EARLY PREMIUMS. 121 



of a machine for raising and removing large fixed or earth 

 fast stones ; and three guineas to James Allan, Echo Bank, 

 Edinburgh, for his drawing and description of a reaping 

 machine. In connection with this last invention, it is 

 curious to note that the very next grant to machines 

 was a sum of £S'^> voted in i8i i, to John Blackie, armourer 

 of the Lanarkshire Militia, in order to have a reaping 

 machine constructed upon the principles of a model thereof 

 invented by him, and submitted to the Society. 



In 1812, the Society voted ^21 to a subscription set 

 on foot for the benefit of the family of the late James 

 Small,* who so materially improved the Scotch plough, 

 and to enable his sons, J. & A. Small, Leith Walk, to carry 

 on their business of ploughwrights upon a more extensive 

 scale, for their own benefit, and that of the public. The 

 same year the Society voted ^^30 to Donald Gumming, 

 Edinburgh, to have a reaping machine constructed upon 

 the principles of a model thereof invented by him, and 

 submitted to the Society ; and five guineas to Mrs Lovi, 

 glass blower, Edinburgh, for an agricultural thermometer 

 invented by her. In 181 3, ten guineas were voted to Walter 

 Samuel, Niddry, West Lothian, for a material improvement 

 made by him in the mode of coupling harrows. 



In 181 5, the Society extended its encouragement to 

 the printing press, by voting a piece of plate, of ;!^2i 

 value, to John Ruthven, printer, Edinburgh, for a printing 

 press, upon a new and improved construction, invented 

 by him, and examined in operation by a Committee of 

 the Society. The same year there were voted three 

 guineas to Thomas White, Cowdenburn, Biggar, for a 

 model of a machine for repairing roads ; and fifteen guineas 

 to Alexander Mackid, millwright, Thurso, for an improved 

 machine for cutting or slicing turnips, constructed by him. 

 In the same year reaping machines were approved. A 

 piece of plate, of fifty guineas value, was voted to James 

 Smith, manager of the Deanston Cofton Works, Perthshire, 

 for constructing an efficient machine for reaping corn, 



* See page 52. 



