PliOCEEDIXGS AT GEISERAL MEETINGS. 21 



Potato Culture. — Mr Mylne, Xiddrie Mains, reiDorted on the subject of potato 

 culture. He stated that at the general meeting in January last it was remitted to the 

 Directors to encourage the raising and introducing new varieties of potatoes by the 

 giving of premiums or otherwise. In accordance with this remit, the Directors, at 

 their meeting in February, appointed a special committee to consider the best means 

 of carrying the resolution into effect. On the recommendation of this committee, the 

 Directors resolved at their meeting in April to offer the sum of £50 as a prize or prizes 

 for best variety of disease-resisting potatoes which had never been sold or offered for 

 sale, such variety to be a seedling of not less than hve years' growth. By the con- 

 ditions, not less than one stone of such variety was to be entrusted to the care of the 

 Society, under whose superintendence they were to be tested as to their disease-resist- 

 ing properties for one year, at the expiration of which time the prizes were to be 

 awardecl ; the produce of the potatoes to belong to the owners, and no prize to be 

 awarded to any variety showing any symptom of disease. In terms of these conditions, 

 live competitors lodged samples, which were all planted on the 1st day of May, on 

 ground on the farm of East Bams, Dunbar, kindly granted for the purpose by Mr 

 James Hope. The competitors were resident in the counties of Aberdeen, Ross, 

 Lanark, Kincardine, and Fife — one from each county. The crops were inspected by a 

 sub-committee on 7th August, and were reported on as follows : — No. 1 (Aberdeenshire) 

 appeared an early reddish potato, good size at this date, and apparently a distinct 

 variety. No. 2 (Ross-shire) had sufficient growth, not early, and appeared genuine. 

 No. 3 (Lanarkshire), white Vilossoms, but a slight mixture of purple blooms, scarcely 

 so groAvthy ; not early. No. 4 (Kincardineshire), a .strong variety, very like the 

 Champion ; shaw of great growth, evidently a very late variety. No. 5 (Fifeshire), a 

 very genuine variety, but with less top than tlie other varieties. A second inspection 

 took place on the 23rd of October, when the sub-committee reported in the folloAving 

 terms : — No. 1. White potato, red streaks, good size, free from disease, and a fair crop. 

 No. 2. A white variety, resembles the Victoria in shape ; is diseased, and appears a 

 strong growing variety, and a fair crop. No. 3. A white variety, also resembling the 

 Victoria ; a poor crop, and some disease. No. 4. A white round variety, something 

 like the Champion ; it is diseased, and is a poor crop, though somewhat better than 

 Nos. 3 and 5. No. 5. A white variety, in shape like No. 3 ; it is a poor crop, and very 

 much diseased. The sample (No. 1) which appeared to he free from disease when 

 inspected on 7th Augnst and 2.3rd October was, on lifting it on the 3rd of November, 

 found to l)e diseased. The length of drill planted of this sample was 60 yards, and the 

 weight of the whole crop was 15 st. 11 lbs., of which 12 lbs. are diseased. No. 2. Lifted same 

 date (3rd November). Length of drill planted, 77 yards. Total weight of crop, 21 st. 12 lbs., 

 of which 14 lbs. were diseased. No. 3. Lifted same date. Length of drill planted, 59 yard.s. 

 Total weight of crop, 12 st. 7 lbs., of which there were 10 lbs. diseased. No. 4. Lifted 

 same date. Length of drill planted, 212 yards. Total weight of crop, 63 st. 2 lbs., of which 

 5 St. 3 lbs. were diseased. No. 5. Lifted .same date. Length of drill planted, 61 yards. 

 Total weight of crop, 13 st. 5 lbs., of which 1 st. 5 lbs. were diseased. From these statistics it 

 would be observed that No. 2 samjjle was the best crop, and contained the. smallest pro]ior- 

 tiou of disea.seil tubers ; and out of all the samples, it appeared the variety that most 

 resembled a good field potato. Mr Mylne concluded by stating that there would 

 thus be no prize awarded. 



Agricultural Bufjsaries.— Mr Villiers, Closeburn Hall, reported that the exami- 

 nation for the Society's bursaries took place on the 17tli of October, when eleven candi- 

 dates enrolled their names, and the following passed : — For bursaries of £20 each — 

 Alexander Edward, Dundee, and Alexander .Johnstone, Edinburgh. For bursaries of 

 £10 each --Andrew R. Dunnet, Auchingill, Caithness ; Henry C. Fergusson, Stanley, 

 Perth ; J. G. Nicolson, Wick ; and John Wilson, St Andrews. 



Dlstiuct Shows. — Colonel Hare of Calder Hall reported the premiums awarded in 

 188:3 and tho.sc offered in 1884. 



Cottagk CctMi'KTiTioNs. — Mr Mackenzie of Portmore reported the premiums 

 awarded in 1883 and tho.se offereil in 1884. 



Essay.s and Rki'ort.s, 1883-84.— Mr IitviNE of Drum rei)orted the premiums awarded 

 for reports in 1883 and those offered in 1884. 



Mr .Maxwkll of Munches suggested that the Directors .should take into considera- 

 tion whether they .should not give up the forestry jiart of the awards. There was now 

 a forestry .society in Scotland whicii was considering that matter, and the Highland 

 Society might, without much injury to its exertions, drop these awards. 



Mr Ikvink .said that no doulit the Directors would consi«ler this matter, but he 

 might mention that the awards for forestry were not very numerous this year. 



The report was then adopted. 



DisKAsED Cattlk lMiMiKTATir)N. — Mr ScdTT DmGEoN, Longncwton, rejiorted that 

 at the meeting of the Board on the 5th of December, the following resolution hail been 

 adoitted : — " The continued prevalence of foot-and-mouth di.sease, and the large increase 

 in the number of outbreaks throughout the United Kingdom, since the Highland and 



