It will be observed from the above table that the seeds for which minimum standards of purity and germination are prescribed by the Seeds (Scotland) Regulations, 1922, show in every case averages in respect of purity and germination over the standards of purity and germination prescribed.

That a large number of inferior samples was received, is shown by the number falling below the prescribed standards. This is particularly noticeable in respect of Cabbage, Kale, Brussels Sprouts, Cauliflower, Mangel, Beans, Vetches, and Onion seed.

As a result of unfavourable growth conditions in 1921 in the home seed-growing areas, and of unfavourable harvest conditions in 1922, the root and vegetable seed crop was practically a total failure. As a consequence, much of the seed distributed in the spring of 1923 was yearling seed.

Forest Tree Seeds.-A small number of Forest Tree Seeds were submitted for test. The statistics of these tests are as follows:

Samples were also received of the following :-Norway Spruce, Larch, Tyrolese Larch, American Larch, Austrian Pine, Pinus insignis, Corsican Pine, Weymouth Pine, Abies nobilis, Abies Menziesii, Ordinary Spruce, Canadian Spruce, and Thuja gigantea.

SEEDS ACT, 1920.

In the administration of this Act during the year it was found that, on the whole, the statutory requirements were being satisfactorily observed. Where minor irregularities were detected, warnings were issued to the merchants concerned. Only in one case was an irregularity deemed sufficiently serious to warrant consideration of the question of prosecution, and in that case it was finally decided not to take proceedings,

OFFICIAL SAMPLES.

The number of official samples taken at merchants' premises and tested at the Board's Seed-Testing Station was 204. result of the official tests 171 were found to be in accordance with the declaration furnished at the time of sale. Suitable notice was taken in the remaining cases where the tests showed that the samples were not in all respects in accordance with the relative declarations. The necessity for strict compliance in future with the requirements of the Act and Regulations was impressed upon all merchants whose declarations were found to be irregular.

PRIVATE SEED-TESTING STATIONS.

No new licences for private seed-testing stations were granted during the year. The stations were kept under observation by officers of the Board, and in one case where unsatisfactory results were being obtained the licence was withdrawn for all species of seeds except cereals.

In two other cases, where merchants had made satisfactory arrangements, limited licences were extended to cover all species of seeds.

SEED POTATOES.

Section 3 (1) (d) of the Seeds (Scotland) Regulations, 1922, provides that the particulars required by the Seeds Act, 1920, to be stated in the case of a sale of seed potatoes shall comprise a statement as to their class, variety, size, and dressing. It further provides that "variety" shall not be held to be incorrectly stated if the statement is true in respect of 97% of the total quantity sold, and that, if the potatoes are of mixed varieties, a statement to that effect shall be sufficient. In other words, if seed potatoes are sold as being of a particular variety, a guarantee of purity of 97% is implied.

Several cases were reported by the Ministry of Agriculture and Fisheries in which it was alleged that Scottish merchants had supplied to customers in England seed potatoes which were not as regards variety or size and dressing in accordance with the declaration supplied at the time of sale. The Board after full enquiries into all these cases recommended the institution of proceedings in three instances where the potatoes were sold as being of a particular variety and were found to be below the

standard of purity thereby implied. In each case a conviction was obtained and a fine imposed.

STATION FOR THE TESTING AND REGISTRATION OF AGRICULTURAL PLANTS.

During the year a constitution and set of rules were formally adopted for the Standing Committee which assists the Board in the management of this station. The constitution provides that the membership shall number 24, of whom 15 shall be representative of Associations and Institutes, 5 officials appointed by the Board, and 4 co-opted by the Committee. The Committee inspected the planting arrangements for 1923 at the station.

Potatoes.-The schedule of conditions adopted for the registration of new potato varieties was printed in the Board's last Report.

The samples of varieties submitted for test are planted both at the Registration Station and at the Philpstoun Wart Disease Station, and are kept under observation by the Potato Synonym Committee and the Board's officials throughout the season. A summary of the Committee's decisions in regard to the varieties undergoing test in 1923 will be found in the section of this Report dealing with the testing of new varieties (see page 73).

Maturity and yield trials of standard varieties and of several new varieties were again carried out. The plots were examined on three occasions by the Committee and pronouncements made on the dates of maturity. A record of these observations and of the yields of the various varieties has been kept for future reference and comparison.

In addition to the reference collection, which contains all the prominent varieties of the potato in cultivation during the past century, a special section of the ground was devoted to a demonstration of the effect of degenerative diseases and of variations on potato stocks. Forty-five common varieties were planted and wherever possible each variety was represented by a normal healthy plant, a "bolter " plant, a plant affected with Mosaic and one affected with Leaf Roll. Convincing evidence was thereby produced that the diseases known as "Mosaic " and " Leaf Roll" are carried on by the seed tubers.

Authority has been obtained for proceeding with the erection at East Craigs of new buildings for the purposes of the Seed-Testing and Plant Registration Station. The cost will be met from the fund of £150,000 provided for agricultural development under the Corn Production Acts (Repeal) Act, 1921.

Oats. Observations on a large scale were discontinued in 1923, as the Board are now in possession of authoritative information regarding the exact botanical characters of the varieties of oats commonly grown in Scotland, and are in a position to assign to its botanical group or sub-group any variety sub

mitted for registration, or alternatively to state that it is distinct from any variety cultivated in this country.

An experiment was carried out regarding the value of parallel plots for field trial of yield. For this purpose the variety "Triumphal," which has been the outstanding variety among the "Abundance" types at the trials, was tested on a half-acre scale according to the method employed by Mr A. S. Beavan at Warminster. As controls, a considerable number of varieties of a similar period of ripening were sown.

Turnips and Swedes.-The trials in 1923 were confined to strains of the "Best of All" group, the samples being obtained by invitation from various seed merchants.

A Scientific Committee was appointed in 1922 to enquire into the feeding values of standard varieties of swedes and turnips and to determine the most suitable method of analysis which should be adopted for this purpose.

Preliminary investigations were carried out in 1922, and the analytical methods to be employed were drawn up after careful consideration.

In 1923 ten varieties of swedes representing early and late types from the same source were sent out to the three growing centres situated near Edinburgh, Kilmarnock, and Aberdeen.

When the crops were mature, samples were taken in the following manner. After the yield per acre had been taken, 100 bulbs were pulled (taking every alternate one), dressed, weighed, and cored. The cores were placed in air-tight glass bottles (50 cores per bottle) and taken immediately into the laboratory. The whole sample was at once pulped by a mincingmachine and thoroughly mixed. Juice was extracted by means of a press.

The work of chemical analysis is being undertaken by the Edinburgh College of Agriculture and the Rowett Research Institute, Aberdeen. At the latter Institute the swedes are also being utilised for actual feeding tests with cattle.

The results of the three centres will be compared, and it is hoped that some information may be secured regarding the feeding qualities of the varieties. At all three centres the same manures were used.

SCOTTISH SOCIETY FOR RESEARCH IN PLANT BREEDING.

PLANT BREEDING STATION.

Oats. The investigations on oats were continued on the lines previously indicated. A large number (over 100) of hybrid segregates of generations ranging from F2 to F6 are in hand, and attention is now being concentrated on selecting the most promising of these, with special reference to yield, earliness of ripening, and strength of straw. Four new fixed types were tried in 1923 in 1/10th-acre and quarter-acre plots.

Potatoes. Two out of four new varieties sent to the Ormskirk trials in 1923 proved immune from Wart Disease, the result confirming tests by the Board of Agriculture for Scotland in 1921 and 1922. Further multiplication of these, however, will depend upon the results of repeated field trials outside the Station, as in the past year the potatoes were in several cases seriously affected by attacks of virus diseases. Three additional varieties of promise (immune on first-year test) have been selected for propagation.

Swedes and Turnips.-It is now established that commercial stocks of these crops are in general genetically mixed. Lineselection is therefore the first necessity, and about 50 pedigree strains of swedes have been started. Pending further information with regard to the factors determining "quality," attention is being directed to the inheritance of the principal morphological features. The comparison of yields presents difficulties here as in other cases, and experiments for determining the best type of yield-trial plot have been started. Owing to the marked self-sterility of turnips, these are meanwhile being relegated to a secondary position in the programme.

Herbage Plants.-The existence among indigenous grasses, and especially Perennial Rye-grass and Cocksfoot, of a great variety of types, many superior for pasture purposes to commermercial stocks, has been established, and pedigree strains of a number of types have been started. Here also difficulty arises from the prevalence of partial or almost complete self-sterility. Fuller knowledge of the general conditions of successful fertilisation in grasses is urgently needed, and a number of interesting observations in this connection have been made during the past summer. Inoculation experiments with Lucerne have clearly shown that without previous inoculation of the soil certain Scottish districts, at any rate, are quite unsuited for the growing of any of the common commercial stocks of this plant.

LAND IMPROVEMENT AND DRAINAGE WORK FOR THE ALLEVIATION OF UNEMPLOYMENT.

As indicated in last year's Report, the closing date for the receipt of applications under the scheme for 1922-23 was 31st January 1923, and work approved as eligible for grant had to be completed to the Board's satisfaction by 31st May 1923. It was subsequently decided to extend the period to 30th June in those cases where operations had been delayed through unfavourable weather or through difficulty in securing drainage tiles.

The number of applications received was 1,245, the grants desired totalling £82,300. Particulars are given in the following statement of the disposal of these applications in respect of each class of eligible work: