Under the head of Green Crops, may be noticed the premiums which have now been offered for saving clover-seed in Scotland. Some samples of seed saved, were transmitted to the Society, which were apparently equal to the best Dutch clover; and it seemed obvious, that, in several districts, and in favourable seasons, the seed of this most useful plant may be brought to maturity in Scotland, if the attention of enterprising farmers were called to it. With this view, premiums have been offered, and the result of any experiments made in consequence will be reported in 1824.

2. Drill Husbandry.

The last volume contained the result of some experiments in cultivating grain crops in drill. The Society has continued to encourage the farther extension of this system in those districts more particularly adapted to it; and the result of an experiment in Morayshire, by Mr Lawson at Old Mills, who obtained the first premium of twenty guineas, will be found among the papers in this volume. A premium for the most extensive set of experiments as to the comparative advantages of the broadcast and drill systems of cultivating grain crops, will be decided in 1824.

3. Raising Grain of the greatest Weight,

Premiums for raising Barley and Bear or Big of the greatest weight, have been awarded in several districts.

4. Dairy Husbandry.

As it appeared to the Society, that sufficient attention had not been paid in many parts of Scotland, to the improvement and management of the Dairy, premiums for encouraging that important object, have been offered and awarded in 1821 and 1822, in the counties of Linlithgow, Dunbarton and Renfrew. They are now offered in the counties of Berwick, Roxburgh, Selkirk and Peebles, and will afterwards be extended in rotation to such other districts as are adapted to this branch of husbandry. An abstract of the reports made by the successful competitors, in so far as the premiums have already been decided, will be found in this vo lume; and although those reports may appear defective, in what regards the outlay and expence of management, the result seems to shew, that the dairy husbandry has yielded a better return to the competitors, during the last two years, than, in their situation, they could have realised by any other system of management,

5. Draining.

1. Draining Moss or Bog Land.-It is well

known that a great extent of surface in the hilly districts of Scotland consists of moss. Its origin, nature, and properties have been the subject of much discussion, and a great deal of useful information, scientific and practical, has of late years been given to the public, in regard to its improvement. The Society, from its first institution, has bestowed much pains and expence in procuring information by essays, on the means of reclaiming moss, and in pecuniary rewards for carrying the suggestions in these essays practically into effect. In consequence of these measures, and of the enterprising spirit of our landowners and tenantry, large portions of this description of land have accordingly been, and still continue to be, reclaimed. There is, however, a certain kind, known by the name of flow-moss, which is less susceptible of amelioration. Tracts of it, from their situation, and the superabundance of moisture absorbed and constantly retained, having apparently a very prejudicial effect on the climate, the Society, in 1821, offered liberal premiums to proprietors and tenants, to encourage the drainage of flow-moss and bog-land. The conditions required that the extent of drainage executed should not be under 500 roods,-that the ground should be effectually cleared of stagnant water, and superabundant moisture,—and, in so far as circumstances would admit, rendered fit for being planted with trees, carrying grain, or producing useful herbage for the pasturage of cattle and sheep. A district comprehend

ing certain parishes in the counties of Lanark, Linlithgow and Stirling, was selected for the premiums in the first instance, and the result of the competition was so satisfactory, that the Society has continued the premiums, to encourage farther improve ments, for other two years in the same parishes, where much remained to be done, before transferring them to another district.

A general view of the first experiments is given among the papers in this volume. There will also be found a very interesting Report of the Drainage of a small Lake within the same district, by Patrick Wishart, Esq. of Lochcoat, for which an honorary medal was voted by the Society.

2. Surface or Sheep Drains.-The Society continues to offer Premiums for encouraging the improvement of mountain pastures by means of Surface or Sheep drains, which being made at comparatively very small expence, are found to produce the best effects on the quality of the pasture and the health of the stock. Since the publication of last volume, these premiums have been given in the pastoral districts of Lanarkshire, Argyleshire, and Perthshire.

3. Wedge-Draining in Clay or Carse Soils.The Society has offered premiums for promoting the extension of Wedge-Draining in clay or carse lands, a process which had previously been found to be attended with very beneficial effects in this

description of soil. A communication from Mr Moir of Leckie, in a letter to Mr Home Drummond, M. P. one of the Directors, with relative descriptions and engravings of the tools employed, are given in this volume.

6. Experiments with Salt as a Manure, &c.

It was noticed in the Introduction to the last volume, that the facilities which the Legislature had then just afforded for procuring salt at a reduced duty for agricultural purposes, had induced the Society to offer two Premiums of Thirty Guineas each, for practical experiments of its use as a manure, and in feeding live stock. Reports in competition were in consequence received, and premiums awarded in 1821, to Mr Andrew Robertson, a farmer in Linlithgowshire, and Mr Thrift Scott, a farmer at Dalgety in Aberdeenshire; but not appearing sufficiently decisive, the premiums were renewed for the subsequent year. A very accurate report of a well conducted set of experiments with salt as a manure, was accordingly received from Mr Peter Christian, at Mill of Forest, in Kincardineshire, to whom the first Premium of Thirty Guineas was voted, and the Society was also favoured with an interesting communication from one of its members, General Dirom of Mount Annan, in Dumfriesshire, of certain experiments made by him. The result of these several reports, which will be found