PREMIUMS OFFEEED BY THE SOCIETY IN 187G. 25 



19. On any useful practice in Rural Economy adopted in 

 other countries, and susceptible of being introduced with advan- 

 tage into Scotland — The Gold Medal. To be lodged by 1st 

 November in any year, 



The purpose chiefly contemplated by the offer of this premium is to 

 induce travellers to notice and record such particular practices as may 

 seem calculated to benefit Scotland. The Report to be founded on 

 personal observation. 



Section 2.— ESTATE IMPEOVEMENTS. 



FOR APPROVED REPORTS. 



1. By a Proprietor or Tenant in Scotland on the cultivation 

 of not less than 150 imperial acres of land of inferior quality — 

 First Premium, L.200; Second, L.150. Intimation of intention 

 to compete to be lodged by 1st November 1876. 



The operations to be reported on must be commenced not later than the 

 autumn of 1876 — be conducted on a farm of at least 150 acres 

 imperial — extend over a period of not less than 5 or 6 years — and 

 embrace a complete rotation of crops. 



The Society will appoint a Committee, who shall determine if the land 

 is of the class referred to. The Committee shall periodically inspect 

 the operations, and shall have power to call for information on any 

 point they may consider necessary. They shall not in any way inter- 

 fere with the system of management pursued, nor make any sugges- 

 tions, but shall take their own notes, so as to be able to check the 

 statements made in the report. 



The Report must detail the previous state of the land and the system of 

 cultivation pursued thereon, if any — the nature of the soil and sub-soil 

 — the whole operations carried on, including trenching, draining, 

 liming, fencing, road-making, &c., during the rotation, and the cost 

 thereof — the quantity and cost of all seed and manvxre applied — the 

 produce of each crop — and the kind and quantity of live stock kej^t. 

 Classified abstracts of the whole expenditiu'e and return for each year 

 must also be given. 



2. By the Proprietor in Scotland who shall have executed the 

 most judicious, successful, and extensive improvement — The 

 Gold Medal, or Ten Sovereigns. To be lodged by 1st November 

 in any year. 



Should the successful Report be written for the Proprietor by his resi- 

 dent factor or farm manager, a Medium Gold Medal will be awarded 

 to the writer in addition to the Gold Medal to the Proprietor'. 



The merits of the Report will not be determined so much by the mere 

 extent of the improvements as by their character and relation to the 

 size of the property. The improvements may comprise reclaiming, 

 draining, enclosing, planting, road-making, building and all other 

 operations proper to landed estates. The j^eriod within which the 

 operations may have been conducted is not limited, except that il 

 must not exceed the term of the reporter's proprietorship. 



