than relatively innocuous weeds, and farmers can utilise without danger seeds which, owing to the presence of dodder, might be unsuitable for sowing in warmer climates. For the purpose of effecting economy in the operation of their Seed-Testing Station, the Board accordingly issued general licences which render it unnecessary for sellers of seeds in Scotland to make any statement in terms of the Regulations as to the presence of dodder, unless this information is specifically demanded by the purchaser or unless the purchaser resides or carries on business in England or Wales or in Ireland. During the year the Board received fifteen applications for the issue of licences under the Act in respect of private seed testing stations. After due investigation, licences were granted in respect of six of these stations; in three cases the authority covered the testing of all seeds, but in the other cases the authority applied only to certain species. The issue of licences in respect of two stations was refused, and the remaining seven applications were still under consideration at the end of the year. Licences in respect of private seed testing stations are granted only for the testing of seeds purchased or intended for sale by the licensees, and on condition that satisfactory arrangements are made to carry out the tests. With a view to assisting firms in complying with the latter condition, a limited number of employees of seed merchants are to be accepted each season, on payment of a premium, for a course of instruction in the methods of seed testing followed at the Board's Official Seed-Testing Station.

The effect of the Act on the number of samples of seed tested at the Board's Station is not shown in this Report, the statistics of the testing of samples being made up for the seed-testing year ending 31st July 1921.

LAND DRAINAGE AND RECLAMATION.

The Forth Conservancy Order Confirmation Act, 1921, confirming the Provisional Order promoted for the constitution of a Forth Conservancy Board, received Royal Assent on 12th May 1921. As required by the Act, the Board of Agriculture for Scotland convened the first meeting of the Conservancy Board, on which, also in terms of the Act, they have one representative. The Conservancy Board have under consideration schemes for the reclamation of land on the foreshores of the River Forth which might suitably provide for the employment of labour, and Treasury approval to the undertaking of a survey for this purpose has been obtained.

In the case of the proposed River Spey Conservancy Board, referred to in last year's Report, the Board learned early in the year that a private Bill, entitled the Lochaber Water Power Bill, was being promoted and that the proposals in the Bill included one for the diversion of a portion of the head-waters of the Spey into a neighbouring river system. The effect of this proposal would be largely to mitigate flooding

in the main stream of the River Spey. The Board made a report on the subject and this was laid before the Committee of the House of Commons which dealt with the Bill. On 28th July 1921, the Lochaber Water Power Act, 1921, was passed, and the Board do not therefore propose to take any further action with regard to the proposed Conservancy Board for the River Spey.

The experiments in connection with the reclamation of an area of moss land at Lochar Moss in the County of Dumfries were continued during the year. The drainage of the experimental area was completed, and the land is now being treated with artificial manures with a view to its preparation for cultivation.

The agricultural survey of part of Flanders Moss in the Counties of Stirling and Perth (referred to in the Board's Eighth Report) was completed during the year. The drainage of the Moss, which appears to offer no special difficulty, was considered to be the first operation necessary for the reclamation of the area. Preliminary to the execution of any drainage operations it was, however, necessary to have a survey made of the levels. Treasury authority was obtained for the employment of an engineer for this purpose and his report is awaited.

The Board's attention was drawn to the extensive damage caused by the flooding of the River Isla. A report on the subject was prepared by one of their surveyors, who after an inspection of the valleys of the Rivers Isla and Ericht, Dean Water, and the River Tay between Perth and its confluence with the River Isla, advised that permanent improvement could only be effected by the adoption of measures which would control the "run off" water from the upper reaches of the Tay and its tributaries.

In the case of the River Cree, Kirkcudbrightshire, it was reported that farmers and others interested were prepared to co-operate in a scheme with a view to mitigating the floods that occur in this valley. A report was obtained on the subject and this was transmitted to the Agricultural Committee for appropriate action.

LAND IMPROVEMENT AND DRAINAGE WORK FOR THE ALLEVIATION

OF UNEMPLOYMENT.

In consequence of the abnormal amount of unemployment that developed in the autumn of the year, the Board were requested by the Government to formulate a suitable scheme which, in addition to meeting the primary condition of alleviating unemployment, could be recommended also in the interests. of agricultural development.

The Board in the beginning of October accordingly prepared a scheme under which persons interested in land would be offered, subject to certain conditions, financial assistance to undertake operations for the drainage and reclamation of land. The primary object of the scheme was to assist in the

alleviation of unemployment by offering a grant to induce landlords and others to utilise unemployed labour in carrying out improvements that had been deferred as a result of the scarcity and high cost of labour and material.

The Board on 26th October consulted the Advisory Committee of the Scottish Council of Agriculture on the subject, and two days later they held a conference with certain local authorities for the purpose of discussing the draft proposals, and of ascertaining in what ways local authorities might best be able to assist the Board in carrying out such a scheme.

After the conference the Board prepared definite proposals for approval, but authority to put them into operation was not

received until 9th December.

Briefly, the Board were authorised to defray half of the cost of approved works, subject to the conditions that the Government subsidy would in no case exceed £10 per acre of land drained, or half of the total cost of the whole works, or the amount of the wages of the unemployed men engaged on the works, whichever of these three amounts might be the least. It was further provided that labour must either be obtained through the Labour Exchanges, or, if engaged directly by the applicant, must be composed to the extent of 75 per cent. of ex-service men who were out of employment. The majority of the civilians engaged should be married men, if available. The applications for grants were to be addressed to the County Council of the area, who would report to the Board with particular reference to local conditions regarding unemployment, supply of labour, and proposed wages. It was a condition of the grant that the approved works should be completed to the satisfaction of the Board.

On the receipt of authority to give effect to the scheme, the Board communicated the proposals to the press and to the Agricultural Committees and Local Authorities.

At 31st December, eight applications for grants, amounting in all to £3,372, had been received and were under consideration.

AGRICULTURAL CO-OPERATION.

During the year under review the Board continued their efforts to secure an arrangement between the Scottish Agricultural Organisation Society and the Scottish Smallholders' Organisation which would avoid wasteful overlapping, either by an allocation of areas or otherwise, but without great success. Each of these Organisations had an opportunity of discussing with Scottish Members of Parliament their case for the continuance of State support for the carrying out of their operations, and the Scottish Smallholders' Organisation also sent a deputation to make representations to the Secretary for Scotland on the subject. As a result of these meetings the Board, acting on the instructions of the Secretary for Scotland, issued an invitation to both Organisations to meet in conference, with a view to the amalgamation of the Organisations.

For the year 1921, the Development Commissioners agreed to an interim payment of £1,500 to enable the Scottish Agricultural Organisation Society to carry on its work, but reserved for further consideration the total grant that should be paid to the Society in respect of the year in question. A modified grant was made to the Scottish Smallholders' Organisation for the year 1921.

SCOTTISH WOMEN'S RURAL INSTITUTES.

Full particulars in regard to Scottish Women's Rural Institutes are given in the Annual Handbook and Report, issued as a separate publication. During the year the number and membership showed steady increase, and at the close of 1921 there were 209 Institutes with an approximate membership of 13,000, as compared with 150 Institutes with an approximate membership of 10,000 in 1920. Two Institutes have suspended their meetings. Membership and percentage attendance in the older Institutes have been satisfactorily maintained and form an indication of steadily sustained interest.

Organisation. The Constitution adopted by the Conference in 1920 is now in operation. The Committees have undertaken work and responsibility varying in degree, but which may on the whole be regarded as satisfactory in view of the prevailing inexperience of rural women in public work. The Board have not been able to obtain sanction to the provision of funds to enable them to meet the request of the Institutes for the continuance of trained service from the Board's staff. The further success of the movement, both in regard to organisation and intelligence, will therefore depend largely on the ability of the Institutes to obtain efficient service when working on a voluntary basis.

Education.-There has been a marked educational development in the Institutes that have been established for several years. At the request of the North-Eastern and North-Western Area Committees the Board arranged for three days' courses of study in the principles underlying Institute work and organisation, and for demonstrations in handicrafts, and in the utilisation of farm and garden produce. There was an attendance of 57 to 89 members at Aberdeen, and of 42 to 87 at Fort William. A day-and-a-half course for the South-Eastern Area was attended by 50 to 70 members. These figures may be regarded as satisfactory, more especially in view of the difficulties in railway travelling at that period, owing to the strike. The Central Area have applied for a three days' course on similar lines next year, and the South-Western Area for a course of shorter duration. The Institutes continue to form a centre for agricultural education, providing an audience anxious for instruction and willing to carry it into practice by means of competitions and exhibits. Although incomplete, the returns

submitted by local Honorary Secretaries record that 692 lectures and demonstrations at Institute meetings have been given in homecrafts, e.g., scientific food conservation, rural handicrafts, matters relating to the health of the family, etc., 112 in beekeeping, dairying, gardening, and poultry, and 337 in miscellaneous subjects. Short intensive classes in connection with a series of Institutes at a distance from educational centres were arranged with the Glasgow College of Domestic Science and the experiment met with marked success. Classes on somewhat similar lines in agriculture and homecrafts have also been organised by the Institutes in conjunction with the Agricultural Colleges or Education Authorities. As in previous years the work of the Board's staff has consisted largely in the preparation of leaflets, in the supplying of information, in revisiting Institutes with a view to developing the educational side of their work, and in rendering trained assistance in matters of organisation.

Library Scheme.—The Carnegie Trustees have intimated to the Board their willingness to continue the Women's Rural Institute Library Scheme for a further period of one year. The scheme is of great benefit to members in isolated places where the Education Authority has as yet taken no action for the provision of library facilities. The Board have suggested to Institutes the purchase of books of reference in connection with technical subjects of interest.

Shows and Exhibitions.-As in previous years the Board have advised, where requested to do so, in connection with the organisation of shows and exhibitions. Points for judging have been drawn up and issued, and the necessity for obtaining the services of competent judges to report on the exhibits has been emphasised. Considerable advance has been made by the Institutes in details of organisation and in the standard of work exhibited. The Central Area Committee made themselves responsible for the exhibit at the Highland and Agricultural Society's Show in 1921. The success hitherto achieved has been instrumental in inducing the Society to undertake the experiment of an Industrial Section at their Show in 1922, which, if successful, should encourage a good standard in rural domestic economy. Local and County Shows have been held in the Counties of Aberdeen, Argyll, Ayr, Berwick, Caithness, Forfar, Inverness, Kirkcudbright, Lanark, Midlothian, Perth, Ross, and Wigtown.

Community Work.-Institutes have shown activity in efforts that immediately benefit their own district, e.g., providing hålls, pianos, stoves for cookery demonstrations, catering at local shows and organising recreation. They have also responded to appeals from hospitals and relief fund organisations. The Board have been concerned only indirectly with this important aspect of the movement which tends towards maintaining the community sense in rural districts.