At the Ainville Sub-Station work is being carried on to ascertain whether healthy stocks can be raised and maintained there in that condition. All the plants grown there were raised from the berry. Over 1,500 seedlings were raised and 1,000 seedlings were grown in the open. In a few of the progenies a small proportion of the seedlings appeared to become infected with virus disease at different stages of growth, and again the inference seemed to be that the disease had been transmitted through the seed.

Herbage. The main trend of the work in herbage plants was to develop improved pasture types of Perennial Ryegrass, Cocksfoot, and Timothy. Wild populations were studied and investigations made regarding the survival of certain growth forms under observed environmental conditions. Self-sterility problems and certain points in natural fertilisation were further studied.

Roots. In continuation of the investigations into the effects of inbreeding in Swedes a large number of bulbs were self-fertilised in pollen-proof bags and, in addition, two lines which had been chosen for mass multiplication were seeded under naturally isolated conditions.

Trials of 33 lines were conducted and further selections made on the basis of dry matter content. A yield trial was carried out in which average bulb weight and dry matter content of strains raised at the station were compared with those of parent stocks and similar commercial types.

Certain strains and commercial varieties were also tested for resistance to "Finger-and-Toe" disease, and selections made from what appeared to be the less susceptible plants.

HORTICULTURAL DEVELOPMENT.

PLANT DISEASES.

The scheme of investigation into the incidence of plant diseases in gardens and orchards, commenced in 1924, was continued during 1926. The work was under the charge of Mrs N. L. Alcock and her assistant, who are accommodated in the University Department laboratories at the Royal Botanic Garden, Edinburgh, through the courtesy of Professor Wright Smith. The value of the work was greatly enhanced by the facilities there provided in the library, museum, herbarium and greenhouses, and by the co-operation of the Garden staff.

About 500 inquiries were dealt with, and the assistance of the staff was sought by an increasing number of growers. Twelve papers on fungus diseases were published. The diseases dealt with included Onion Smut, in the control of which growers in the Lothians asked for guidance; Club Root in Cabbages; Black Rust in Oats; Rots of Tomatoes and their specific fungi; Phytophthora on Belladonna, a disease found to be widespread in drug gardens; a disease of Bracken which may indicate a means of controlling this pest; canker on Raspberry (Nectria rubi); and certain diseases affecting strawberries.

FRUIT SURVEY.

As was mentioned in the Board's last Report, arrangements were made in 1925 for a survey of orchards and fruit plantations to be carried out by the horticultural staffs of the three Agricultural Colleges, and in the year under review considerable progress was made, the areas visited being as under :

North. The counties of Aberdeen, Banff, Inverness, Kincardine, Moray, Nairn, and Ross.

East. Most of the raspberry-growing areas in the counties of Forfar, Perth and Fife (central); also, more generally, the counties of Berwick, Fife (north), Perth (south), and Roxburgh.

West. Most of the outlying areas in the counties of Argyll, Bute, Dumbarton, Dumfries, Kirkcudbright, Perth (west), Stirling, and Wigtown.

Much useful information has been obtained concerning the kinds and varieties of fruit grown, the cultural treatment adopted, and the occurrence of disease and insect pests. It is intended to have this information abstracted and summarised in report form on the completion of the survey. Meantime, it has been found that the survey is serving a highly useful purpose in affording a special opportunity for the giving of advice by the horticultural experts on the management of plantations and the control of disease.

DAIRY RESEARCH.

In November 1925 Mr John M. Hannah, Girvan Mains, Girvan, generously offered to the Governors of the West of Scotland Agricultural College for the purposes of an Agricultural College and Dairy School, part of the estate of Auchencruive, Ayrshire, including the mansion-house. The offer was made subject to certain conditions, one of which was to the effect that the Central College in Glasgow and the Dairy School at Kilmarnock should be removed to Auchencruive. The offer was considered by the College Governors at a special meeting held in Glasgow on 8th February 1926, but having regard to the conditions attached to the offer the Governors decided not to accept it.

Subsequently negotiations took place between Mr Hannah and representatives of the Board and of the College, and at a meeting held in Glasgow on 18th August between the Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State for Scotland and representatives of the College and of the University of Glasgow the question was further discussed.

In September Mr Hannah made a new offer to the Secretary of State for Scotland of the part of the estate in question "for the purpose of furthering agricultural education and research in the south-west of Scotland with special attention to the provision of short courses in agriculture and dairy research." Following on this offer the Secretary of State discussed the matter with representatives of the College and the University in Glasgow on 13th October, and on 26th October he again.

discussed it with representatives of the College. As a result of these meetings steps were being taken at the end of the year to form a Committee to be invested with the management of the Dairy Research Institute which it is proposed should be esta blished. The question whether the Dairy School and other departments of the College at Kilmarnock should be transferred to Auchencruive was under consideration by the Governors of the College.

STERILITY IN ANIMALS.

An application was received from Dr. F. A. E. Crew, as Convener of the Sub-Committee on Sterility appointed by the Scottish Committee of Research Workers, for a grant to meet the cost of (1) the proposed establishment of a central clearinghouse for the collection of specimens and of a central museum; and (2) the issue of a popular bulletin on sterility. The object of the scheme is to secure some measure of co-operation in the work of enquiry into sterility between the various research and teaching institutions in this country. The application was under consideration at the end of the year.

SCHEME OF GRADED SALARIES FOR RESEARCH WORKERS. The Board had under consideration during the year the question of the adoption for workers in the Scottish Agricultural Research Institutions of the system of graded salaries in operation in England.

The question was discussed with representatives of the Treasury and the Development Commission, when the principle of the application of the system was accepted. It is hoped to bring it into force in Scotland in 1927.

RESEARCH SCHOLARSHIPS IN AGRICULTURAL SCIENCE.

Of the two Scottish students to whom scholarships were awarded under this scheme in 1925, one relinquished his scholarship at the end of 1926 on receiving an appointment. The other scholar is continuing his studies during the second year of his scholarship at the Rowett Research Institute.

Two further scholarships were awarded to Scottish students during the year, each of the value of £200 per annum and tenable for three years. The first year of these scholarships will be spent at the Edinburgh and East of Scotland College of Agriculture and the London School of Hygiene and Tropical Medicine respectively.

TRAVELLING RESEARCH FELLOWSHIPS.

On the recommendation of the Advisory Committee on Agricultural Science the Board awarded a Fellowship to Mr William Robb, Director, Scottish Society for Research in Plant Breeding, to enable him to visit plant-breeding stations in Sweden and Denmark.

REPRESENTATION OF AGRICULTURAL SCIENCE AT INTERNATIONAL CONFERENCES.

Under the arrangements for the representation of British Agricultural Science at International Conferences, etc., the Advisory Committee on Agricultural Science selected the following Scottish representatives to attend the Conferences indicated :

(1) Professor J. Hendrick, North of Scotland College of
Agriculture, to attend the International Conference
on Soil Acidity and Absorption held in Holland in
April 1926.

(2) Dr. W. G. Ogg, Edinburgh and East of Scotland College
of Agriculture,-(a) to attend an excursion of Soil
Surveyors in Hungary arranged by the Committee for
the International Soil Map of Europe, (b) to attend
a Conference at Budapest, and (c) to study soil
survey methods on the Continent.
(3) Dr. H. E. Magee, Rowett Research Institute,-to
attend the International Physiological Congress at
Stockholm in August, and to visit the chief Agri-
cultural Experimental Stations in Sweden and Den-
mark.

FACILITIES IN SCOTLAND FOR DOMINION RESEARCH WORKERS. The Board agreed to co-operate in a scheme instituted by the Department of Scientific and Industrial Research for bringing Dominion scientific research workers into touch with research in this country. The object of the scheme, which had already been in partial operation, is that scientists selected by the respective Governments of the British Dominions or Colonies to undertake research work may, before beginning that work or in its early stages, spend a year or two in Research Institutions in this country. The salaries and expenses of such research workers will be paid by the Government by whom they are appointed, and the arrangements will be reciprocal as regards British research workers who may under the scheme seek to gain experience in Dominion Institutes.

The undernoted Scottish Institutions have agreed to accept Dominion and Colonial agricultural research workers under the scheme without charge :

The Rowett Research Institute.

The Animal Breeding Research Department, University of
Edinburgh.

The Animal Diseases Research Association.

The Scottish Society for Research in Plant Breeding.

INTERNATIONAL EDUCATION BOARD.

TRAVELLING FELLOWSHIPS.

The International Education Board have intimated their willingness to award Travelling Fellowships to agricultural research workers (among others).

The type of worker the Board has in view is intermediate between one who has newly graduated and has just embarked on research, and one of mature years who is a recognised authority in his particular branch of science, i.e. the Fellowships are intended for the comparatively young man who has been engaged in research for a few years and who, so far as can be judged, is likely to develop into a first-class worker and to gain eminence in his particular field.

The duration of each Fellowship is nine months or a year, and the holder is expected to spend the whole of his time at one Institution under a recognised master in his branch of science.

It has been arranged that recommendations for the award of Fellowships by the International Education Board to agricultural research workers in England, Wales and Scotland shall be made by the Development Commissioners' Advisory Committee on Agricultural Science.

INTERNATIONAL INSTITUTE OF AGRICULTURE.

A communication has been received from the International Institute of Agriculture offering facilities at its headquarters in Rome to technical experts and agricultural students for the study of agricultural problems. These facilities will be kept in view in connection with the award of scholarships and fellowships under the existing schemes referred to in this Report. CONFERENCE OF SCOTTISH AGRICULTURAL RESEARCH WORKERS AND TEACHERS.

The fourth Annual Conference of Scottish Agricultural Research Workers and Teachers was held at Aberdeen on 6th and 7th July, and was attended by about one hundred persons interested or engaged in agricultural research or education in Scotland.

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On the forenoon of the first day papers were read by representatives of the Rowett Research Institute on The Role of Iodine in the Nutrition of Animals," and "The Effects of Heat on the Nutritive Value of Milk," while representatives of the Animal Breeding Research Department, University of Edinburgh, contributed a paper on "The Part played by Inbreeding in the Formation of the Clydesdale and Shorthorn respectively.' In the afternoon a visit was paid to the Rowett Research Institute, where demonstrations illustrative of work on animal nutrition research were given.

On the second day papers were read on "The Exchangeable Bases of the Soil" and "The Bases in the Drainage of Craibstone Soil" by representatives of the North of Scotland College of Agriculture; on "A Nematode Disease of Potatoes" by a representative of the West of Scotland Agricultural College; and on "A County Survey " by a member of the Board's staff. A visit was afterwards paid to the College Experimental Farm at Craibstone, where demonstrations were given of the various experiments in progress.