PREMIUMS OFFEEFD BY THE SOCIETY IX 1868. 17 



housing, feeding, and general treatment, with an abstract of receipts 

 and expenditure for a year. 

 Reports to be lodged by 1st November 1868. 



20. RURAL ECONOMY ABROAD. 



For an approved Report, founded on personal observation, of 

 any useful practice, in rural economy, adopted in other countries, 

 and susceptible of being introduced with advantage into Scot- 

 land—The Gold Medal. 



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. 



Reports to be lodged by 1st November in any year. 



Section 2.— LAND IMPROVEMENTS. 



1. GENERAL IMPROVEMENT OF ESTATES. 



To the Proprietor who shall report the most judicious, suc- 

 cessful, and extensive improvements — The Gold Medal, or Ten 

 Sovereigns. 



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 period within 

 which the operations may have been conducted is not limited, 

 except that it must not exceed the term of the reporter's pro- 

 prietorship. 



Reports to be lodged by 1st May in any year. 



2. RECLAMATION OF WASTE LAND BY TILLAGE. 



1. For an approved Report by a Proprietor or Tenant of 

 having reclaimed within the six preceding years not less than 

 fifty acres of waste land — The Gold Medal, or Ten Sovereigns. 



2. For an approved Report by a Tenant of having reclaimed 

 within the four preceding years not less than twenty acres of 

 waste land — The Medium Gold Medal, or Five Sovereigns. 



3. For a similar Report by a Tenant of having reclaimed not 

 less than ten acres — The Silver Medal. 



The Reports may comprehend such general observations on the im- 

 provement of waste lands as the writer's experience may lead him 

 to make, but must refer especially to the lands reclaimed — to the 

 nature of the soil — the previous state and probable value of the 

 subject — the obstacles opposed to its improvement — the details of 

 the various operations — the mode of cultivation adopted — and the 

 produce and value of the crops produced. As the required extent 

 cannot be made up of different patches of land, the improvement 



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