SILVER LEAF (SCOTLAND) ORDER, 1922.

A number of fresh outbreaks of Silver Leaf (Stereum purpureum) were reported during the year. The growers concerned were advised as to the treatment of the affected trees, and it was found afterwards that they had adopted the prescribed measures of control.

IMPORTATION OF ELM TREES (PROHIBITION) (SCOTLAND) ORDER,

1927.

The Board, at the request of the Forestry Commission, made the above Order which prohibited as from 1st February 1927 the landing in Scotland of any living elm tree from any European country other than England and Wales, Ireland, the Channel Islands, and the Isle of Man. The Order was made to prevent the introduction of pests of the elm tree, including Graphium ulmi and Micrococcus ulmi.

The arrival of two consignments of elm trees was subsequently reported to the Board by H.M. Customs. The Board in each case ordered either the destruction or return to the country of origin of the consignment along with the packing material, etc. In one case the consignment was returned to the country of origin and in the other the importer elected to have the trees destroyed by fire.

FERTILISERS AND FEEDING STUFFS ACT, 1906.

The number of samples analysed during the year by official agricultural analysts appointed under the Act by local authorities in Scotland was 418, comprising 313 samples of fertilisers and 105 samples of feeding stuffs. In addition, there was one sample of fertiliser in respect of which no guarantee under the Act had been furnished by the vendor. On analysis, 110 samples of fertilisers and 62 samples of feeding stuffs were found to be in accordance with the guarantees furnished in the sellers' invoices. Particulars in respect of the district of each local authority of the 418 samples analysed are given in Appendix No. 4.

FERTILISERS AND FEEDING STUFFS ACT, 1926.

The main provisions of the Act were explained in the Board's last Report.

The Board brought the requirements of the Act to the notice of the local authorities under the Diseases of Animals Act, 1894, who are responsible for the local administration of the Act in Scotland.

The Advisory Committee set up in accordance with the provisions of the Act by the Minister of Agriculture and Fisheries and the Board jointly made recommendations regarding the Regulations to be made under the Act, etc. The terms of these Regulations were, however, still under consideration at the end of the year, and it may not be practicable to bring the Act into force before the summer of 1928.

MARKETS AND FAIRS (WEIGHING OF CATTLE) ACTS,
1887 TO 1926.

Sixty-one applications for exemption from the requirements of the Acts as to the provision of weighing facilities in respect of live stock sales held at markets and fairs were received during the year. After enquiry into the circumstances of each case, the Board granted exemption for various periods. No new applications were received, but in two cases in which exemption had previously been granted it was intimated that the live stock sales had been discontinued.

The Act of 1926 provides that as from 1st January 1927, unless specifically exempted by the Board, an auctioneer shall not offer for sale in any market, fair, or mart, in or near which a weighing-machine is provided, any bulls, cows, oxen, or heifers which are fit for immediate slaughter unless they have been weighed on the weighing-machine and their weight as so ascertained is disclosed to intending purchasers at the time of the offer for sale. No application for exemption from this requirement was received by the Board during the year.

SALE OF FOOD AND DRUGS ACTS, 1875 TO 1907.

Sampling at Ports.-The number of samples taken during the year at Scottish ports by officers of H.M. Customs in accordance with Section 1 of the Sale of Food and Drugs Act, 1899, as amended by Section 5 of the Butter and Margarine Act, 1907, was 180. Of these, 58 were samples of butter, 55 of margarine, 18 of cheese, and 49 of milk and cream.

Fancy Names for Margarine.-Under Section 8 of the Butter and Margarine Act, 1907, 46 names were approved by the Board for use in connection with margarine, a decrease of 170 on the number for the previous year.

X. STATISTICS AND INTELLIGENCE.

STATISTICS.

(1). Annual Agricultural Returns.-The schedules for the Agricultural Returns were as usual issued and collected by the local officers of Customs and Excise. The total number of schedules collected was 68,723 as compared with 68,749 in the preceding year. Most of the schedules were in the Board's hands before the middle of August, but it was not possible to complete the collection of the returns until November 10th. It was found necessary in one case to institute proceedings against an occupier of agricultural land, who, despite repeated reminders, failed to furnish his return. The occupier, who pleaded guilty, was fined £2 with the alternative of seven days' imprisonment.

A Preliminary Statement based on 70 per cent. of the returns was issued on 29th August, while the Abstract of the finally revised returns was issued on 20th December.

Estimates of the yield of crops were received from the Board's Crop Reporters in November. The Preliminary Statement of

F

the Produce of Grain, Hay, Potatoes, Roots, etc., was issued on 27th December.

The Board propose to continue the practice inaugurated last year of including in one publication the particulars formerly comprised in Parts I. and II. of the Agricultural Statistics. Part I. of the Statistics for 1927 in the new form was in course of preparation at the end of the year.

(2). Annual Deer Forest Returns.-The schedules for the returns of live stock on deer forests in terms of Section 2 (1) of the Act of 1925, were issued and collected directly by the Board. The total number returned was 188. The particulars supplied have been abstracted and will be summarised in Part I. of the Agricultural Statistics.

With a view to ascertaining the maximum extent to which deer forests contribute towards the production of food, apart from game, the Board issued on 1st November a supplementary schedule to all who had received the statutory schedule on the 4th June. The return was voluntary, and occupiers were invited to state the maximum number of cattle and sheep carried on the forest at any period in the year. Of the 188 schedules issued, 135 were returned, and the information obtained will also be included in Part I. of the Agricultural Statistics for 1927.

(3). Return of Varieties of Potatoes.-A form of enquiry regarding the varieties of potatoes grown by occupiers of holdings on which one acre or more of potatoes were grown in 1927 was again issued with the schedule for the Annual Agricultural Returns. The number of varieties distinguished was 46. A statement showing the results of the enquiry was issued on 8th October and was published in the Scottish Journal of Agriculture for January 1928.

(4). Census of Production.-The report on the Census of Agricultural Production in Scotland, taken in 1925, was in preparation, and was at the end of the year in course of final adjustment for submission to the Board.

(5). Broadcasting of Market Prices.-The Board have continued to prepare a weekly bulletin on "Scottish Market Prices for Farmers" which is broadcast each Friday evening from all the Scottish Wireless Stations of the British Broadcasting Corporation.

PUBLICATIONS, ETC.

With the exception of the Monthly Agricultural Report, Leaflets, and the series of Miscellaneous Publications, the distribution and sale of the publications prepared by the Board are in the hands of H.M. Stationery Office. There is no free list for the Board's priced publications, so far as Home Institutions are concerned, but copies are still sent free of charge to certain selected Dominion and Foreign Departments with which arrangements have been made for an interchange of publications.

The following publications have been issued during the year :— Fifteenth Report of the Board, being for the year ended 31st December 1926 (Cmd. 2854).

Agricultural Statistics, 1926.-Part I.-Acreage and Production of Crops and Number of Live Stock in Scotland. Part II.-Prices of Grain, Live Stock, and other Agricultural Produce in Scotland, and Supplies of Live Stock at certain Markets.

Monthly Agricultural Report.-The nature of this publication, which is issued free of charge, was indicated in the Board's Twelfth Report. Throughout 1927 the number of copies of the report issued each month was about 850, including 150 copies supplied to the Agricultural Meteorological Committee for circulation with its Monthly Report. Weekly Summary of Market Prices.-The Board have continued to issue a cyclostyled summary of market prices each week to Scottish newspapers and certain Government Departments interested; the summary is not distributed to the public generally, but copies are supplied to individuals or firms whose contracts with Government Departments are based on the quotations furnished to the Board by their Market Reporters.

Part II. of the Agricultural Statistics for 1927, comprising tables giving the prices of grain, live stock, and other agricultural produce, was in preparation at the end of the year.

Leaflets. No new leaflet was issued during the year. The ordinary rate for supplies of leaflets is 1d. each or 9d. per dozen. Leaflets required by Education Authorities, Agricultural Colleges, Farmers' Clubs, Allotment Societies, etc., for distribution are supplied at the rate of 4s. per 100, carriage free.

Miscellaneous Publications, No. 2 (1927 Edition).-Register of Potato Crops of Immune Varieties Inspected and Certified during 1927. Price 2s., post free.

Miscellaneous Publications, No. 3 (Revised Edition).-Maintenance of Pure and Vigorous Stocks of Immune Varieties of Potatoes. Price ls., post free.

Miscellaneous Publications, No. 7.-The Residual Values of Feeding Stuffs and Fertilisers. Report by a Joint Committee of Scientific and Professional Men. Price 6d., post free.

The Scottish Journal of Agriculture.-The number of copies printed of the January issue was 1,500, and that of the April, July, and October issues, 1,625. Copies may be purchased through any bookseller, or direct from H.M.

Stationery Office, 120 George Street, Edinburgh, price ls., or with postage 1s. 2d.; annual subscription 4s., or with postage 4s. 6d.

Besides their own leaflets the Board have distributed large numbers of those issued by the Ministry of Agriculture and Fisheries. The Board have also dealt with many miscellaneous enquiries relating to agricultural practice, statistics, etc., and have maintained the usual exchange of publications with Dominion and Foreign Departments of Agriculture.

During the year the Board have supplied regularly the information required by the International Institute of Agriculture for their periodical bulletins, and have furnished replies to various questionnaires issued by the Institute.

XI. PUBLIC WORKS IN CONGESTED DISTRICTS. Financial assistance was offered by the Board during the year ended 31st December 1927 in the following cases :—

Shetland Woollen Industries Association.-Reference was made in the last Report to the assistance given by the Board towards the cost of advertising the Trade Mark registered for use by this Association in the marketing of Shetland woollen goods of an approved standard. The scheme of advertising was completed in April, and the full amount of the Board's grant of £400 was advanced.