106 PROCEEDINGS AT BOARD MEETINGS. 



Edinburgh Show, 1869. — The report of the meeting of members, held at 

 Edinburgh on 9th December, was submitted ; and with reference to the remarks 

 which were then made in regard to the overfed state of bulls and other stock ex- 

 hibited at the general Shows of the Society, the following new rule was recom- 

 mended, and the Secretary was instructed to insert it in the general regulations 

 for the Edinburgh Show : — " Breeding stock must not be shown in an improper 

 state of fatness, and the judges Avill be prohibited from awarding premiums to 

 overfed animals." 



Proposed Show at Dumfries in 1870. — Mr F. N. Menzies reported that he 

 had attended a meeting at Dumfries on the 16th December, when the list of 

 classes of stock, as fixed by the Committee on General Shows, and agreed to by 

 the Directors, had been submitted and approved of, subject to certain alterations 

 and additions suggested for the consideration of the Directors. These suggestions 

 were on "Wednesday adopted by the Board, and the list as adjusted will be brought 

 up along with the requisition from the district, for the sanction of thej General 

 Meeting. 



Premium Book for 1869. — Various subjects for which premiums were offered 

 in 1868 were deleted from the list, and the following were added : — Reports — On 

 the farming customs and covenants of leases formerly in the use in the various 

 districts or counties of Scotland ; on the various modes of striking the fiars prices 

 throughout the different counties of Scotland ; on the cheapest, speediest, and 

 most convenient mode of covering the grain crops in harvest ; on improved 

 methods of transporting dead meat for distances that may occupy from twenty- 

 four to forty-eight hours, so that it may arrive in the least injured condition; 

 on improvements in the vessels used for transporting milk from country districts 

 to the neighbouring towns ; on the advantages of a system of contract entered into 

 by stockowners and veterinary surgeons ; on the comparative advantages in point 

 of economy, as well as durability of home-grown timber, as compared with foreign 

 for general out-door estate work ; on the effects of the very dry season of 1868 on 

 trees and shrubs in different soils, situations, and elevations ; on the results ob- 

 tained by experience of seedlings of conifers, being the produce of trees grown in 

 Britain, as compared with plants obtained from foreign ripened seed. 



Essays and Reports. — Several awards were made for reports lodged in compe- 

 tition for premiums ; and the authors' names will be announced at the ensuing 

 general meeting. 



Veterinary Charter for Scotland.— A correspondence between Bailie Stott, 

 Mr Marwick, and the Secretary, in regard to renewed application to the Board of 

 Trade for a chartered veterinary college for Scotland, was read to the Board, but 

 it was considered inexpedient to move in the matter at present. 



Reid's Patent Cattle Waggons. — Drawings of Reid's patent watering, feed- 

 ing, and ventilating cattle waggons were laid on the table, and remitted to the 

 Machinery Committee. 



Propagating Potatoes from Seed. — A communication was read from Mr 

 Henry Stephens, the author of " The Book of the Farm," in regard to the services 

 of Mr William Paterson, Dundee, in propagating potatoes from seed, and suggest- 

 ing that the Society's gold medal might be conferred on him. 



The Secretary was instructed to inform Mr Stephens that Mr Paterson should 

 transmit a report on the subject, when, if approved, the gold medal may be 

 awarded. 



Cottage Premiums. — On an application by Sir Alexander Bannerman of Crim- 

 monmogate, it was resolved to offer the medium silver medal to local associations 

 or individuals, who, at their own expense, establish premiums for cottages or 

 gardens. The annual value of each cottage, with the ground occupied in the 

 parish by competitor, must not exceed L.15 ; and premiums to the amount of L. 2 

 must be awarded for each medal claimed. 



MEETING OF DIRECTORS, 20th JANUARY 1S69. 

 The business had reference principally to the general meeting of this date. 



