APPENDIX (A). 



PROCEEDINGS AT BOARD MEETINGS. 



MEETING OF DIRECTORS, 7th FEBRUARY 1883. 



Present — Sir Henry J. Seton Steuart, Bart . ; Mr Allan, Munnoch ; Lieuteuant- 

 General Burroughs of Rousay, C.B. ; Mr Cunningham, Tarbreoch ; Mr Dingwall, 

 Ramornie ; Mr Drew, Merryton ; Mr Dudgeon, Easter Dalmeny ; Mr Scott Dudgeon, 

 TiOngnewton ; Rev. John Gille.spie, Mouswald ; Colonel Gillon of Wallhouse ; Colonel 

 Hare of Calder Hall ; Mr Hope, East Barns ; Mr Eliott Lockhart of Borthwickbrae ; 

 Mr Mackenzie of Portniore ; Mr Mylne, Niddrie Mains ; Mr Paterson, Plean P\arm ; 

 Mr Shaw, Skaithmuir ; Mr Smith, Stevenson Mains ; Mr John Turnbull Smith, C.A. ; 

 Mr Villiers, Closeburn Hall ; Mr Wilson, Wolfstar ; and Dr Aitken. — Mr Cunningham 

 in the chair. 



Mr F. N. Menzie-S reported apologies for the absence of Sir W. C. Anstruther, Bart. ; 

 Sir A. M. Mackenzie, Bart; Sir George Macpherson Grant, Bart., M.P. ; Professor 

 Balfour ; Mr Forbes of Culloden ; Mr Henderson of Stemster ; Mr Irvine of Dnira ; Mr 

 M'Queen of Crofts ; Mr Martin of Auchendennan ; Mr Mollison, Dochgarroch Lodge : 

 Mr Nicoll, Littleton ; Mr Pott of Dod ; Mr "Walker, Portlethen ; and Professor Wilson. 



The Late Sir Archibald Hope, Bart. — Before proceeding to the business on 

 the programme, the following resolution was unanimously agreed to : — " That the 

 death of Sir Archibald Hope of Pinkie, Bart., having been communicated to the 

 Directors, they desire to express their deep regret at the lo.s3 which the Society has 

 sustained, and their sense of the cordial assistance rendered by him as an Ordinary 

 Director. 



Potato Culture. — The Secretary read the following letter from the Privy 

 Council for Trade, in answer to bis letter of 12th January : — 



" Office of Committee of Privy Council for Trade, 

 " January 26, 1883. 



"Sir, — I am directed by the Board of Trade to acknowledge the receipt of your 

 letter of the 12th inst., inquiring, on behalf of the Highland and Agi-icultural Society 

 of Scotland, if any steps are being taken with reference to the report of the House ot 

 Commons' Committee of 1880 respecting the failures in the potato crop. 



" In reply, I am to state, for the infonnation of your Society, that under e.xistinj: 

 arrangements the Board of Trade have no authority and no funds at their disposal to 

 carry out tlie experiments in regard to potato culture which are recommended in the 

 report of the committee. 



" I am to add that this Board inclines to the oj)inion that these investigations could 

 be best undertaken by private associations. If it should prove any such associatiou.s 

 are willing to make the necessary experiments themselves, but that they cannot do so 

 for want of funds, it wdl rest with them to make out such a case as will satisfy the 

 Trea.sury that it is a proper subject for the expenditure of public money. — I am. Sir, 

 your obedient .servant, (Signed) R. GiFFEN. 



" F. N. Menzi&s Esq." 



Mr ViLLiEiw of Closeburn Hall then proposed the following resolutions, which were 

 agreeil to : — " That, in accordance with the re.solution pa-ssed by the General Meeting, 

 the Directors will offer a prize or prizes to encourage raising ami introducing new 

 varieties of potatoes. That a small committee be appointed to consider the best 

 mt'ans of carryijig Ihi.s resulution into ell'ect." 



Mr He.noeuso.n's Dkylnq ArrAUATCS. — The following rei)ort by the deputatifu 

 appointed t«) visit Mr Charles J. Henderson's drying apparatus at Coltbridge was read : 

 — Ileateil air is gem-ratefl liy u giUeil .stove, and by aid of a fan blower driven by a 

 man, a continuou.s stream of hot air can be kejit up at a temperature of 200 to 30(l 

 degrees. Mr Henderson's idea i.s that sheaves of com could l>e ilrieil in the field by 

 jiiling the sln^aves in small .stacks in ]>la<t' of stooking them, and dniwing the stovf 

 and blower from heap to heap. Mr Henderson is coustructimr a ni.iohine .if this kind 



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