IMPLEMENT DEPAKTxMEXT OF THE SOCIETY. 261 



of inventors to compete for a binding machine. I would recom- 

 mend a premium of not less than £200, and for other imple- 

 ments premiums in proportion to their labour-saving value. 



By offering substantial premiums, and thus encouraging new 

 inventions, the Society will be strictly fulfilling one of the 

 objects for which it was instituted ; and by strictly adhering to 

 the offering of premiums for new inventions only, it will reduce 

 to a minimum the labour and expenditure devolving upon the 

 Society in its thorough exhaustive testing. In recommending 

 this system to the Highland Society, I am aware that the offer- 

 ing of handsome premiums is not new to it, for in 1837, and 

 until 1843, the substantial premium of £500 was offered for 

 steam-cultivating machinery, and I have, therefore, greater con- 

 fidence in anticipating that it will be adopted. 



It is only by such a system of trials that the Society can now 

 expect to have the co-operation of the implement trade, and be 

 of service in assisting in the encouragement and diffusion of 

 new labour-savin^j machines. 



Second. — If at any future time the Society should think it 

 necessary to test what might appear as a great and radical 

 improvement upon any implement or machine formerly in 

 practical use, let both the old and new inventions be subjected 

 to a competitive trial together. 



Third. — Have working exhibitions of such implements and 

 machines as practicable during the time of the Society shows, 

 the Society providing the lands and crops free, and making all 

 the nece-ssary arrangements for trials. 



The Highland Society's circuit shows are specially adapted 

 for this system of trials. They would afford agriculturists in the 

 several districts an opportunity of seeing various machines at 

 work, which are only brought together by such a meeting as the 

 Highland Society. 



The success which has attended this working exhibition 

 system in the Bath and West of England Society is a sufficient 

 guarantee that it will meet with the approval and support of 

 both the implement makers and agriculturists of Scotland. 



Fourth. — Showvard arrangements. I should recommend that 

 the Society adhere to the showyard an'angements as carried out 

 at Perth in 1879, which gave universal satisfaction. A new 

 "miscellaneous section" might with profit be added, so that all 

 articles not exclusively agricultural be excluded from the imple- 

 ment yard, and exhibited by tliemselves. 



Having thus biiclly given my opinion of the position our 

 Scottish National Society sliould take towards the implement 

 trade in trials, premiums, and shows, 1 hope it may in some 

 small degree be productive in helping to develop the agricul- 

 tur;il interests of our countr\'. 



