EARLY PREMIUMS. II/ 



Ayrshire, for the improvement made by him of moss ground on his estate. Of 

 this award, it was resolved that public notice should be taken in the abstract of 

 the proceedings of the meeting inserted in the newspapers, as showing that the 

 Society did not confine its premiums entirely to the Highlands, but wished to 

 encourage useful improvements in whatever part of the country they may be 

 made. This award, like the one in favour of Mr Drummond of Blairdrum- 

 mond, was made without reference to the premiums offered. 



8. Eight guineas, awarded in 1799, to the said Robert Gordon, for further 

 improvements. 



9. Five guineas, awarded in 1799, to Ciithbert Mackenzie, Tullich, 

 Inveraven, Banffshire, for similar improvements. The preparation of the land 

 was by ploughings, putting in marl, and fleaking cattle, and repeated plough- 

 ings in the spring, and planting potatoes in the drill way. 



10. Five guineas, awarded in 1799, to Robert \Yattie, Ballastrand, for 

 improvement of barren land, by planting potatoes in the year 1797. 



11. Ten guineas, awarded in 1801, to George Duncan, Camperdown, 

 Rosemarkie, Ross-shire ; the land being prepared by trenching and manuring, 

 and planting potatoes and turnips. 



12. Ten guineas, awarded in iSoi, to Robert Gordon, Linevore, Banff- 

 shire ; ground ploughed, limed, and planted with potatoes. 



13. Five guineas, awarded in 1801, to Robert Gordon, Clashnoir, Inver- 

 aven ; repeated ploughings, and afterwards applying a large brake harrow, 

 marl and dung, and planted with potatoes in the drill way. 



14. Ten guineas, to James Allan, Kailzie, Peebles. This premium was 

 awarded at the General Meeting on 30th January 1801, when there were laid 

 before it letters giving an account of this very singular and meritorious im- 

 provement of fifty acres of barren heath ground, situated in the side of a very 

 steep hill, which, in spite of all the difficulties of soil and situation, Mr Allan 

 had changed in the space of three years from its former sterile and unproductive 

 state to a field producing excellent crops. As a reward for the uncommon 

 ingenuity, as well as industry and perseverance by which this favourable change 

 was effected, the Directors voted Mr Allan a piece of plate of the value of ten 

 guineas. Ah accoimt of the improvement referred to was included in the third 

 volume of the first series of the Transactions, and is the first report of the kind 

 published by the Society. 



15. Three guineas, to Andrew Mitchell, Aberarder, Laggan, Badenoch ; 

 land previously under wood, the roots of which were cleared out, and the 

 surface levelled with earth from a good distance at considerable expense ; the 

 ground ploughed and cross-ploughed three different times, and as often 

 harrowed, besides being broken with instruments prepared for the puipose, 

 and planting potatoes in the drill way. The crop turned out an excellent one, 

 some single stalks yielding upwards of sixty potatoes. This was awarded in 

 1801. 



16. ;^8, to William Ker, Drumlimble, Campbeltown, for improving moss 

 land and bringing it into tillage and planting the same with potatoes, the 

 ground being dressed by the horse hoe husbandry mode. The ground im- 

 proved was chiefly a deep moss, and from its being used in the way of cutting 

 turf, had been potched in a very irregular manner, but was certified to be 

 properly drained, levelled on the surface, and fit for yielding either com or 

 grass. The Committee reported Mr Ker, from the considerable quantity of 



