EARLY PREMIUMS. II3 



was awarded, in 1802, to James Bell, merchant, Leith, 

 This premium was offered to the person, in any part of 

 Scotland, who should in the year 1802 raise upon a Scots 

 acre the greatest quantity of potatoes, not less than 70 

 bolls. Mr Bell became a competitor, and having submitted 

 a report (which is published in the second volume of the 

 first series of the Transactions), together with the necessary 

 vouchers, to the consideration of the Directors, they awarded 

 the above-mentioned premium to him. A sum of fifty 

 guineas was awarded in 18 17 to Robert Dickson, Bang- 

 holm, Edinburgh, for raising and selling the greatest quan- 

 tity of potatoes (671 bolls, of 4 cwt. avoirdupois per boll), 

 before the i6th August 18 17, of any tenant in Scotland, as 

 ascertained by the requisite certificates and affidavits. The 

 Society at the same time voted a sum of five guineas to 

 each of the following four competitors, in testimony of its 

 approbation of their exertions in bringing an early supply 

 of food to market : William Inglis, tenant of Windyage and 

 Low, Balshagrie, Lanark and Renfrewshires ; James Wat- 

 ling, tenant in Content and Mainholm, Ayrshire ; Robert 

 Finlay, tenant in Carntyne, Glasgow ; and Thomas New- 

 ham, tenant of West Henderston and Hillhead of Car- 

 donald, Paisley. 



District Cattle Competitions. 



In 1789 the Society took the first decided step in en- 

 couraging improvement in the breed of cattle by award- 

 ing premiums at district competitions. The premiums were 

 limited to bulls of the Highland breed. The first premium 

 was a gold medal of seven guineas value ' for the best Bull 

 from two to five years old, proper for improving the breed 

 of Highland Cattle, and the property and in possession of 

 any proprietor or tenant in Argyllshire — the bulls to be 

 shown at Connell, parish of Kilmore, on the 20th October.' 

 This premium was awarded to Mr Campbell of Lochend. 

 At the same time there were offered premiums of £^ each 

 * for the best bull, being the property and in possession of 

 small tenants upon their fold, consisting of at least forty 

 cows, in each of the following districts of Argyllshire, viz., 



H 



