260 IMPLEMENT DEPARTMENT OF THE SOCIETY. 



The gentlemen found entitled to the premiums were — (1) 

 William Wallace, 7 Graham Square, Glasgow ; (2) Joseph Par- 

 sloe, 7 Brereton Road, Bedford; (3) Alexaader Leslie, Cherry- 

 vale, Aberdeen. 



The following observations contain the principal recommenda- 

 tions in the prize reports : — 



Extract from Mr. William Wallace's Eeport. 



In reviewing the past history and the present position of the 

 various agricultural societies, and also their position towards 

 the implement trade, I think it unnecessary to review the 

 systems of trials and awards that have hitherto been adopted by 

 the Highland and Agricultural Society of Scotland. Not that 

 they have been so conducted as to warrant my taking no notice 

 of them, but I consider that the disadvantages which belongr to 

 the systems already mentioned will in a great measure be found 

 in those lately carried out by the Highland Society. It has had 

 the competitive trial system with awards, the system of judging 

 implements in the showy ard and awarding medals without any 

 trial whatever, and also the system of selecting what had been 

 entered as new inventions or radical improvements upon imple- 

 ments already in practical use, and testing such by themselves 

 and giving awards. The two last-mentioned systems have been 

 fruitful sources of discontent amongst implement exhibitors, and 

 have also failed to be of any assistance to farmers in enabling 

 them to select the best implements. 



In seeking to profit by the experience of the past, I think the 

 Highland Society could now take a stride in advance of all 

 other existing societies by adopting a system of trials and awards 

 as suggested by the advantages and disadvantages of the systems 

 hitherto carried out ; and, after thorough consideration, I would 

 recommend the following systems : — 



First (ft) — Offer substantial prizes for labour-saving machines 

 which are wanted by agriculturists, and which do not at present 

 exist in a marketable state of excellence, such as binders, turnip 

 lifters, &c. 



(b) Let the premiums be ofiered at least two or three years 

 before they are to be competed for, so as to give inventors 

 opportunities of perfecting their implements. 



(c) No premium or part of a premium should be awarded 

 unless the Society consider the implement or machine of suffi- 

 cient merit. This will insure that the money is judiciously 

 expended. 



{d) No awards should be made until the implement has been 

 subjected to a thorough and exhaustive trial. 



{e) Let the premiums offered be sufficient to induce all grades 



