The number of applications received for assistance under the scheme for the encouragement of pig-breeding was larger than in any previous year. This may be due to an increasing interest in the breeding of pigs, encouraged, no doubt, by the embargo which the Minister of Agriculture and Fisheries has placed on the importation of pig carcases from the Continent.

Under the scheme a premium of £7. 10s. is awarded in respect of each approved pedigree boar used for service. The benefits of the scheme are open to all classes of farmers. With the funds at their disposal the Board were enabled to award 87 premiums as compared with 72 in 1925.

Particulars of the results of the scheme during the year are:

GOAT-BREEDING.

Few applications were received by the Board for assistance under this scheme, the benefits of which are open to approved Committees or Societies which represent the owners of not less than eight goats, and which purchase or hire approved male goats for service purposes. Premiums varying from £2. 10s. to £4, according to the pedigree and value of the goat, were offered to two Societies in respect of four stud goats.

In addition, the Board assisted in the establishment of a herd of goats on the farm of the West of Scotland Agricultural College at Kilmarnock for the following purposes :

(1) Breeding tests and milk recording tests of home-bred and imported goats of the popular breeds.

(2) Training students and instructresses in the care and management of goats and the utilisation of the milk for butter and cheese making.

(3) Experiments and research in methods of making cheese, etc., from goat's milk.

(4) Demonstrations for the benefit of persons interested in goat-keeping.

POULTRY IMPROVEMENT SCHEMES.

The results of the schemes under which sittings of eggs of pure breeds of poultry are supplied at reduced rates from eggdistributing stations were as follows:

The prices at which eggs were sold by station-holders were :— Hen and Duck eggs, 6s. per dozen; Turkey and Goose eggs, ls. 6d. each.

Trap-Nesting Grants. It is a requirement of the scheme for the distribution of hen eggs, that the eggs should be laid by birds. which have been trap-nested as pullets. In order to encourage the practice of trap-nesting egg-laying stock the Board offer to approved applicants grants of £3. 3s. each for trap-nesting the number of pullets required for egg-distributing stations. The number of grants earned in 1926 was 96 as compared with 79 in the previous year.

Supply of Incubators.-As explained in previous Reports, the Board have endeavoured to encourage the early hatching of chickens in the outlying districts, especially in the north and west where there is generally a scarcity of early broody hens, by offering to give grants of half the purchase price of incubators and brooders to approved applicants. In 1926 two grants were awarded, making a total of 12 since the scheme was instituted in 1923.

Egg-Laying Tests.-The second Scottish official Test ended on 15th September, and the results are regarded again as being satisfactory. There were 86 pens of pullets and 16 pens of ducks in the competition, each pen consisting of 6 birds. The total egg production of the various grades was as follows:

In the case of duck eggs all those weighing 2 oz. and over were classified as "first grade"; "first grade"; the others were "under-weight. The average number of eggs laid per bird, after allowance is made for deaths, was, for pullets, 182.46, and for ducks, 163.05. The average weight of the total eggs laid per pullet was 23.67 lb., and per duck 24.69 lb., while the average weight of the eggs was 2 oz. 1 dram for pullets and 2 oz. 7 drams for ducks.

A detailed report of the Test was in preparation at the end of

the year.

The third Test of the series commenced on 15th October. Of 110 applications received, 98 pens of pullets and 8 pens of ducks were admitted, an increase of 4 pens over the number in the previous Test. In this Test each pen consists of 5 birds with 1 reserve bird and the pens are divided into the following sections :

The weather conditions to the end of the year, though variable and at times stormy, were not unfavourable to egg production and the yield shows a satisfactory increase as compared with the corresponding period in 1925.

STUD FARMS.

The numbers of the various classes of live stock at the Board's farms at Beechwood, Faillie Mains, and Knocknagael at 31st December 1926 were as follows:

In addition, 851 Blackface and Cheviot rams were in the various service districts, and were due to be returned to the farms early in January 1927.

SCOTTISH BEE-KEEPERS' ASSOCIATION.

It was decided to discontinue the Board's grants to the Scottish Bee-keepers' Association in view of the financial position and of the fact that the Board already spend considerable sums on bee-keeping through the Agricultural Colleges. Payment of the sum of £26. 19s. 9d. in respect of the grant earned in 1925 was made during the year.

MILK-RECORDING.

A grant from the Development Fund not exceeding £3,540 was authorised in aid of expenditure on the Scottish Milk Records Association's main or official milk-recording scheme during the year ending 31st March 1927.

During the calendar year 1926 the number of local societies affiliated to the Association was 41, representing 729 herds and approximately 29,000 cows tested. The corresponding figures for 1925 were 40 societies, 711 herds and 28,410 cows. Owing to the existing depression in the dairying industry much difficulty has been experienced by the Association, despite extensive propaganda, in persuading dairy farmers to incur the additional expenditure involved by participation in the Association's scheme.

The system of surprise check tests introduced in 1920 was continued. The total number of check tests made by recorders in 1926 was approximately equal to an average of two per herd. In addition, a considerable number of special check tests was carried out by the Assistant Superintendent. The results in both cases have on the whole agreed very closely in regard to both average milk yield and fat percentage with those of the recorders' ordinary tests.

The results of the tests carried out during the year indicate continued improvement in the milking properties of the herds tested by the Association.

The Association's scheme of private or unofficial milk records was continued in 1926 on the lines previously reported. A grant not exceeding £105 was authorised from the Agriculture (Scotland) Fund for the purposes of this scheme during the financial year 1926-27. The total membership in 1926 was 193, and the number of cows tested, 4,119. In 1925 the corresponding figures were 155 members and 3,283 cows. The arrangements under which members make their own tests under this scheme are reported to have been carried out satisfactorily during the year.

SCOTTISH NATIONAL MILK AND HEALTH ASSOCIATION. Particulars were given in previous Reports of the formation. and aims of this Association. The Association appointed an

Organiser and its activities during the year included lectures, demonstrations, propaganda work, etc.

Reference is made elsewhere in this Report to grants made to the Association from the Empire Marketing Fund in respect of feeding experiments with school children, and of a survey in connection with the utilisation of milk residues.

MILK AND DAIRIES (SCOTLAND) ACT, 1914.

In accordance with the requirements of Section 8 of the Act, the draft bye-laws of 115 local authorities prescribing the structure, lighting, ventilation, etc., of cowsheds and dairies and providing for the prevention of impurities in milk, etc., etc., were received from the Scottish Board of Health. These were returned to that Department with the observations and suggestions of the Board, whose concurrence is required before the bye-laws are confirmed.

AGRICULTURAL SHOWS.

The scheme for aiding local agricultural shows was continued in 1926, and, as in previous years, assistance was given to (a) small landholders' agricultural shows or agricultural shows at which there are classes confined to small landholders, and (b) agricultural shows in the Congested Districts of Scotland at which there are classes confined to small farmers' stock. Grants were given towards the provision of (a) prizes in the classes confined to small farmers' or small holders' stock, and (b) show equipment such as fencing, flakes, coops, etc. Special prizes for young breeding animals suitable to the different districts were also offered by the Board. The amounts awarded varied from £1 to £32 and the number of shows assisted was 40 as compared with 43 in 1925, viz. :-3 in Argyll, 1 in Ayr, 1 in Berwick, 1 in Bute, 1 in Dumfries, 2 in Caithness, 1 in Fife, 2 in Forfar, 6 in Inverness, 9 in Orkney, 1 in Perth, 3 in Ross and Cromarty, 6 in Shetland, 2 in Sutherland, and 1 in West Lothian. It is noteworthy that with the assistance given through the scheme it has been found possible to arrange at certain shows in Dumfries, Forfar, Perth and West Lothian, classes confined to small holders; while the small holders on settlements established by the Board at Thirdpart in Fifeshire and Gagie in Forfarshire were enabled to inaugurate shows which, it is hoped, will become annual events.

PROVISION OF VETERINARY SERVICES.

The assistance given in former years by the Board in aid of veterinary services for small holders' stock in Shetland and Sutherland was continued in 1926.

The grant for Shetland was 75% of a salary not exceeding £300 paid to the County Veterinary Surgeon on condition that the Veterinary Surgeon provided professional services and necessary medicines to small holders at a fixed scale of charges.