120 GREAT BRITAIN AND IRELAND - MISCELLANEOUS 



the Board liave made arrangements for enabling small holders in other parts 

 of Scotland to obtain the service of stallions hired bA^ horse-breeding soci- 

 eties. The subscriptions of small holders to such societies are paid 

 by the Board, who also pay half the fees for the service of their mares, up 

 to a certain maximum, and make a grant to the society in respect of the 

 work involved in carrying out the scheme. The grants can be obtained 

 only b}- approved societies which loire approved and registered stallions. 

 While designed to assist small holders in particular, this scheme will 

 benefit all classes of draught horse breeders. 



The Board have farther taken over the schemes of the Board of Agri- 

 culture and Fisheries for the encouragement of light horse breeding, so far 

 as these apply to Scottland ; and a Register of stallions of all breeds, under 

 the same regulations as are imposed by that Board in England and Wales 

 is kept by them. 



{3) The Poultry Impyovement Scheme has been extended to the whole 

 of Scotland, for the benefit of small holders. 



(4) Sheep-breeding. — in this case the Board have continued the work 

 done by the Congested Districts Board on the same plan. 



(5) Pig-breeding. — This branch of agriculture has been much neglected 

 in Scotland. The Board have, therefore, prepared anew scheme for the 

 payment of grants to recognized societies on similar conditions to those 

 made to cattle-breeding societies. 



The Board have carried on the other schemes of the Congested Districts 

 Board for the development of agriculture in these districts, including the 

 assistance given to agricultural shows. A scheme of prizes for the best 

 managed small holdings, originally connected with the last-named scheme, 

 has now been extended to the whole countr3\ 



The schemes of the Board for the improvement of agriculture are carried 

 out in close co-operation with the Agricultural Colleges at Aberdeen, Edin- 

 burgh and Glasgow. Each of these colleges has allotted to it a large area 

 in which extra-mural teaching is provided by instructors stationed in each 

 county or group of coiinties, who conduct systematic classes in agriculture, 

 horticulture, poultry-keeping, dairying and bee-keeping, give lectures on 

 these and other subjects, conduct field experiments and demonstrations, 

 and give general advice to those who may consult them. They are thus 

 brought closely into touch with those whom the schemes of the Board are 

 intended to benefit. The management of the .schemes is in certain cases 

 committed to them, and in general their co-operation is of great value. 



The Board recognize, however, the necessity for a system of education 

 intermediate between that given in the Colleges themselves and that given 

 by the county instructors, and they hope that it will be possible for them 

 to estabhsh institutions where short practical courses of instruction will 

 be pro\dded for those who find it impossible to take the full courses at the 

 Colleges. It is clear that the ultimate success of the system of landholding 

 established under the Act will de]3end upon the cajjacity of the small holder 

 to produce from his holding the utmost that the land is capable of yield- 

 ing, and this can best be secured by the efficient training of the individual 



