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Electric Scotland News
Food inflation
Food is traded globally and few places, if any, can be entirely self-sufficient. So while we may be rightly concerned about the 19% inflation rate for UK grocery food basket, maybe it's time to get some perspective.
First, to point out that we're not alone. Some European countries, including Germany, have even higher food price inflation, but the average for the OECD, the rich country club is lower, at around 15%. The US and Canada are close to 10% food price inflation.
-------
Visit Almaguin To Get To Algonquin
This spring and summer, when you plan your trip to iconic Algonquin Park, be sure to also visit the beautiful Almaguin Highlands of Ontario.
--------
Fellows Private Tour - Broomhall House
Thanks to Society Fellow Lord Bruce, a private group tour of Broomhall House in Fife has been offered to Fellows.
Time & date: 2pm, Wednesday 7 June 2023
Venue: Broomhall House, Charlestown, Dunfermline, KY11 3DU
Broomhall House was built over 300 years ago and is recognised for its unique place at the heart of Scotland's history as the home of the Family of Bruce. It is also a significant building in the history of Scottish architecture and one of Scotland’s grandest houses. The house began life in 1702, during the time of the Stuart dynasty, built to designs by Sir William Bruce, and set within a working estate of around 2,500 acres.
This tour is already sold out but you can learn more about this property at:
https://www.broomhallhouse.com/ and I've placed a link to it on our Clan Bruce page.
---------
I've included some recent political analysis on Scotland including the 150 page report from the George Brown stable (former Prime Minister and Treasurer). Also a two part analysis of a lecture given by Professor James Mitchell in a Stevenson Trust for Citizenship lecture, Reflections on the 1997 Referendum, in honour of the memory of Nigel Smith, a pro-devolution business executive, at the University of Glasgow on May 9 2023. Reflecting on the last quarter century, drawing on Nigel Smith’s thinking and contributions, the lecture addressed the role of the ‘centre’ in our politics. Nigel’s contributions to public life cut across politics, the economy and society but at their core was a concern for pluralism and the dispersal of power and authority. What went right? What went wrong? And why and how do we right what has not gone, as perhaps Nigel would have seen things? Both are featured in our Electric Scotland section below.
I can say that I read the two part lecture and found it most interesting and is well worth a read. At the same time I confess I didn't read the 150 page report but felt it was important enough to make it available for researchers.
Scottish News from this weeks newspapers
I am partly doing this to build an archive of modern news from and about Scotland and world news stories that can affect Scotland and as all the newsletters are archived and also indexed on Google and other search engines it becomes a good resource. I might also add that in a number of newspapers you will find many comments which can be just as interesting as the news story itself and of course you can also add your own comments if you wish which I do myself from time to time. Here is what caught my eye this week...
Rewilding the Highlands
Glen Affric and Dundreggan point the way
Read more at:
https://sceptical.scot/2023/05/rewil...point-the-way/
The apprenticeship bonus
Tony Blair once joked that if he wanted to announce a secret nuclear war, he'd do it during a speech about further education, as no one would be listening. Blair was only half-right though. For many voters, skills really matter and that means an electoral dividend for the party that makes a compelling apprenticeships offer.
Read more at:
https://capx.co/trading-up-why-a-pro...oral-dividends
UK exports and Brexit what has really been happening?
Since early 2022 there has been a constant stream of media stories and studies claiming that UK exports have been badly hit by Brexit, with more hyperbolic sources claiming the impact has been a ‘disaster’. The volume of these claims, and the lack of critical evaluation most of them have faced, has meant that this supposed disastrous impact has become an accepted ‘fact’ in many circles.
Read more at:
https://www.briefingsforbritain.co.u...een-happening/
Global interest in small uninhabited Scots island
The sale of a tiny uninhabited island off the south of Scotland coast has produced worldwide interest.
Read more at:
https://www.bbc.com/news/uk-scotland...tland-65597258
Churches lose voting rights on Highland education
Churches will no longer have a vote on Highland Council education policy.
Read more at:
https://www.bbc.com/news/articles/c51pvxj3j7go
How the CPTPP deal can help make our favourite chippies cheaper
DESPITE all the challenges from pizzas, burgers, Indian and Chinese take-aways, kebabs, chicken buckets and other fast foods fish and chips continues to remain not just part of our rich culinary heritage but a very popular meal.
Read more at:
https://thinkscotland.org/2023/05/ho...ppies-cheaper/
Brexit bias blindness
Remainers bemoaning the state of UK trade should bear in mind that coincidence is not causation. In fact, a sectoral analysis of our biggest export industries, including cars, aerospace and pharmaceutical, reveals plenty of structural problems to worry about - it's just that Brexit isn't one of them.
Read more at:
https://capx.co/blaming-brexit-distr...lining-exports
First Ministers and political leadership: Part 1
Political leadership matters; who holds leadership positions and the values, ideas, qualities and character they represent is important.
Read more at:
https://www.scottishreview.net/GerryHassan658a.html
Electric Canadian
The Mound Builders of Canada
By C. N. Bell of Winnipeg (pdf)
You can read this talk at:
http://www.electriccanadian.com/hist...derscanada.pdf
Bulletins 416 to 443
Insects Troublesome in the Home, Milk Transportation in the Toronto Milk Shed, Hints on Judging Field Crop Seeds, Field Roots and Potatoes, Care and Methods Used in Obtaining Poultry Blood for Pullorum Testing, Cattle Lice and How to Control Them, The Value of Soil Analyses as an aid in Truck Crop, Swine Parasite Control, Save that Litter, Pollination in Relation to Orchard Planning, Legumes for Profit, Farmyard Manure Serves Best on the land, Buck Rakes, Poultry Equipment for the Busy Farmer, Bee Diseases and Pests of the Apiary, Fruit Varieties, Destructive Pest Animals, The Home Vegetable Garden, Establishing the Young Orchard, The Domestic Rabbit, Control of Rabbits, Mouse Control in Orchards, Orchard Soil Management, The Grape in Ontario, Orchard Grafting, Currants and Gooseberries, Mastitis or Garget in Cows, Barley in Ontario, Swine Diseases and Their Prevention.
You can read these bulletins at:
http://www.electriccanadian.com/tran...416443onta.pdf
The Pilgrim of our Lady of Martyrs
A monthly magazine devoted to The Interests of the Shrine of Our Lady of Martyrs, Auriesville, to the Cause of the Martyrs who died there, to the American and other Missions, past and present and including information on Exploration of Sites of Old Huron and Petun Villages and also an article on the Last of the Hurons. (1903) (pdf)
A most interesting magazine which you can read at:
http://www.electriccanadian.com/hist...VolXIX1903.pdf
Thoughts on a Sunday Mprning - the 14th day of May 2023 - Mother's Day
By the Rev. Nola Crewe
You can watch this at:
http://www.electricscotland.org/foru...3-mother-s-day
The Major
A novel by Ralph Connor (1917) (pdf)
You can read this at:
http://www.electriccanadian.com/life...00connuoft.pdf
Electric Scotland
History of the Indian Mutiny 1857-1858
Commencing from the close of the second volume of Sir John Kay's History of the Sepoy War by Colonel G. B. Malleson, C.S.I. (second edition in two volumes) (1878)
I found this to be a most interesting account and you can read this at:
https://electricscotland.com/history...dianmutiny.htm
Memoir of Thomas Graham
By Professor J. P. Cooke (1879)
You can read about him at:
https://electricscotland.com/history...ham_thomas.htm
Rennie, Shipbuilders
Footdee, Aberdeen, c1825 to 1834. Another book by Stan Bruce added to his collection which you can view on his page at:
https://electricscotland.com/history...ipbuilding.htm
The Domestic Rabbit
DOMESTIC RABBITS grown under conditions that favour rapid body development are an excellent source of tender, delicately flavoured, white and nutritious meat. Domestic hutch-reared rabbit meat is in the same class as chicken and is far superior to, and quite different from, the meat of wild rabbits (pdf)
You can read this account at:
https://electricscotland.com/agricul...bbitwarren.htm
A New Britain
Renewing our Democracy and Rebuilding our Economy, Report of the Commission on the UK’s Future (Labour Party) which provides some 150 pages of information.
You can read this report at:
https://electricscotland.com/indepen...UKs-Future.pdf
Montrose and the Covenanters
Their Characters and Conduct, from Private Letters and other original documents hitherto unpublished embracing the times of Charles the First, from the rise of the troubles in Scotland, to the death of Montrose by Mark Napier, Esq., in two volumes (1838)
You can read this at:
https://electricscotland.com/books/pdf/montrose.htm
Scotland’s centres of power need reform: Part 1 (Westminster)
This is the first of edited extracts from Prof Mitchell’s must-read lecture on the life of Nigel Smith (pdf)
Professor James Mitchell gave a Stevenson Trust for Citizenship lecture, Reflections on the 1997 Referendum, in honour of the memory of Nigel Smith, a pro-devolution business executive, at the University of Glasgow on May 9 2023. Reflecting on the last quarter century, drawing on Nigel Smith’s thinking and contributions, the lecture addressed the role of the ‘centre’ in our politics. Nigel’s contributions to public life cut across politics, the economy and society but at their core was a concern for pluralism and the dispersal of power and authority. What went right? What went wrong? And why and how do we right what has not gone, as perhaps Nigel would have seen things?
This is the first of edited extracts from Prof Mitchell’s must-read lecture with the second part followed below.
You can read this at:
https://electricscotland.com/indepen...cal%20Scot.pdf
Scotland’s centres of power need reform: Part 2 (Holyrood)
This is the second part which you can read at:
https://electricscotland.com/indepen...cal%20Scot.pdf
Memoirs of Scottish Catholics
During the XVIIth and XVIIIth centuries, selected from hitherto inedited MSS by William Forbes Leith S. J. in two volumes. (1909)
You can read these volumes at:
https://electricscotland.com/history...-catholics.htm
Story
Although many of you will already have started your planting I though this information may be of some help to those gardeners out there.
The Garden Plan
A carefully thought out plan put on paper is essential if one is to garden efficiently. An intimate knowledge of the various crops is essential in order to make the best plan. Each year
it is wise to preserve the plan and suggested improvements in order to improve succeeding plans and gain useful information. By constantly referring to the planting table and the following suggestions, even the most amateur gardener can prepare a plan suited to his needs.
(1) Long straight rows are to be preferred to several short rows or beds for ease in planting and cultivation and to avoid needless waste space for paths. When only small quantities are needed more than one kind of vegetable may be planted in one row.
(2) Where possible, to avoid shading, rows should run north and south rather than east and west.
(3) If the garden is on a fairly steep slope it is much better to have the rows run across the slope rather than up and down.
(4) Perennial crops such as small fruits, asparagus, rhubarb and horseradish should be planted at one side of the garden in order that they will not interfere with the spring preparation of soil.
(5) If the rows are arranged according to date of planting just enough soil would have to be prepared as needed for each planting.
(6) Early crops such as lettuce, radish and spinach should be grouped together so that they may be cleared away and other fall crops planted in the space.
(7) Crops such as tomatoes, onions, peppers, eggplant, parsnip, salsify and parsley which remain in one place throughout the entire season should be planted together where they will not be disturbed.
(8) Tall crops such as corn and pole beans which shade other crops, and crops such as squash, cucumber and melons which may overrun smaller crops should be placed at one side of the garden where they will not interfere with other smaller crops.
(9) Do NOT crowd plants.
(10) Plan to have a variety of crops ready for harvest at all times.
(11) Plan for a succession of crops, which may be done in two ways. Follow early crops such as lettuce, radish and spinach with such crops as late beets, carrots, or cabbage. Similarly carrots, beets or cabbage harvested early may be followed by lettuce, radish, spinach, kohlrabi, winter radish and similar crops. Crops such as corn, radish, spinach, lettuce and peas which when mature remain in good condition for only a short time can either have several successive seedings or else, especially for corn, sow at the same time several varieties which mature at different dates.
(12) Intercropping or companion cropping is the growing of two or more crops on the same area at one time. Seed of radish may be planted with slow germinating parsnip seed to both mark the row and provide a supply of radishes. Quickly maturing crops such as lettuce, radish and spinach may be planted between rows of tomatoes, eggplant, melons, cucumbers and other crops which are widely spaced and occupy the ground during the entire season.
The above information was printed by the Ontario Department of Agriculture
END.
Weekend is almost here and hope it's a good one for you. I note it's Victoria Day in Canada on Monday 22nd so wishing our Canadian friends a happy holiday.
Alastair
Food inflation
Food is traded globally and few places, if any, can be entirely self-sufficient. So while we may be rightly concerned about the 19% inflation rate for UK grocery food basket, maybe it's time to get some perspective.
First, to point out that we're not alone. Some European countries, including Germany, have even higher food price inflation, but the average for the OECD, the rich country club is lower, at around 15%. The US and Canada are close to 10% food price inflation.
-------
Visit Almaguin To Get To Algonquin
This spring and summer, when you plan your trip to iconic Algonquin Park, be sure to also visit the beautiful Almaguin Highlands of Ontario.
--------
Fellows Private Tour - Broomhall House
Thanks to Society Fellow Lord Bruce, a private group tour of Broomhall House in Fife has been offered to Fellows.
Time & date: 2pm, Wednesday 7 June 2023
Venue: Broomhall House, Charlestown, Dunfermline, KY11 3DU
Broomhall House was built over 300 years ago and is recognised for its unique place at the heart of Scotland's history as the home of the Family of Bruce. It is also a significant building in the history of Scottish architecture and one of Scotland’s grandest houses. The house began life in 1702, during the time of the Stuart dynasty, built to designs by Sir William Bruce, and set within a working estate of around 2,500 acres.
This tour is already sold out but you can learn more about this property at:
https://www.broomhallhouse.com/ and I've placed a link to it on our Clan Bruce page.
---------
I've included some recent political analysis on Scotland including the 150 page report from the George Brown stable (former Prime Minister and Treasurer). Also a two part analysis of a lecture given by Professor James Mitchell in a Stevenson Trust for Citizenship lecture, Reflections on the 1997 Referendum, in honour of the memory of Nigel Smith, a pro-devolution business executive, at the University of Glasgow on May 9 2023. Reflecting on the last quarter century, drawing on Nigel Smith’s thinking and contributions, the lecture addressed the role of the ‘centre’ in our politics. Nigel’s contributions to public life cut across politics, the economy and society but at their core was a concern for pluralism and the dispersal of power and authority. What went right? What went wrong? And why and how do we right what has not gone, as perhaps Nigel would have seen things? Both are featured in our Electric Scotland section below.
I can say that I read the two part lecture and found it most interesting and is well worth a read. At the same time I confess I didn't read the 150 page report but felt it was important enough to make it available for researchers.
Scottish News from this weeks newspapers
I am partly doing this to build an archive of modern news from and about Scotland and world news stories that can affect Scotland and as all the newsletters are archived and also indexed on Google and other search engines it becomes a good resource. I might also add that in a number of newspapers you will find many comments which can be just as interesting as the news story itself and of course you can also add your own comments if you wish which I do myself from time to time. Here is what caught my eye this week...
Rewilding the Highlands
Glen Affric and Dundreggan point the way
Read more at:
https://sceptical.scot/2023/05/rewil...point-the-way/
The apprenticeship bonus
Tony Blair once joked that if he wanted to announce a secret nuclear war, he'd do it during a speech about further education, as no one would be listening. Blair was only half-right though. For many voters, skills really matter and that means an electoral dividend for the party that makes a compelling apprenticeships offer.
Read more at:
https://capx.co/trading-up-why-a-pro...oral-dividends
UK exports and Brexit what has really been happening?
Since early 2022 there has been a constant stream of media stories and studies claiming that UK exports have been badly hit by Brexit, with more hyperbolic sources claiming the impact has been a ‘disaster’. The volume of these claims, and the lack of critical evaluation most of them have faced, has meant that this supposed disastrous impact has become an accepted ‘fact’ in many circles.
Read more at:
https://www.briefingsforbritain.co.u...een-happening/
Global interest in small uninhabited Scots island
The sale of a tiny uninhabited island off the south of Scotland coast has produced worldwide interest.
Read more at:
https://www.bbc.com/news/uk-scotland...tland-65597258
Churches lose voting rights on Highland education
Churches will no longer have a vote on Highland Council education policy.
Read more at:
https://www.bbc.com/news/articles/c51pvxj3j7go
How the CPTPP deal can help make our favourite chippies cheaper
DESPITE all the challenges from pizzas, burgers, Indian and Chinese take-aways, kebabs, chicken buckets and other fast foods fish and chips continues to remain not just part of our rich culinary heritage but a very popular meal.
Read more at:
https://thinkscotland.org/2023/05/ho...ppies-cheaper/
Brexit bias blindness
Remainers bemoaning the state of UK trade should bear in mind that coincidence is not causation. In fact, a sectoral analysis of our biggest export industries, including cars, aerospace and pharmaceutical, reveals plenty of structural problems to worry about - it's just that Brexit isn't one of them.
Read more at:
https://capx.co/blaming-brexit-distr...lining-exports
First Ministers and political leadership: Part 1
Political leadership matters; who holds leadership positions and the values, ideas, qualities and character they represent is important.
Read more at:
https://www.scottishreview.net/GerryHassan658a.html
Electric Canadian
The Mound Builders of Canada
By C. N. Bell of Winnipeg (pdf)
You can read this talk at:
http://www.electriccanadian.com/hist...derscanada.pdf
Bulletins 416 to 443
Insects Troublesome in the Home, Milk Transportation in the Toronto Milk Shed, Hints on Judging Field Crop Seeds, Field Roots and Potatoes, Care and Methods Used in Obtaining Poultry Blood for Pullorum Testing, Cattle Lice and How to Control Them, The Value of Soil Analyses as an aid in Truck Crop, Swine Parasite Control, Save that Litter, Pollination in Relation to Orchard Planning, Legumes for Profit, Farmyard Manure Serves Best on the land, Buck Rakes, Poultry Equipment for the Busy Farmer, Bee Diseases and Pests of the Apiary, Fruit Varieties, Destructive Pest Animals, The Home Vegetable Garden, Establishing the Young Orchard, The Domestic Rabbit, Control of Rabbits, Mouse Control in Orchards, Orchard Soil Management, The Grape in Ontario, Orchard Grafting, Currants and Gooseberries, Mastitis or Garget in Cows, Barley in Ontario, Swine Diseases and Their Prevention.
You can read these bulletins at:
http://www.electriccanadian.com/tran...416443onta.pdf
The Pilgrim of our Lady of Martyrs
A monthly magazine devoted to The Interests of the Shrine of Our Lady of Martyrs, Auriesville, to the Cause of the Martyrs who died there, to the American and other Missions, past and present and including information on Exploration of Sites of Old Huron and Petun Villages and also an article on the Last of the Hurons. (1903) (pdf)
A most interesting magazine which you can read at:
http://www.electriccanadian.com/hist...VolXIX1903.pdf
Thoughts on a Sunday Mprning - the 14th day of May 2023 - Mother's Day
By the Rev. Nola Crewe
You can watch this at:
http://www.electricscotland.org/foru...3-mother-s-day
The Major
A novel by Ralph Connor (1917) (pdf)
You can read this at:
http://www.electriccanadian.com/life...00connuoft.pdf
Electric Scotland
History of the Indian Mutiny 1857-1858
Commencing from the close of the second volume of Sir John Kay's History of the Sepoy War by Colonel G. B. Malleson, C.S.I. (second edition in two volumes) (1878)
I found this to be a most interesting account and you can read this at:
https://electricscotland.com/history...dianmutiny.htm
Memoir of Thomas Graham
By Professor J. P. Cooke (1879)
You can read about him at:
https://electricscotland.com/history...ham_thomas.htm
Rennie, Shipbuilders
Footdee, Aberdeen, c1825 to 1834. Another book by Stan Bruce added to his collection which you can view on his page at:
https://electricscotland.com/history...ipbuilding.htm
The Domestic Rabbit
DOMESTIC RABBITS grown under conditions that favour rapid body development are an excellent source of tender, delicately flavoured, white and nutritious meat. Domestic hutch-reared rabbit meat is in the same class as chicken and is far superior to, and quite different from, the meat of wild rabbits (pdf)
You can read this account at:
https://electricscotland.com/agricul...bbitwarren.htm
A New Britain
Renewing our Democracy and Rebuilding our Economy, Report of the Commission on the UK’s Future (Labour Party) which provides some 150 pages of information.
You can read this report at:
https://electricscotland.com/indepen...UKs-Future.pdf
Montrose and the Covenanters
Their Characters and Conduct, from Private Letters and other original documents hitherto unpublished embracing the times of Charles the First, from the rise of the troubles in Scotland, to the death of Montrose by Mark Napier, Esq., in two volumes (1838)
You can read this at:
https://electricscotland.com/books/pdf/montrose.htm
Scotland’s centres of power need reform: Part 1 (Westminster)
This is the first of edited extracts from Prof Mitchell’s must-read lecture on the life of Nigel Smith (pdf)
Professor James Mitchell gave a Stevenson Trust for Citizenship lecture, Reflections on the 1997 Referendum, in honour of the memory of Nigel Smith, a pro-devolution business executive, at the University of Glasgow on May 9 2023. Reflecting on the last quarter century, drawing on Nigel Smith’s thinking and contributions, the lecture addressed the role of the ‘centre’ in our politics. Nigel’s contributions to public life cut across politics, the economy and society but at their core was a concern for pluralism and the dispersal of power and authority. What went right? What went wrong? And why and how do we right what has not gone, as perhaps Nigel would have seen things?
This is the first of edited extracts from Prof Mitchell’s must-read lecture with the second part followed below.
You can read this at:
https://electricscotland.com/indepen...cal%20Scot.pdf
Scotland’s centres of power need reform: Part 2 (Holyrood)
This is the second part which you can read at:
https://electricscotland.com/indepen...cal%20Scot.pdf
Memoirs of Scottish Catholics
During the XVIIth and XVIIIth centuries, selected from hitherto inedited MSS by William Forbes Leith S. J. in two volumes. (1909)
You can read these volumes at:
https://electricscotland.com/history...-catholics.htm
Story
Although many of you will already have started your planting I though this information may be of some help to those gardeners out there.
The Garden Plan
A carefully thought out plan put on paper is essential if one is to garden efficiently. An intimate knowledge of the various crops is essential in order to make the best plan. Each year
it is wise to preserve the plan and suggested improvements in order to improve succeeding plans and gain useful information. By constantly referring to the planting table and the following suggestions, even the most amateur gardener can prepare a plan suited to his needs.
(1) Long straight rows are to be preferred to several short rows or beds for ease in planting and cultivation and to avoid needless waste space for paths. When only small quantities are needed more than one kind of vegetable may be planted in one row.
(2) Where possible, to avoid shading, rows should run north and south rather than east and west.
(3) If the garden is on a fairly steep slope it is much better to have the rows run across the slope rather than up and down.
(4) Perennial crops such as small fruits, asparagus, rhubarb and horseradish should be planted at one side of the garden in order that they will not interfere with the spring preparation of soil.
(5) If the rows are arranged according to date of planting just enough soil would have to be prepared as needed for each planting.
(6) Early crops such as lettuce, radish and spinach should be grouped together so that they may be cleared away and other fall crops planted in the space.
(7) Crops such as tomatoes, onions, peppers, eggplant, parsnip, salsify and parsley which remain in one place throughout the entire season should be planted together where they will not be disturbed.
(8) Tall crops such as corn and pole beans which shade other crops, and crops such as squash, cucumber and melons which may overrun smaller crops should be placed at one side of the garden where they will not interfere with other smaller crops.
(9) Do NOT crowd plants.
(10) Plan to have a variety of crops ready for harvest at all times.
(11) Plan for a succession of crops, which may be done in two ways. Follow early crops such as lettuce, radish and spinach with such crops as late beets, carrots, or cabbage. Similarly carrots, beets or cabbage harvested early may be followed by lettuce, radish, spinach, kohlrabi, winter radish and similar crops. Crops such as corn, radish, spinach, lettuce and peas which when mature remain in good condition for only a short time can either have several successive seedings or else, especially for corn, sow at the same time several varieties which mature at different dates.
(12) Intercropping or companion cropping is the growing of two or more crops on the same area at one time. Seed of radish may be planted with slow germinating parsnip seed to both mark the row and provide a supply of radishes. Quickly maturing crops such as lettuce, radish and spinach may be planted between rows of tomatoes, eggplant, melons, cucumbers and other crops which are widely spaced and occupy the ground during the entire season.
The above information was printed by the Ontario Department of Agriculture
END.
Weekend is almost here and hope it's a good one for you. I note it's Victoria Day in Canada on Monday 22nd so wishing our Canadian friends a happy holiday.
Alastair