PROCEEDINGS AT BOARD MEETINGS. 7 



Directors to award to it a medium gold medal. The platform in both machines folds 

 lip for p;i.ssiug through narrow gateways. 



Hny-LifUiuj Madiine. — This machine, (invented by Mr J. B. Taylor, Seton West 

 Mains, East Lothian, and tried there ou tlie Ifjtli of October 1878) consists of a strong 

 platform placed on four wlieels, at the height of about 2 feet from the ground. It is 

 constructed so as to be lowered at one end to the ground, so that a rick of hay can be 

 drawn l)y means of a horse and strong ropes from the ground up the platform, and, 

 after it is placed in position, the lower end of the platform is raised by means of a 

 lever, and the horse is tlien employed in drawing the machine with the rick to any 

 part of the held, or even a short distance upon the road, to the place where the hay is 

 to be put into the tramp rick or stacked. The trial was not very satisfactory, inasmuch 

 as Mr Taylor had made his ricks too large to be easily managed, they being about 15 

 or 16 cwt. in weight, whereas 10 cwt. would be as much as could be handled easily. 

 There is nothing new in the mechanical contrivances, but Mr Taylor's invention is 

 ingenious, and his machine might be turned to good account in clearing the small ricks 

 from the fields in an expeditious and satisfactory manner, especially if combined with 

 a proper elevating apparatus at tlie stack. The Committee do not, however, think that 

 in its present state the invention is of sufficient importance to merit any award. 



In accordance with the recommendations in the reports, tlie Board voted gold medals 

 to Mr Walter A. Wood, London, and to Messrs M'Cormack, Chicago, for their self- 

 binding reapei-s ; a medium gold medal to Messrs R. Honi.sby & Sons, Grantham, for 

 their controllable rake reaper ; and a minor gold medal to said Mr Walter A. Wood 

 for his controllable rake reaper. 



Aionrds at Dicmfries. — The Directors conlirmed the awards at the Dumfries Show, 

 and the Chairman was authorised to sign orders for the money premiums, which the 

 Secretary was instructed to issue, along with the medals, early next week. 



Perth Show, 1879 — In accordance with the usual practice, it was remitted to the 

 Committee on General Shows to arrange the 2)remiums and adjust the regulations for 

 the Show to be held at Perth next year. 



Proposed Show at Kelso, 1880.— Requisitions for a General Show to be held at 

 Kelso in 1880, signed by proprietors, fanners, and others connected with the counties 

 of Berwick, Roxbui'gh, Selkirk, and Peebles, were submitted. 



After some discassion, in which a proposal was nuxde that Kelso and Inverness should 

 be deleted from the list of towns at which the Shows are held, it was resolved on 

 the motion of Mr Dundas of Arniston, seconded by Mr Hope, DudfUngston, and sup- 

 ported by Mr Hog of Newliston and other members, to recommend to the next 

 General Meeting to comply with the prayer of the requisition that a Show should be 

 held in the Border district ; and it was remitted to the Committee on General Shows 

 to prepare the classes of stock for wliich premiums should be offered. 



Agricultural Experiments. — Dr Aitken reported uijon the progress made at the 

 agricultural experimental stations. He stated the weather had been very favourable 

 for the experiments, and that the crop of turnips would be ready for taking off the 

 ground in about a fortnight. He hoped that before that time many farmers would visit 

 the stations and witness for themselves the very marked differences existing among the 

 many plots under experiment. It was a subject which well merited their attention 

 from a commercinl as well as from a scientiflc point of view, and it would be a great 

 pity if so very elaborate a series of experiments, performed with so much care and 

 success, should not receive the attention of those in whose interests the Society, at much 

 expense and trouble, had carried them on. Of course it was not to be expected that a 

 first year's series of experiments should show such decided results as those which 

 are to follow, Vmt the results already visible were sufficiently important to engage their 

 attention. The station of Pumpherston was the one which would most certainly be 

 worthy of a visit, as, from the poorer nature of the land, the effects of the various 

 manures is more apparent than at Harelaw, where the land is rich. Plans of the stations 

 and all particulars regarding the manuring of the various plots are to be had on 

 application to the Secretary, or to the land-stewards at the stations — Mr Tod, 

 Pumpherston, and Mr Burns, Harelaw, who will be glad to point out the ground. 



Lectures ox Chemistry as applied to Agriculture. — Dr Aitken proposed to give 

 a course of twelve lectures during the winter, in the Society's hall, on chemistry as 

 applied to agriculture, which was unanimously accepted by the Directors ; and it was 

 remitted to Dr Aitken, Professor Wilson, and the Secretary to make the necessary 

 arrangements. 



Agricultural Education.— The Secretary stated that the examinations for the 

 Society's bursaries took place on the 30th of October, when one student passed for a 

 bursary of £20 ; two for bursaries of £10 each ; and four were awarded £5 each. 



Paris Agricultural Congress.— A letter was submitted from the President of the 

 Society of Agriculturalists of Fi'ance, sending copies of the French translation of the 

 Highland Society's report on the present state of the agriculture of Scotlaml, together 

 with bronze medals commemorative of the Congress. 



