PROCEEDINGS AT BOARD MEETINGS. 103 



repeat the grant, on the understanding that the subject of grants for Fat Stock 

 Shows will be brought before the general meeting of the Society in January. 



On an application by Mr Hugh Rose, Inverness, four silver medals were placed 

 nt the disposal of the Northern Counties' Fat Show Club, for — 1st, best Ox ; 2d, 

 best < 'ow or Heifer ; 3d, best Pen of Sheep ; 4th, best Pig, — to be competed for at 

 Inverness on the 4th of December next. 



Letters from Mr Grant of Kincorth ; Mr Geddes, Orbliston ; Mr Scott, Glen 

 dronach, and Mr Harris, Earnhill, on the subject of a grant to the Forres ami 

 Northern Fat Cattle Club for 1869, were remitted to the Committee on District 

 Shows, — the Club being already on the list of medals for the current year. 



A communication was read from Messrs James Stewart, J. and W. Martin, and 

 Thomas Knowles, Aberdeen, suggesting that the prizes of the medium gold, silver, 

 and medium silver medals, now offered as first, second, and third premiums for 

 fat stock at the Society's General Show T s, should in future be L.15, L10, and L.5 ; 

 and that the successful exhibitors of fat stock should each receive a medal in addi- 

 tion to the money prize. The letter was referred to the Committee on General 

 Shows. 



Milking Dairy Stock. — A letter was read from Mr Hamilton Hay, Secretary 

 of the Scottish Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals, calling attention 

 to the want of some rule with reference to the milking of dairy stock within a 

 limited time, prior to their passing the judges in agricultural exhibitions. Mr 

 Hay states that " at present practices are resorted to which create a very unneces- 

 sary amount of suffering, to say nothing either of the injury to the animals kept 

 so long in milk, whether by artificial obstruction, or simply from want of natural 

 relief, or to the unfairness of such practices towards other competitors, who do not 

 resort to such inhumane methods of showing a good milker," and it is thought that 

 ' ' the evil would be most effectually met by some resolution or recommendation 

 from the Highland Society, which would, doubtless, be speedily adopted by minor 

 affiliated societies." The communication was, on the motion of the Chairman, 

 remitted for consideration to the Committee on General Shows. 



Potato Disease, &c. — Communications from Mr Thomas Stevenson, Johnstone, 

 and from Mr Taylor, Howwood, Johnstone, on the potato disease ; and from Mons. 

 X. de Bouge in regard to his work, entitled " The Continental Tutor," were 

 brought under the notice of the Board. 



Precepts. — The Premiums awarded at the Aberdeen Show in July last were 

 confirmed by the Board, and the Chairman was authorised to sign the necessary 

 precepts to be issued by the Secretary. 



MEETING OF DIRECTORS, 2d DECEMBER 1868. 



Mr Walker of Bowland, and afterwards Sir Thomas Buchan Hepburn, Bart., 



in the Chair. 



Edinburgh Christmas Club. — A letter was read from Mr Curror, Secretary o 

 the Edinburgh Christmas Club, thanking the Board for the grant of L.50 voted at 

 last meeting in aid of the general premiums of the Club, and expressing a hope 

 that the ensuing Show would be such as to meet with the approval of the Directors 

 and the Members of the Highland Society. 



General Meeting. — The anniversary general meeting of the Society for the 

 election of members, and for other business, was fixed, pursuant to the charter, 

 to be held on Wednesday the 20th January 1869. 



Office-Bearers for 1869. — The Report of the Committee on Office-Bearers for 

 1869 was given in, and the Secretary was instructed to communicate with the 

 noblemen and gentlemen proposed to fill the vacancies which occur in January 

 next, before publishing their names. 



Finance. — Mr F. N. Menzies submitted the pass-book exhibiting the balance 

 on the ordinary account with the Royal Bank at the close of the financial year on 

 30th of November, and stated that the books and vouchers had been sent to the 

 auditor, who would prepare the usual abstract of the accounts for publication 

 before the general meeting. 



Aberdeen Show, 1S68. —The Report of the Local Committee on the Implements 



