PROCEEDINGS AT GENERAL MEETINGS. 27 



usually attended by a few gentlemen about Edinburgh ; but, however well-intentioned 

 these gentlemen were, it was impossible that they could know the condition of agri- 

 culture in the more remote parts of Scotland. But with such a meeting as that pro- 

 posed by Lord Dunmore they would have, as he told them, a general representation of 

 members from all parts of Scotland. In answer to the question whether the meeting 

 was to be held in the open air, he said that where the Show was iisually held a place 

 generally as large as the hall in which they were met could be got ; or they could jnit 

 up a place for it, the same as the Royal Society of England did. In regard to the want 

 of time on the part of officials to attend such meetings, they had plenty of time to 

 attend the President's dinner and ball. Why, if they had seen the energy the Secretary 

 displayed when he (Mr Greig) was at a ball, he would have thought he could not have 

 recovered for a month. He thought it would be a very curious thing indeed if these 

 gentlemen could give so much time and energy to a ball and could not manage to 

 attend the meetings of the Association. 



Colonel GiLLON seconded the previous question, and read the decision of the 

 committee which was come to in 1S74, as follows : — " By the Charter the Society holds 

 two general meetings in each year — one in January, the other in June or July. And 

 it is in the power of the Directors to call occasional general meetings, previous intima- 

 tion of such general meetings, and the purpose thereof, being made by advertisement 

 at least ten days before such meeting. Tlie committee are of opinion that any 

 change in this matter would be very inexpedient. Any local general meeting must 

 necessarily be a very partial one, not representing the general body— the time of the 

 deputation of the Directors and the officials of the Society is completely engrossed by 

 the details of the Show. General meetings are restricted, as they should be, and ai e 

 by the Charter, to general subjects, and could not enter into details without pre- 

 vious preparation from the Directors. The two ordinary meetings afi'ord sufficient 

 opportunities for bringing forward points to be remitted tor that consideration which 

 is necessary by careful investigation. 



Mr MoLLisoN, Dochfour, spoke in favour of Lord Dunmore's motion. He said that 

 they were without representation unless they appeared at the general meeting, and the 

 proposal now made would give them the opportunity of meeting, which they would not 

 otherwise enjoy. 



Lord POLWARTH said he had considerate sympathy with the motion of Lord 

 Dunmore, and it might not be out of the way if they were to remit the matter to 

 the Directors to consider and report to next meeting. 



Lord Ddnmore said that he should like to say one or two words in reply to his 

 honourable friend Sir Graham Montgomery. They had been talking a great deal about 

 not wanting to hoard money. They had a great deal they did not know what to do 

 with, and the Directors might give them a place where they might meet. As to the 

 members not all visiting the Show on the same day, he had no doubt that if the general 

 meeting was appointed on the second or third day of the Show that everybody would go 

 then. It was a long time since 1874, and the members of the committee might 

 perhaps be more liberal in opinion since then. 



The Chairman said, with reference to the utility of the Society, Mr Greig had said 

 that so little interest was taken in it that it was difficult to get people to come from 

 the Grassmarket to attend the meeting. He took an opposite view of that from what 

 Mr Greig did. He thought the members were so well satisfied with the state of things 

 that they did not think they required to attend the meetings. He thought if things 

 were not going on to their satisfaction they would take good care to attend the meetings. 



The motion and the previous question were then put to the meeting, and the 

 motion of Lord Dunmore was carried by a large majority. 



District Shows. — Mr Mtlne, Niddrie Mains, in the absence of Mr Campbell Swinton 

 of Kimmerghame, said — In submitting the list of premiums awarded at district Shows 

 during the past year, I consider it unnecessary to advert to it in detail, the competition 

 Laving been conducted and the awards made in the different districts under the super- 

 intendence of the Society's resident members, who have given every attention to the 

 duties devolving upon them. It may therefore suffice to state that the Society's money, 

 premiums, or medals have been in operation in 310 districts, that a sum of about £80U 

 was awarded, and that the names of the competitors and the prizes will be 

 inserted in the forthcoming volume of the "Transactions." As regards the 

 arrangements made for the current year, the Directors have to ask this meeting to 

 sanction — 10 districts for cattle, 7 districts for stallions, 6 districts for mares, 

 4 districts for colts and fillies, 9 districts for slieep, at the following rates : — £20 

 and four silver medals for each cattle district, £25 for each stallion district, £8 

 and one silver medal for each district for mares, £19 and four silver medals for 

 each district for colts and fillies, and £18 and five silver medals for each sheep dis- 

 trict ; besides the usual medals in the intermediate years in the classes of cattle and 

 sheep — seven in number. The special grants consist of £50 and a mediaim gold medal 

 to the Edinburgh Christmas Club ; £20 to the Ayrshire Agriculture Association, to be 



