PKOCEEDINGS AT GENERAL MEETINGS. o< 



lies on a grating inside the case. The steam constantly rising from the water usually 

 suffices to keep the felt at the proper degree of moisture. If more water is desirable, 

 strips of felt can hang down and dip into the water in the trough. The kind of felt 

 used is not a matter of indifference. In thick compact felt there is little circulation, 

 the water becomes stagnant, the seeds are interfered with and liable to become 

 rotten, and the germination is very slow. Thick, compact felt closely resembles 

 hea-vj- stiff clay land, on which pretty much the same state of matters prevails. 

 Germination goes on much better when a thinner and looser felt is used ; both water 

 and air are in circulation, and there is little tendency for the seeds to rot away. On 

 such felt the seeds are under conditions very favourable to germination. For conven- 

 iences of naming and removal, the seeds to be germinated are placed on small strips of 

 damp blotting paper laid on the felt. During the first two or three days they may be 

 kept uniformly moist by covering them with a second strip of damji blotting paper, but 

 after that time they lie quite bare in the case, and light, air, water, and heat circulate 

 about them. Heat is supplied to the germinator by a Bunsen burner fixed on a stand 

 beneath. From the arrangement of the pipes by which air enters the case, it is impos- 

 sible that the gases produced by the combustion of the coal-gas can enter and obtain access 

 to the seed. Such gases act very injuriously, especially if combustion is incomplete. 

 In that case the acetylene produced very soon kills the seed, as I have found in my own 

 experience. It is very easy to maintain the water in the germinator at a constant 

 temperature, as so large a quantity is present. The water is kept in very rapid 

 chculation by the presence of a well with a copper bottom, against which the heat 

 from the Bunsen impinges. The rest of the water-trough is made of zinc. 



Dairy D£p.\etmext. 



Mr M 'Queen of Crofts said— I have the honour to report, on behalf of the Dairy 

 Department, that the grant of £100 given by the Society last year to assist in the 

 teaching of improved methods of dairying has been allocated amongst the different 

 local dairy associations. I have also to report that the working dairy at Perth was a 

 success, and that it is intended to continue it this year at Glasgow ; and the principal 

 dairy districts being much nearer the Show, it will doubtless be a great attraction. 

 I may also mention that a paper on "Dairy Education," written by Professor James 

 Long, will appear in the next issue of the Transactions. The local associations have 

 mostly arranged to continue the teaching of improved methods of dairying for next 

 season; and as the past teaching has been most successful in raising both the quality 

 and price of dairy produce, I would ask the Society to continue the grant of £100 for 

 another year. From inqukies made, and evidence taken, by the Commission 

 appointed to consider the claims in connection with agricultural and dairy education, 

 we may reasonably expect that a grant will be given to Scotland for the purpose of 

 assisting dairy education, by starting dauy schools or otherwise. 



The re^jort was approved. 



Premiums Awarded for Report-s. 

 Mr Irvine of Drum, convener of the Committee on Publications, reported :— the 

 Premiums awarded for reports lodged in November 1887 and those offered in 1888. 

 The rejiort was adopted. 



District Competitions. 

 Mr YiLLiERS, Closeburn HaU, reported that during the past year the Society's 

 money premiums and medals had been in operation in 210 districts, and that a sum 

 of £300 had been awarded. For the current year, the Directors propose the following 

 grants, viz., three for cattle, at £18 each; four for mares, at £7 each; three for colts 

 and fillies, at £13 each; two for sheep, at £12; seven for cattle, horses, or sheep, at 

 £12 each; three for stallions, at £15 each; a grant of £50 to the Glasgow Agricul- 

 tural Society, and one of £20 to the Ayrshire Agricultural Society, to be competed for 

 at Kilmarnock ; and three of £3 each to societies in Orkney and Shetland ; besides 

 thirty-seven districts for one hundred medals, and the medals given to ploughing 

 associations, — making a total of £405 to 215 districts. 



Cottages and Gardens. 

 Mr Yilliers, in the absence of Colonel Hare of Calder Hall, reported that 

 during the past year the Society's premiums and medals had been in operation in 

 forty-three parishes, and that £32, 18s. had been awarded. For the current year 

 the Directors propose fifteen parishes at £3 each, and thirty for two silver medals 

 each, besides two gold medals of the value of £10 each, viz., 1st, to the proprietor in 

 Scotland who shall report the improvement of the greatest number of cottages during 

 the years 1885, 1886, and 1887 ; 2nd, to the proprietor in Scotland who shall report 

 the erection of the greatest number of_ approved cottages during the years 1884 to 

 1887, — making the total sum offered £73. 



