(5) Dr. A. W. Greenwood, Animal Breeding Research INVESTIGATION OF FARM ECONOMICS. In accordance with one of the recommendations of the Committee on Farm Economics and Accounting, which reported in 1926 (see Fifteenth Report, p. 45), the Board decided to undertake, following on the appointment of an Advisory Officer in Farm Economics, an investigation of the profitableness of Scottish farming in three of its main branches, viz., the production of crops for sale, cattle feeding, and dairying, which are carried on chiefly in the east and south-east, the north-east, and the south-west respectively. The three Colleges of Agriculture made the services of their County Organisers available for the purpose of obtaining the co-operation of a sufficient number of farmers in the area of each College, and of transmitting their accounts to the Board, on the footing that the identity of the farmer should not be disclosed, if so desired, to any one but the Organiser concerned. The Board prepared forms for the recording of financial and statistical data, and the necessary arrangements were in progress at the end of the year. SCOTTISH WOMEN'S RURAL INSTITUTES. The steady increase in the number and membership of the Institutes was maintained throughout 1927. At the close of the year there were 625 Institutes with a membership of approximately 35,000. Reference was made in the last Report to the proposals under discussion for the organisation and financial reconstruction of the movement on the expiry at 31st October 1927 of the five years' period covered by the annual grants of £3,000 made to the Central Council of the Institutes out of the money provided by Section 3 of the Corn Production Acts (Repeal) Act, 1921. Under the scheme of organisation as finally adjusted and adopted, the County Federations are responsible for promoting and arranging the formation of new Institutes and maintaining the efficiency of existing Institutes. They are also responsible for meeting their own administrative expenses and a proportionate share of the expenses of the Central Council. Except in the south-west, the Federations are still grouped together in Areas for organisation and the maintenance of Area offices. A Central Council composed of representatives elected by the County Federations met in November to take over the work of the retiring Central Council, and to appoint an executive and finance committee and other sub-committees. It will be the duty of the Central Council to maintain the movement on a national basis, and to promote the common and concerted activities of the federated Institutes. A grant of £1,000 was given from the Development Fund to assist the organisation and continued development of the movement during the year ending 31st October 1928. This grant will be used mainly in fostering and extending the movement in outlying districts. As in previous years, shows for the exhibition of handicrafts and farm and garden produce were organised by the Institutes in various parts of the country, either in co-operation with the local agricultural or horticultural societies or on independent lines. At the Highland and Agricultural Society's Show held in Edinburgh, the South-Eastern and North-Western Areas shared a stand and provided a most interesting exhibit comprising a living-room and nursery completely furnished by Institute members. A most successful exhibition was also arranged at the Royal Northern Show at Aberdeen. The Carnegie Trustees renewed for a period of three years their grant in aid of the organisation of classes in dramatic art, folk-dancing and choir-singing in the Institutes in the NorthWestern Area, and also provided a grant for the same period to be used in arranging similar classes in other parts of the country. This action of the Carnegie Trustees is much appreciated by the Institutes and the classes are proving of great interest and benefit. The classes of instruction and tests in handicrafts, arranged by the Handicrafts Guild with the assistance of the grant provided for that purpose from the Development Fund, have become increasingly popular amongst the members of the Institutes. During the year classes were held at various centres in embroidery, leatherwork and basketry, while a class in rugmaking held in Shetland was well attended and revived interest in an old industry that had almost died out in the Islands. A gratifying result of the classes arranged under this scheme is the number of students who, having successfully passed the tests, are now giving demonstrations and tuition in handicrafts in the Institutes. The magazine of the Institutes, "Scottish Home and Country," reached a circulation of 11,500. Arrangements are being made to publish it monthly during 1928. AGRICULTURAL SURVEYS. During the year surveys were made of two parishes in Berwickshire, one in Wigtownshire, and one in Dumfries-shire, the parishes being selected with a view to various types of farming being embraced in the survey. At the end of the year the reports were being finally adjusted in collaboration with Sir James Davidson and Mr J. H. Milne Home. Much useful information has been collected regarding the agriculture of the districts of which the parishes surveyed were representative. Summaries of the reports will appear in the Scottish Journal of Agriculture for January and April 1928. EMPIRE MARKETING BOARD. As was stated in their last Report the Board agreed to co-operate with the Empire Marketing Board and to undertake the administration of grants from the Empire Marketing Fund in aid of Scottish agricultural schemes. A considerable number of applications for grants from the fund was referred during the year to the Board for their observations, while the following schemes relating particularly to Scotland were dealt with : Research on Pastures and Dietetics in Kenya Colony.-The scheme of research on nutritional problems relating to the native population and to animals in Kenya undertaken by the Rowett Research Institute on behalf of the Empire Marketing Board was continued during the year under review. Reference to the scheme is made on page 33. Research into Mineral Deficiencies of Pastures and Crops in Palestine. The Empire Marketing Board during the year intimated approval to a grant of £1,500 to equal a similar grant from the Zionist Organisation to meet the cost of research into mineral deficiencies of pastures and crops in Palestine. Representatives of the Zionist Organisation and the Empire Marketing Board act jointly as an Executive Authority for the administration of financial matters relating to the scheme. The research work is being carried out in close conjunction with the Rowett Research Institute and a member of the staff of the Institute has been seconded for service under the scheme. Investigation into the Utilisation and Marketing of Milk and Milk Products.-The preliminary survey of the results of previous investigations on the utilisation of milk residues was begun in the early part of the year. At the end of the year the temporary investigator was in the United States of America making inquiries as to the methods of utilising milk residues in that country. Research in Poultry Feeding.-During the year the Empire Marketing Board intimated approval to a scheme formulated by the Ministry of Agriculture for Northern Ireland for research into poultry nutrition, diseases, and marketing. It was arranged that fundamental research in poultry nutrition under this scheme should be carried out at the Rowett Research Institute, and grants were sanctioned from the Empire Marketing Fund to meet the cost of additional poultry equipment and the salary of a physiologist to be appointed to the staff of the Institute. Arrangements for this work were under consideration at the end of the year. Marketing of Eggs.-The Empire Marketing Board have approved a grant in aid of a scheme for the improvement of the organisation of egg marketing in Scotland. The scheme involves. (1) The formation of District Egg Trade Associations, the objects of which would be to promote the interests of the local poultry industry by organising, improving, and extending the marketing system, and to make and enforce regulations to be observed by the members of the Association. (2) The appointment to the staff of the Board for a period of five years of a Marketing Officer who would be charged with advisory duties and the conduct of propaganda in selected districts, and who would also undertake during that period inspection of eggs on behalf of the new Associations. (3) Demonstrations of approved egg marketing methods by the staffs of the three Scottish Agricultural Colleges. It is hoped to bring the scheme into operation early in 1928. Research in Poultry-Breeding.-An application was received from the Animal Breeding Research Department, Edinburgh University, for a grant from the Empire Marketing Fund for the development of research in poultry-breeding at the Department. The application was forwarded to the Empire Marketing Board and was under consideration at the end of the year. Research in Pig-Feeding.-An application was received from the Scottish Pig Industry Committee for a grant from the Empire Marketing Board in aid of a proposed scheme of research in pig-feeding to be carried out under the direction of Dr. Orr of the Rowett Research Institute. The proposed scheme provides for fundamental research to be conducted at the Institute, massfeeding experiments, bacon-curing experiments, and a statistical investigation of feeding costs. The scheme was under consideration at the end of the year. Animal Breeding Research Department, Edinburgh University. The Empire Marketing Board sanctioned a grant of £10,000 towards the endowment of the Animal Breeding Research Department, Edinburgh University, under the scheme for the general development of the Department referred to on page 34. An application was received from the Department for a grant towards the establishment of a museum for the preservation of books, documents, illustrations, and other material of historical and scientific value in connection with Animal Breeding. The application was under consideration at the end of the year. Investigation into Virus Disease in Potatoes.-An application was received from the Scottish Society for Research in Plant Breeding for a grant from the Empire Marketing Fund in aid of a proposed scheme of investigation into virus disease in potatoes. The application was recommended to the Empire Marketing Board but no decision had been intimated at the end of the year. Investigation into Bovine Abortion.-Proposals were received from the Animal Diseases Research Association for the institution of a scheme of research into bovine contagious abortion. These proposals were under consideration by the Board, in consultation with the Ministry of Agriculture and Fisheries, at the close of the year. Quarantine Station for Live Stock in Scotland.-Owing to the restrictions imposed by the Dominions and other countries on the importation of live stock from Great Britain, following on outbreaks of foot-and-mouth disease in this country, there has been a serious decline in the export of live stock. It was considered that the establishment of quarantine stations would be calculated to lead to some modifications of these restrictions, and the Empire Marketing Board agreed to contribute towards the cost of the establishment and maintenance of a station at Glasgow, as well as at London and Liverpool. The Highland and Agricultural Society of Scotland have agreed to take the initial steps for the establishment of the Glasgow station and to undertake its management when established. It has been arranged that the Ministry of Agriculture and Fisheries shall administer the Empire Marketing Fund grants for this scheme, in view of the fact that that Department is responsible for the administration of the Diseases of Animals Acts. Survey of Dairy Research.-At the request of the Empire Marketing Board, Professor R. H. Leitch, Advisory Officer in Milk Utilisation at the West of Scotland Agricultural College, was seconded for a period of seven months to undertake a survey of dairy research within the Empire. Dairy Research Committee.-The Empire Marketing Board, following on a recommendation made by the Imperial Agricultural Research Conference, have set up a Dairy Research Committee representative of agricultural and research departments throughout the Empire for the purpose of discussing schemes of mutual assistance in the sphere of Dairy Research. Professor R. H. Leitch, of the West of Scotland Agricultural College, has been appointed as one of the Scottish representatives on the Committee. Exhibitions of Agricultural Produce.-The Board have agreed to co-operate with the Empire Marketing Board and the Ministry of Agriculture and Fisheries in staging exhibits of agricultural products at exhibitions, etc., and at the end of the year arrangements were being made for an exhibit of Scottish agricultural products at the British Industries Fair to be held in February 1928. NATIONAL DIPLOMA IN AGRICULTURE. The National Diploma in Agriculture is awarded as the result of an examination conducted by a Board of Examiners appointed jointly by the Royal Agricultural Society of England and the Highland and Agricultural Society of Scotland. Representatives of the Ministry of Agriculture and Fisheries and of the Board of Agriculture for Scotland have seats on the Board of Examiners. D |