6 PROCEEDINGS AT BOARD MEETINGS. 



Potato Planters. — The following report of tlie trial of potato planters, invented 

 and made by Messrs G. W. Murray & Co., Bantf, wliicli took place on the farm of 

 Niddrie Mains, Liberton, on the 28th March, was read : — The two-drill machine was 

 tried botli with whole seed (seconds) and cut seed potatoes. It did not work in a 

 manner so as to enable the Committee to recommend it. The seed was not dropped 

 equally, and a good many blanks left ; also, a cup chain gave way which put a stop 

 to one of the sides working during the most of the trial. The one-drill machine 

 was then thoroughly tested with both kinds of sets, and performed its work very 

 well, so much so that in counting over a hundi-ed sets dropped only two blanks 

 were found. Tliis machine had the advantage of the drop spout being much nearer 

 the ground than the other, which enabled it to deposit the seed more regularly ; 

 and the work was, upon the whole, satisfactorily done. The Committee think that 

 the machine might be further improved, especially by altering the construction of 

 the wheels in such a manner as. to enable them to keep steadily on the top of the 

 drills when at work. The price — £7, 7s — being moderate, and the mechanism strong 

 and simple, and not likely to go out of order, the Committee feel justified in com- 

 mending it, and recommend the Directors to award a medium gold medal. 



The Board approved of the report, and the medal recommended was accordingly 

 voted to Messrs G. W. Murray k. Co., Banif, for their one-drill potato planter. 



Hall and Chambers. — The Hon. George Waldegrave Leslie gave notice that 

 at the meeting of the Directors on Wednesday the 7tli May he would move : — " That 

 it be referred to the Hall and Chambers Committee to consider the number of 

 eligible houses in Edinburgh now in the market, and to report upon any really 

 suitable house or houses for the ofiBces of this Society, where also the Society's 

 chemist may be able to carry out analysis of manures, feeding stuffs, &c., for the 

 benefit of members of the Society, in the same manner as is now so efficiently 

 carried out by the Royal Agricultural Society of England." 



Lectures on AGKicuLTt=KAL Chemistry. — The Secretary intimated that the 

 series of lectures delivered in the Society's Hall by Dr Aitkeu had been successfully 

 completed. The lectures had been extremely instructive as well as entertaining ; and 

 though fairly attended, he had hoped that many more of the agriculturists of the 

 neighbourhood would have availed themselves of such an admirable opportunity of 

 gaining useful information on chemistry as applied to agriculture. 



The Board gave a cordial vote of thanks to Dr Aitken. 



MEETING OF DIRECTORS, 7th MAY 1879. 



Present — Sir .James R. Gibson Maitland of Clifton Hall, Bart. ; Mr Dingwall, 

 Ramornie ; Mr Hope, Duddingston ; Mr Kennedy of Sundaywell ; Mr John Ord 

 Mackenzie of Doli)hinton ; Mr Mylne, Niddrie Mains ; Mr Ritchie of Middleton ; 

 Mr Smith, Whittinghame ; Mr Young of Cleish Castle — Mr Mylne, Niddrie Mains, 

 in the chair. 



Mr F. N. Menzies reported apologies for the absence of the Hon. George Walde- 

 grave Leslie; Mr Graham Binny, W.S.; Mr Dickson of Corstorphine ; Admiral 

 Maitland Dougal of Scotscraig ; Mr Ferguson, Kinnochtry ; Mr Gillon of Wallhouse ; 

 Mr Hendrie of Larbert ; ilr Irvine of Drum ; Mr Mackenzie of Portmore ; Mr Ralston, 

 Glamis ; Mr Seton Wightman of Courance ; and Dr Aitken. 



The following resolutions were submitted and imanimously agreed to : — 



The late Duke of Roxburghe, K.T. — " That the Directors of the Highland and 

 Agi-icultural Society of Scotland desire to express the deep and sincere regret with which 

 they have received "the intimation of the death of their former president, his Grace the 

 Duke of Roxburghe, K.T. That the Society having in the minutes of the general 

 meeting held on 11th January 1853 recorded, on his Grace retiring from the office of 

 president, their sense of the importance of the assistance which he had rendered to 

 the Society, for the zeal exhibited in promoting its efficiency and prosperity, for his 

 presence at the diflerent shows, meetings, and public banquets, and for the alacrity 

 and ability with which he had uniformly promoted the objects and interests of the 

 Society — it only remains for the Directors to deplore the loss the Society and the 

 country have now sustained by the death of one who had rendered such great services 

 to the Society during the forty-two years his Grace was a member. That a co]>y of 

 this resolution be transmitted to the Duke of Roxburghe, to be communicated to 

 his mother, the Duchess Dowager, with the respectful condolence and sjTcpathy of 

 the Directors in her severe bereavement." 



The late Captain Tod of Howden. — "That the meeting cannot proceed to the 

 ordinary business of the day without expressing the sense of the loss wliich the High- 



