PEOCEEDINGS AT GENERAL MEETINGS. 17 



funds, the list of premiums will also contain additional prizes in all the breeds of cattle ; 

 in the classes of Clydesdale and of hunting horses ; in the Blackfaced, Cheviot, and 

 Border Leicester breeds ; and also, it is expected, in the classes of Shropshires and Half- 

 bred sheep. Although it has not been the practice for some time to offer premiums for 

 dairy produce at the Shows held in Edinburgh, the Directors, on such an occasion as 

 the Show of this year, anxious that nothing should be omitted from the list bearing on 

 agriculture, have repeated the premiums for butter and cheese which were offered 

 at Glasgow in 1882. Another interesting feature of the Show will be a working 

 dairy, which will be open for the inspection of the implements used in the separa- 

 tion of butter and cream, and in the manufacture of different kinds of cheese. In 

 the implement department premiums ^vill be offered for exhaust fans, broadcast 

 manure distributors, seed cleaning machines, cream and milk separators, machinery 

 for making butter, and travelling steam-engines. As to the regulations, I need 

 only refer to two, which, I venture to think, will meet with general acceptance, 

 viz. , (1) that all former prize animals are eligible to compete ; and (2) that the 

 animals for the family and special prizes may, with one exception, be drafted from 

 the regular classes. Tickets will be sent to all members residing in the United 

 Kingdom whose addresses are known, and on no account will duplicates be issued. 

 Mr Dundas of Amiston has been named by the Directors convener of the Local 

 Committee, and he has agreed to act. No time will be lost in finally adjusting 

 and publishing the list of premiums, to enable intending exhibitors to make the 

 requisite arrangements. In accordance with the \vishes of members in the district 

 connected with the Show, it has been resolved to vote £100,^,to be equally divided 

 between the counties of Edinburgh, Haddington, and Linlithgow, for entire horses 

 to travel this season in the Lothians. 



This report was unanimously approved. 



Aberdeen Show, 1885.— Colonel Gillon further reported that, according to the 

 usual rotation, the Show of the Society for 1885 would be held at Aberdeen, and 

 he submitted a list of the proposed classes of stock and implements, as prepared 

 by the General Show Committee and Directors. In regard to the list, it might 

 suffice to say that in addition to all the usual classes of breeding stock, the 

 Tweeddale Gold Medal would be given for the best shorthorn bull in the yard, 

 while in the native breed of the district (polled Angus or Aberdeen) a section was 

 added for three-year-old cows, as well as a family prize for a cow and three or 

 more of her descendants (male or female) in the female line (oxen excluded), bred 

 by or the bmia fide property of the exhibitor. Special premiums would be offered 

 for implements for the autumn cultivation of stubbles, and for the spring cultivation 

 of land intended for a green crop. Premiums would also be given for cured fish 

 and fish products, and medals for bee husbandi-y. 



This report also was approved. 



Chemical Department. 

 Dr AiTKEN, chemist to the Society, then gave in his report as follows : — I have to 

 rejjort regarding the experimental stations, that the barley crop of 1883 was secured 

 in good order at both stations. A public demonstration took place at Pumpherston oa 

 the 31st of August. Besides the general scheme of experiments which has been in 

 progress from the beginning, the most of the plots were divided into two equal parts, 

 to show the different ettects of early and late application of nitrate of soda. To one 

 half of each plot the nitrate was applied at the time of sowing along with the other 

 manures. It was intended to apply the nitrate to the other half about three weeks 

 thereafter, but by that time, owing to the extreme dryness of the weather in May, 

 many of the plots had not brairded, and it was not till fully a fortnight later that the 

 braird seemed far enough advanced to receive the second ap{ilication of nitrate. It 

 wa.s ajtplied on the 16th June, and a tack of wet weather succeeded, which forced the 

 crop away at a rapid rate. Tlie division which receiveil the late application of nitrate 

 was in a very backward .state at first, but it rapidly overtook the earlier sown division 

 and sliowed a taller greener croi). The storms of wintl and rain which occurred on tlie 

 inh and 13tii August did much injury to the crop, Init especially to that part which 

 had received the late dressing of nitrate. At the time of the inspection the full effect 

 of the .stormy weather was very apparent. Large breadths were levelled to the grouud 

 or twisted about in great confusion, while a vigorous aftergrowth was forcing its way 

 through the fallen com. But for the stormy weather it is probable that the purl 

 where the nitrate was sown late would have produced a mucli heavier crop than the 

 othur, but in order to secure that result, calm and warm weather would iiave been 

 needud during the sea.son of ripening. Where the nitrate was applied early the straw 

 was neither so long nor .so aoundant, but it was much stronger, and reoi-ived less 

 damagi' duriug the stormy wt-athur. The situation of Pumpherston is high aud 

 exi)osod, and it is evident that in such circumstances a late application of nitrate of soda 

 is attended with considerable risk. Had the season been a normal one, and the nitrate 



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