An article on the disease by Principal Gaiger and Mr Dalling has been published.

Work on Scrapie and Trembling is in contemplation and plans for investigation have been made.

DISEASES OF SHEEP, ETC.

The work carried on by Dr. M'Gowan by means of a grant from the Board has, on the establishment of the Animal Diseases Research Association, been brought to an end. Dr. M'Gowan investigated and published papers on distemper in pigs, braxy in hares, echthyma in sheep, and the relation of climate and other secondary factors to certain diseases in animals.

During the year the Board were approached by the Directors of the Highland and Agricultural Society for financial assistance to enable them to continue an investigation into the disease known as "Grass Sickness" in horses. The investigation, conducted by the Society during the years 1918 and 1919, had reached a stage where it was thought desirable to employ the services of a whole-time investigator, and for the purposes of the investigations a sum of £1,000 was estimated to be required. Of this sum the Board agreed to provid £500, the balance being provided by the Society from funds at their disposal.

Dr. J. W. Tocher was appointed bacteriologist, and during the season of 1921 a number of experiments were carried out. An antitoxin was prepared for use prophylactically and distributed to the veterinary surgeons in all infected areas. The reports received have led the investigator to believe that the disease is due to the presence in the stomach and bowels of the affected animal of Bacillus Botulinus, which generates a toxin, the effect of which is to cause a gradual paralysis of the bowel. The investigation is being continued.

CLYDESDALE HORSE SOCIETY.

Enquiry into "Joint Ill" in Foals.

This investigation was continued during 1921, and experiments were made in the use of vaccine and serum in the prevention of Joint Ill. In all, 93 animals were treated, of which only 5 died. A full report of the enquiry will be submitted to the Clydesdale Horse Society by the Scientific Sub-Committee who were responsible for the investigation.

SCOTTISH SOCIETY FOR RESEARCH IN PLANT BREEDING.

Mr Montagu Drummond, B.A., F.L.S., from the Botany Department of the University of Glasgow, was appointed

Director of the station, and took up duty on 1st July. Mr William Robb, late Assistant to Dr. Wilson at St. Andrews, was appointed Assistant Director.

The promise made by the Secretary for Scotland and mentioned in last year's Report was fulfilled by the payment to the Society during the year of a grant of £22,363 from the Agriculture (Scotland) Fund towards the establishment of the station and the provision of an endowment fund, the Society having collected a similar amount.

A grant from the Development Fund in aid of the maintenance expenditure of the Society has also been sanctioned by the Treasury.

The work in operation and in contemplation for the coming year consists of the collection and multiplication of varieties of oats, wheat, barley, potatoes, turnips and swedes, and grasses and clovers.

Visits were paid to the station during the summer by the Scottish Chamber of Agriculture, the Agricultural Education Association, the staffs and students of the Agricultural Colleges, and representative farmers.

VIII. AGRICULTURAL DEVELOPMENT.

IMPROVEMENT OF LIVE STOCK.

HORSE-BREEDING.

Horse-Breeding Act, 1918.-The requirements of this Act have been stated in previous Reports. The following table shows the number of applications for licences received in respect of the various breeds or types of stallions and the number of licences issued and refused in each case during 1921 :

The corresponding numbers for the season 1920 were :-872 applications, 792 licences issued, and 80 refused.

In 23 cases appeals were made against refusals to grant licences, and of these 13 were successful, the original decisions being revoked. Licences were refused during the year on the following grounds -Stringhalt, 4; Shivering, 1; Roaring or Whistling, 10; Sidebone, 10; Bone Spavin, 3; Cataract, 1; Defective Genital Organs, 4; and Defective Conformation, 4.

One case of contravention of the Act was brought to the notice of the Board during the year. The owner concerned was convicted of having travelled an unlicensed stallion for service and was fined £10.

The Board decided, at the instance of the Treasury, to raise from 10s. 6d. to £1. 1s. the fee for licensing a pedigree stallion of not more than 15 hands in height. The Horse Breeding (Scotland) Regulations, 1921, incorporate this alteration and the fee for a licence is now £1. 1s. for all classes of stallions.

Preparations for the administration of the Act during 1922 were completed in October. At the request of the Clydesdale Horse Society a Committee of that Society conferred with representatives of the Board on 19th October, before the arrangements for 1922 were completed, in order to discuss questions arising out of the experience of the preceding year. The matters under consideration included :-Special cases of rejection of stallions during 1921; Panel of Veterinary Surgeons; Suggested reciprocal arrangements with the Government of Northern Ireland; Statistics of the operations in 1921.

Heavy Horse Breeding.-The number of Horse-Breeding Societies approved in 1921 for the purposes of this scheme was 95, as compared with 102 in 1920. The assistance to Societies during the year took the same form as in previous years, viz. :— a contribution of one-half of the fees payable by small farmer members of these Societies in respect of the service of their mares by approved stallions, such contribution not to exceed 25s. per mare. The Board also awarded eight special grants of £20 each to Societies in Orkney and the western islands to assist them in securing stallions from the mainland. During the year, 150 stallions were employed, as compared with 162 in 1920. During the year under review the demand for horses further declined and the depreciation in their money value has been accentuated. These features, which were noticed in last year's Report, are attributable to the changed conditions since the termination of the war. It is not surprising therefore that the demand for the services of stallions showed a marked decrease in 1921. The following table shows the results of the operations of the scheme during the past year, as compared with 1920 :—

Light Horse Breeding.-This scheme was continued on the same lines as in previous years. Six King's Premiums of £150 each and five Board's Premiums of £105 each were awarded for the services of approved Thoroughbred or Hunter Stallions. Particulars of the services of the Premium Stallions in 1920 and 1921 are as follows:

In the last Report it was pointed out that in spite of the efforts of the Board and of the County Committees to stimulate interest in light horse breeding, this scheme was not receiving adequate support from breeders in Scotland. In view of the fact that the results in 1921 have been even less encouraging than those of former years the Board have decided, after careful consideration, that continued expenditure on the scheme from the Agriculture (Scotland) Fund is not justified. It has been announced therefore that the scheme will be discontinued in 1922.

Army Mares for Breeding Purposes. Of the 157 mares transferred to the Board from the War Office, to which reference was made in previous Reports, 127 remained at the end of the year in the custody of farmers under certain conditions with a view to breeding horses suitable for the Army; 24, which proved unsuitable for breeding, were sold, and 6 died. The number of foals dropped was 108, but of these 16 died.

Highland Ponies.-Under the scheme for encouraging and improving the breeding of Highland ponies, 20 pony stallions owned by the Board travelled in the following districts during the season 1921 :-Skye, North Uist, South Uist, Barra, Glenelg, and Lochaber in Inverness-shire; Strathcarron, Gairloch, and Lewis in Ross-shire; Farr, Tongue, Dornoch, and Rogart in Sutherlandshire; Latheron in Caithness; and Shetland. One stallion stood at the Board's farm of Beechwood, Inverness,