SOURCES OF INDUSTRY PECULIAR TO THE HIGHLANDS AND ISLANDS.

The Society having been originally instituted with a view more particularly to advance the improvement of the Highlands and Islands, has not ceased to direct its attention, and to allot a largeshare of its funds, to this important purpose. The exertions of the Society in improving the Fisheries, -the Roads and Bridges, and other public works, -the manufacture of Kelp, and such other sources of industry as existed in the Highlands,-have been particularly noticed in the Introductions to former volumes.

1. Kelp.-It appeared to the Society, that although, by means of its premiums, much information had been obtained, regarding the manufacture and analysis of kelp, the object was still deficient, without promoting improvement in its specific qualities. A series of premiums were therefore announced for the best kelp, in quantity not under 20 tons, which were to be decided, in the first place, in 1822, for that manufactured on the coasts of the counties of Inverness and Ross, including their Islands. The result of the analysis of the best specimens, with some account of their manufacture, will be found among the papers in this volume. The premiums in other districts are continued.

In the present volume, also, there is an interesting paper by Dr Fyfe, on the means of increasing the quantity of alkali yielded by kelp, the suggestions in which may lead to results highly important to this branch of manufacture.

Not many months ago, the interests of the manufacturers of kelp were in danger of being suddenly and deeply affected, and at a time when the population in the Highlands were also suf fering severely from the great depression in the price of black cattle and sheep. At the anniversary meeting of the Society in January 1823, the Society learned, that, within a few days of the rising of the session of Parliament immediately preceding, an act had been very unexpectedly passed, reducing the duties on the importation of barilla,-a foreign commodity which may be substituted in several of the most important manufactures in which kelp is used, and nearly, if not entirely, to the exclusion of the latter article. The subject having been previously submitted to the Directors, had undergone much discussion and inquiry; and the Society now considering that the manufacture of kelp affords employment and subsistence, during a considerable part of the year, to a numerous and dependent population in the Highlands and Islands; -that the ruin of that manufacture, or any measure tending to the sudden depreciation of kelp in the market, might be attended with alarming consequences at such a moment, and especially when the public

works which had for a long time been carrying on in the north of Scotland were nearly completed,-unanimously remitted to the Directors to submit a Memorial to Government, in order to obtain, if possible, the concurrence of Administration to the applications which were contemplated for a repeal of the act. A memorial to the Treasury was accordingly transmitted; and it was very satisfactory to the Society to find, that the representations made to the Legislature and Government were attended with the desired effect.

2. Sea-Grass (Zostera marina, Lin.)-In 1821, a communication was submitted to the Society from Mr Robert Johnston, secretary to the Asylum for the Industrious Blind in Edinburgh, stating that quantities of this marine plant had lately been imported from the Continent, and used very succesfully in stuffing matresses, cushions, and for such like purposes, as a substitute for horse-hair; and that it being understood that the same, or a similar plant, was found in abundance on some of the Scottish shores, particularly in the Western Islands, it might be expedient to institute an inquiry on the subject. A small Committee was accordingly named, under whose directions specimens of the Zostera were procured from various parts of the Highlands and Islands. A Report was made by the Committee in January 1822, stating the result of their inquiries to be, that the zostera found on some of our shores answered equally well with that imported from

Hamburgh, &c.;-that carefully washing the plant, in fresh water, in order to extract a portion of the salt, and quick subsequent drying to preserve its elasticity, was all the preparation required for the purposes to which it was to be applied. The Committee therefore suggested, that it might be proper to stimulate the Islanders to avail themselves of a new branch of industry, which they could practise at the same time that they are engaged in cutting sea-weed for kelp..

Premiums were accordingly offered, to be decided in 1823; and it is satisfactory to find, from the accurate and detailed reports given in this volume from Mr Traill Urquhart of Elsness, and from Mr Baikie of Tankerness, the gentlemen to whom the premiums have been awarded, that they have been attended with the desired effect. The supply of the zostera afforded from our own shores, is already sufficient to supersede the necessity of importation,

Present State of the Highlands and Islands,

The changes which have taken place and are still in operation, in various districts of the Highlands and Islands are well known; and the exertions of the Society in directing the attention of the inhabitants to various sources of industry within their reach, have just been adverted to. With a view to a more extended and successful prosecution of this interesting subject, a premium, in the following terms, was

offered in January 1823, which it is expected may elicit some useful information.

"A Piece of Plate of Fifty Guineas value, will be given for the best and approved Essay on the present state of the Highlands and Islands of Scotland, Agricultural, Manufacturing, and Commercial ;the progress and influence of those changes at present affecting their condition, and the means of deriving from these changes, for the benefit of the population at large, the greatest portion of good, and rendering such as have an unfavourable tendency productive of the least possible degree of evil. This Essay to be lodged with the Secretary, at the Society's Chambers, on or before the 10th November 1824."

MACHINERY.

Invention and Improvement of Machinery more particularly connected with Agriculture and Rural Economy.

Within the period to which this introductory notice relates, various articles in this department have been submitted to the Society, and suitable pecuniary rewards, or honorary notices, voted to the authors and inventors, upon Reports submitted from time to time, by the Society's Committee on Mechanics. Engravings and descriptions of several of these articles in machinery will be found in this vo