250 ACCOUNT OF THE SHOW OF THE HIGHLAND AND 



The Show in 1881, as well as those of the three previous 

 meetings at Stirling, was held in the King's Park. The ground 

 enclosed occupied about thirty acres, and a more convenient site 

 it would be impossible to find. 



The arrangements were as nearly as possible the same as on 

 former occasions: the judging took place on Tuesday; the 

 general meeting of members and public banquet were held on 

 Wednesday ; and the ball on Thursday. 



The public banquet was held in the Golden Lion Hotel. The 

 Earl of Mar and Kellie, Vice-President, in the absence of the 

 Duke of Pachmond and Gordon, the President, occupied the chair 

 and Sir James Eamsay Gibson-Maitland, Bart, acted as croupier. 

 Lord Mar was supported by Provost Anderson ; Sir James H. 

 Gibson-Craig, Bart. ; Sir Eobert Menzies, Bart. ; Sir G. Graham 

 Montgomery, Bart. ; Eev. Dr. Grant, chaplain to the Society ; 

 Mr Irvine of Drum ; Colonel Gillonof Wallhouse ; Mr Mackenzie 

 of Portmore ; Mr Pott of Dod ; Colonel Williamson of Lawers ; 

 Colonel Hare of Calder Hall. The Chairman in proposing the 

 toast of the evening — The Highland and Ajyricultural Society — 

 said nobody could deny that the Society had done an immense 

 amount of good towards the agriculture of this country. Almost 

 all the improvements that had taken place in agriculture had 

 really had a certain amount of impulse from the Highland 

 Society. It was started pretty late last century with only 160 

 members, while now there were nearly 5000. A great deal had 

 been said lately about agricultural depression, and it was an 

 unfortunate fact that the}" had all felt the effects of it, both land- 

 lords and tenants. The present show of the Highland Society 

 did not look as if Scotland was going down under the effects of 

 the agricultural depression. The Clydesdales did not seem to 

 have suffered much. He thought the farmers of Scotland were 

 going to weather the storm, and he did not think they were so 

 badly off as their neighbours in the South. That might be owing 

 in a certain extent to the education afforded by the agricultural 

 societies. The President of the Society, the Duke of Eichmond, 

 would have been at the show, but he was obliged to go to Good- 

 wood, not to see the races, but to perform his duty toward the 

 heir-apparent to the throne of entertaining his Eoyal Highness. 

 They would all allow that that was a paramount duty which his 

 Grace could not escape from. In conclusion, he gave the toast 

 of the evening, coupled with the name of the Duke of Eich- 

 mond. Among other toasts were — The Judges, given by the 

 chairman, and replied to by Mr. Wood, Eipon; The Successful 

 Competitors, by Sir Graham Montgomery, and responded to by 

 Mr. Bruce, Burnside ; The Secretary, by Mr. Irvine of Drum, and 

 acknowledged by Mr. F. N. Menzies. 



