students who have passed through a prescribed curriculum, and who are found, by public examination, qualified to practise. Now terminated in accordance with arrangements with the Royal College of Veterinary Surgeons.

5. The institution of a National Examination in Dairying, jointly with the Royal Agricultural Society of England.

6. The institution of an Examination in Forestry for First and Second Class Certificates.

7. The appointment of a chemist for the purpose of promoting the application of science to agriculture, and to superintend local experiments.

8. The establishment of a Botanical Department.

9. The appointment of Entomologist to advise members regarding insect pests. 10. The annual publication of the Transactions,' comprehending papers by selected writers, Prize Reports, and reports of experiments, also an abstract of the business at Board and General Meetings, and other communications.

11. The management of a fund left by John, 5th Duke of Argyll (the original President of the Society), to assist young natives of the Highlands who enter His Majesty's Navy.

CONSTITUTION AND MANAGEMENT.

The general business of THE HIGHLAND AND AGRICULTURAL SOCIETY is conducted under the sanction and control of the Royal Charters, referred to above, which authorise the enactment of Bye-Laws.

The Office-Bearers consist of a President, Four Vice-Presidents, Thirty-two Ordinary and Twenty Extraordinary Directors, a Treasurer, an Honorary and an Acting Secretary, an Auditor, and other Officers.

The Supplementary Charter of 1856 provides for the appointment of a Council on Education, consisting of Sixteen Members - Nine nominated by the Charter and Seven elected by the Society.

PRIVILEGES OF MEMBERS

MEMBERS OF THE SOCIETY ARE ENTITLED

1. To receive a free copy of the Transactions' annually.

2. To apply for District Premiums that may be offered.

3. To report Ploughing Matches for Medals that may be offered.

4. To Free Admission to the Shows of the Society.

5. To exhibit Live Stock and Implements at reduced rates.1

6. To have Manures and Feeding-Stuffs analysed at reduced fees.

7. To have Seeds tested at reduced fees.

8. To have Insect Pests and Diseases affecting Farm Crops inquired into. 9. To attend and vote at General Meetings of the Society.

10. To vote for the Election of Directors, &c., &c.

ANALYSIS OF MANURES AND FEEDING-STUFFS

The Fees of the Society's Chemist for Analyses made for Members of the Society shall, until further notice, be as follow:

The estimation of one ingredient in a manure or feeding-stuff

The estimation of two or more ingredients in a manure or feeding-stuff

58. 10s.

These charges apply only to analyses made for the sole and private use of Members of the Highland and Agricultural Society who are not engaged in the manufacture or sale of the substances analysed.

The Society's Chemist, if requested, also supplies valuations of manures, according to the Society's scale of units.

SEEDS, CROP DISEASES, INSECT PESTS, &c.

The rates of charges for the examination of plants and seeds, crop diseases, insect pests, &c., will be found on pages 34 and 35.

ELECTION OF MEMBERS

It is not neces

Candidates for admission to the Society must be proposed by a Member, and are elected at the half-yearly General Meetings in January and June. sary that the proposer should attend the Meeting.

CONDITIONS OF MEMBERSHIP

The ordinary annual subscription is £1, 3s. 6d., and the ordinary subscription for life-membership is £12, 12s.; or after ten annual payments have been made, £7, 7s. Proprietors farming the whole of their own lands, whose rental on the Valuation Roll does not exceed £500 per annum, and all Tenant-Farmers, Secretaries or Treasurers of Local Agricultural Associations, Factors resident on Estates, Land Stewards, Foresters, Agricultural Implement Makers, and Veterinary Surgeons, none of them being also owners of land to an extent exceeding £500 per annum, are admitted on a subscription of 10s. annually, which may be redeemed by one payment of £5, 5s., or, after ten annual payments have been made, by one payment of £3, 3s.2 Subscriptions are payable on election, and afterwards annually in January.

Members are requested to send to the Secretary the names and addresses of Candidates they have to propose (stating whether the Candidates should be on the £1, 3s. 6d. or 10s. list).

3 GEORGE IV. BRIDGE, EDINBURGH.

JAMES MACDONALD, Secretary.

1 Firms are not admitted as Members; but if one partner of a firm becomes a Member, the firm is allowed to exhibit at Members' rates.

2 Candidates claiming to be on the 10s. list must state under which of the above designations they are entitled to be placed on it.