EARLY PREMIUMS. IO9 



beltown, for an essay on grass and green crops. A medal 

 or piece of plate of the value of £$ 5s. was awarded, 23rd 

 December 1794, to Duncan Stewart, Chamberlain of Kin- 

 tyre, for a report on the general economy and management 

 of black cattle farms. A gold medal of the value of £^ $s. 

 was awarded at same time to David Urquhart of Braelang- 

 well, Cromarty, for a report on the cultivation of madder 

 in the Highlands. At Mr Urquhart's desire, this medal 

 was struck in copper in place of gold, leaving the value of 

 the gold as an addition to the funds of the Society. In 

 addition to the usual inscription, this was stated on the 

 medal. A gold medal of the value of ;i^io los. was awarded 

 at same time to the Rev. Dr John Smith, minister of 

 Campbeltown, for an essay on the best method of improv- 

 ing pasture ground in the Highlands by watering. In 

 consequence of this report, it was resolved that a person 

 acquainted with the watering of ground should be brought 

 from England. Two gold medals, each of the value of 

 ;^5 5s., were awarded at the same time to Robert Somer- 

 ville, surgeon, Haddington, for reports on burning heath 

 grounds, and on the best method of improving stools of 

 natural wood in the Highlands. 



On 2nd January 1795, a sum of ^10 los. was awarded 

 to James Bonnar, bee master, to assist in publishing his 

 treatise on bees, which work was dedicated to the Society. 

 A gold medal, or piece of plate, of the value of five guineas, 

 was awarded 9th January 1796, to the Rev. James Roger, 

 minister of Monifieth, Dundee, for an essay on the different 

 subjects prescribed by the Society for 1795. A gold medal, 

 or piece of plate of the same value was awarded at same time 

 to an Argyllshire shepherd for an essay on burning heath 

 grounds for the improvement of pasture. A like award 

 was voted at same time to the Rev. Dr John Smith, Camp- 

 beltown, for an essay on the advantage of planting and 

 raising timber in the Hebrides, &c. A gold medal, or piece 

 of plate, of ten guineas' value, was awarded, 6th January 

 1797, to the Rev. Thomas Jolly, Dunnet, Caithness, for a 

 report on the circumstances which make the use of horses 

 almost universal in the Highlands. A gold medal, or piece 



