PKOCEEDINGS AT BOARD MEETINGS. 11 



bottom; the size of which can be regulated. Aftfr passing from the hopper the manure 

 is carried by means of spouts or slides to tlie drills, which in the meantime have been 

 opened np by two double-mould board-ploughs attached to the implement beneath and 

 travelling immediately in front of the slides. In the fore jiart of the machine are the 

 driving-wheels, as well as appliances for steering and for regulating the depth of the 

 furrow. Drawn by a pair of horses, and attended by two men, the hoppers, having 

 been filled with a couple of cwts. of dissolved bones, the machine was carefully tested ; 

 and though it cannot be said that tlie manure was put into the drills with perfect 

 regularity, and while some exception might be taken to the heaviness of the draught, 

 the implement seemed such as is likely to be really serviceable before long. From 

 one of the hoppers the manure flowed freely and regularly enough, but the delivery 

 from the other was intermittent, apparently owing to some flaw in the working of the 

 teeth ; but this, of course, could be easily remedied. 



" After careful consideration, the committee are disposed to report favourably of 

 the machine, and to reconnnend that the Directors should mark their approval by 

 awarding the inventor a silver medal. 



"II. Potato I'lanters. — Of the four machines exhibited at Glasgow and recom- 

 mended for trial, only those belonging to Mr William Dewar, Kellas, Dundee, and Mr 

 Alexander Guthrie, Craigo, Montrose, were brought forward. ■ 



"The machine flrst tried was that of Mr Guthrie, which is worked by a revolving 

 wheel about 2 feet in diameter, furnished with a set of cups, by which the seed is 

 lifted and deposited alternately in one or other of the two drills covered by the planter. 



" It is intended that by each cup only one potato should he caught, but at the trial 

 on this occasion as many as three tubers were frequently lifted at a time, causing an 

 objectionable waste of seed. The irregularity of the delivery was increased by the 

 unsteady working of the horse, which had to walk along the crown of the drill. 



"In Mr Dewar's machine the seed is taken from the hoppers by a pair of large 

 wheels, round which are arranged, at intervals of 11 inches, a series of catches, worked 

 by spiral springs, and which diit tlie potatoes from the hopper. The tubers were 

 thrown out into the furrow by a slide in such a way that they became scattered, and 

 in many cases lay together in threes and fours. 



" After a careful trial of both machines, the committee are unanimously of opinion 

 that they have not yet reached such perfection as to warrant the Directors in express- 

 ing a favourable opinion regarding either of them. Much ingenuity is displayed by 

 bo'th of the exhibitors, but the delivery of the potatoes is so very irregular that in their 

 present state the committee cannot recommend the machines. 



(Signed) " James W. Hunter, Convener. 



\, " David Stevenson. 



,, " John Munro. 



,, "James D. Park. 



"Edinburgh, \Wi October 1875." 



In accordance with the report, the Board awarded a silver medal to Mr Robert 

 Parker. 



Aberdeen Show, 1876. — It was remitted to the Committee on General Shows to 

 arrange the premiums and adjust the regulations for the Show to be held at Aberdeen 

 next year ; to consider a letter from tlie^Marquis of Tweeddale on the subject of judg- 

 ing the wool of sheep, as well as their symmetry; and a letter from the Rev. U. H. 

 Allen on adding houdans as a class of poultry. 



Proposed Show at Edinburgh in 1877.— Requisitions addressed to the Directors 

 to hold the general Show at Edinburgh in 1877, from the counties of Edinburgh, Had- 

 dington, and Linlithgow, and the city of Edinburgh, were laid before the meeting, and 

 remitted to the Committee on General Sliows to prepare the classes of stock for which 

 prenuums should be offered. 



Proposed Show at Carlisle in 1877.— The following letter was read;— 



" Carlisle, Oct. Zlst, 1875. 



"Sir,- At a large and influential meeting recently held in Carlisle, attended by 

 gentlemen interested in agriculture from Cumberland, Westmorelaml, Eurness, West 

 Northumberland, and the south of Scotland, it was decided to take the necessary steps 

 preliminary to inviting tlie Royal Agricultural Society of England to hold its country 

 meeting for 1877 at Carlisle. 



" It has been suggested that the Highland and Agricultural Society should also be 

 invited to Carlisle to unite with the Royal of England on and for that occasion in mak- 

 ing one grand show, with an increased number of augmented prizes, to give an addi- 

 tional stimulus to inventive skill, and the intelligent persevering application thereof. _ 



" Without dwelling upon the superior railway facilities Avhich Carlisle enjoys, it 

 will be obvious that the expense and trouble to exhibitors and the public will be much 

 less, and the advantages to all parties concerned much greater, than could possibly 



