24 PROCEEDINGS AT GENEKAL MEETINGS. 



I have sent you further copies, and if you can help the committee in devising methods 

 of diifusing information as to the true state of the case as regards the importation ot 

 foot-and-mouth disease I shoukl be gratefuL Possibly some of your Directors might 

 be willing to join in this effort, and allow their names to be added to the committee, 

 and perhaps subscribe to the special fund. — Yours faithfully, 



(Signed) "R. Craigie." 



After reading the above letter Mr Scott Dudgeon went on to say that they must 

 try as far as they could to educate the consuming public on this question. They were 

 influenced very much just now, and their minds were poisoned very much by a few 

 men interested in the foreign cattle trade ; and the members of this Society must try 

 to get them to understand the matter. The association referred to was originated for 

 that purpose, and this was the first of their publications that had been issued. 



Mr Paterson of Birthwood said that the Glasgow men were treating them differently 

 from what had been expected. By the proposed unity of action it seemed to him they 

 were to pay nothing, and the counties were to pay all. That was their unity. Lanark 

 had given intimation that it was to go out of the union at all events. 



The report was then approved. 



LoupiNG-iLL AND Br^vxy. — ]\Ir Eliott Lockhart of Borthwlckbrae gave in the 

 report of the committee. 



The proceedings then terminated. 



ENSILAGE EXPEE,i:^IENTS AT POETMORE. 



Experiments in ensilage have this year been carried out on an extensive scale on Mr Colin 

 J. Mackenzie's estate of Portmcre, Peeblesshire, and being the most important liitherto 

 conducted in Scotland, farmers generally have been looking forward with great interest to 

 the result. The new system of preserving fodder, which has been very successful in America, 

 has caused considerable speculation among British agriculturists as to its adaptation to the 

 climate and conditions of this country, and on the matter being brought before the Highland 

 and Agricultural Society, a committee was appointed to inquire into it. Mr Mackenzie of 

 Portmore, during recent visit? to America, was favourably impressed with ensilage as a 

 nutritious food for stock, which might overcome many drawbacks during an unpropitious 

 season, and he agreed to undertake the experiments on behalf of the Society. Two silos 

 were erected last summer at different steadings on his estate, and yesterday they w^ere 

 opened in the presence of between 200 and 300 agriculturists, many having come a great 

 distance. Among those present were— 3Ir F. N. Menzies, Secretary to the Highland and 

 Agricultural Society ; Dr Aitken, Chemist to the Society ; Lord Lionel Cecil, Orchard Mains. 



The silo at Earlypier farm-steading was the first visited, and, under the supervision of Mr 

 Mackenzie, it was opened. 



The silo was excavated early in June ; building commenced June 11, and ended July 14. 

 Construction of wall and floor same as at Harcus, but the dimensions of the silo differ some- 

 what, as this one is 24-3 feet long by 12 feet wide and 15*6 feet deep. This, at 45 cubic feet 

 per ton, gives a capacity of 100 tons and a very small fraction. In the case of this silo the 

 end wall is wholly exposed, and the door is on the level of the floor. The cost has been— 

 Excavation, £4, 5s. ; building, including cement, £55, 14s. 7d. ; roofing and joiners' wages 

 helping with framing, £12, 10s. ; cartage, £3, 5s. ; total, £75, 14s. 7d. 



This gives a fraction over 15s. per ton of capacity. The cost of boxes for weights, and 

 planking to cover the ensilage and to fill the spaces between the pillars, has been £11, 10s. 

 By adding this to the formel- simi of £75, 14s. 7d., we have a total of £87, 4s. 7d., equal to 

 nearly 17s. 6d. per ton. The silo was filled on August 8, 9, and 10, with 42 tons of a heavy 

 crop of clover and rye grass, nearly all of it being put in during hea^y rain, and^the stuff 

 being quite saturated. It subsided nearly 7 feet, and on the 25th August it was filled up 

 with 28 tons of grass cut off a lea field, wdiich had been manured for the purpose in the 

 spring. The weight in this case, as at Harcus, has been about 150 lbs. per superficial foot. 

 No test for heat w\as carried out here. The odour which came from the door was less 

 pungent than at Harcus. The cost of cutting, hauling, tramping, putting on the weights, 

 removing them for refilling, and again putting them on, has been £19, 63., equal to 5s. 6d. 

 per ton stored. Here, as at Harcus, the expense was considerably enhanced owing to the 

 great amount of tramping performed ; and, in regard to both silos, it should be remembered 

 that all hands were new to the work. 



The silo was opened (20th December 1883) from the top, at the end in which the door is 

 pierced. Several layers of the meadow grass were removed and inspected by the company, 

 who on all hands admitted that, so far as it was concerned, the experiment was successful. 

 The uppermost layers showed some indications of mould, but these disappeared as the 

 cutting progressed. The clover and rye grass at the bottom of the silo were not touched. 

 Handfuls of the ensilage were given to a herd of Polled Angus belonging to Mr Mackenzie. 

 Without exception, they ate it eagerly. Mr Mackenzie anticipates that, from the fact of the 

 door not being completely air-tight, there will be a quantity of waste in its neighbourhood. 

 Part of the moisture, too, has been lost through the floor of the silo being level with the base 

 of the doorway. The company, after closely examining the ensilage, and many of them 

 securing samples, proceeded to Harcus farm-steading, where the other silo is situated. 



