CHAPTER XLVII. 



SEED COMPETITIONS AND MEDALS. 



We group in this chapter notices of the operations of the 

 Society in connection with the improvement of seeds, and 

 the arrangements for medals for local societies. 



Seed Conipetitio7is. 



In 1832, and subsequent years, premiums of ;^io and 

 £^ were offered to the person in Scotland who should save 

 the largest quantity and the best quality of the seeds of 

 certain specified natural grasses, the Society being satisfied 

 that these seeds might be advantageously saved in Scot- 

 land. In 1833, and subsequent years, a premium of £Z 

 was offered to the person who should collect, and afterAvards 

 raise, the greatest number of kinds of certain native legu- 

 minous plants. In 1835, with the view of increasing the 

 cultivation of Italian rye-grass in Scotland, premiums of 

 ;^io and £^ were offered to the person who should save the 

 largest quantity, of good quality, of seed, it being found that 

 it may be equally perfected in Scotland, as in those parts 

 of the Continent from which the chief supply had hitherto 

 been obtained. Full information in regard to the cultiva- 

 tion of fiorin, tussac, and other grasses will be found in the 

 Society's Transactions. 



In 1842, the Society, with the view of aiding local 

 associations and individuals in the improvement of the 

 different varieties of grain, &c., best adapted for their 

 respective localities, offered to give annually for four suc- 

 cessive years, in each of six districts, the silver medal to the 

 grower of the best seeds for corn and other crops raised in 

 the districts in which the competition is held. The com- 

 petitions were long in active operation in most of the 

 counties of Scotland, and were merged in 1870 in the 



