104 PROCEEDINGS AT BOARD MEETINGS. 



tried at Broomliill, near Aberdeen, on the 24tli of October last, -was given in, and 

 silver medals were awarded to John Thomson, King Street Road, Aberdeen, for a 

 three-horse lever grubber, and to William Rae, Bourtie, Old Meldrum, for a 

 turnip-sowing machine. 



In regard to Mr Duff's rotatory digger, the Committee reported favourably. 

 They considered it most suitable for loamy and deep classes of land, which it could 

 pulverise sufficiently for sowing crop or for breaking up clay or stiff soils, the land 

 being thoroughly loosened to the depth of 8 or 10 inches, so that the crop might 

 have been sown immediately thereafter. They add — "No doubt the machine will 

 bv-and-bv be considerably improved under the persevering enterprise of its in- 

 ventor, Mr Thomas Duff, Perth." 



On the motion of Sir Thomas Bixchan Hepburn, Bart. , seconded by Mr Lawson 

 of Borthwick Hall, the thanks of the Board were voted to the Local Committee, 

 consisting of Major Ramsay of Barra, Convener; Mr James Abernethy, C.E., 

 Aberdeen ; Mr Walker, Portlethen ; Mr Campbell, Blairton ; and Mr Porter, 

 Monymusk ; to the Local Secretaries, Messrs John and Robert Ligertwood, Aber- 

 deen : and also to Mr Walker, Portlethen, and Mr Monro, Broomliill, for putting 

 at the disposal of the Committee various kinds of land in every way suitable for 

 the different implements tried in August and October. 



General Shows. — The report of the Committee on General Shows was sub- 

 mitted, and the Board approved of the allocation of about L. 1500, to be given as 

 premiums in money or in medals at the Edinburgh Show next year, in the classes 

 of stock some time ago published. 



The report states that the various letters on the subject of money premiums for 

 fat stock, referred to in the proceedings of last month and remitted to the Com- 

 mittee on General Shows, had been taken up ; and that after careful consideration 

 the usual premiums of the medium gold, silver, and medium silver medals had 

 had been recommended to be adhered to. The Board approved of the course sug- 

 gested by the Committee. 



Two additional sections were added in the class of extra horses — viz., mares 

 or geldings between 12 and 14 hands high, and mares or geldings under 12 hands. 



In consequence of the letter from the Secretary of the Scottish Society for the 

 Prevention of Craelty to Animals, in regard to the milking of dairy stock, which 

 was before the Board in November, and referred to this Committee, the following 

 was recommended as a regulation at future shows of the Society : — " All milk 

 cows must have been milked dry the evening previous to being judged ; and they 

 must, while within the showyard, be milked morning land evening. The judges 

 will he instructed to withhold the prizes from any animals overstrained or suffer- 

 ing from want of being milked." The Directors unanimously adopted the rule ; 

 and it was accordingly added to the general regulations for the Edinburgh Show. 



The report further narrates, that owing to the days at present set aside for the 

 show, judges, members of the deputation of Directors, and others coming from a 

 distance, were under the necessity of leaving their homes on the previous Satur- 

 day ; and for a similar reason a large number of the stock was placed in the show- 

 yard on the same day, thus entailing on exhibitor's the cost of two or three days' 

 additional keep, which might be avoided were the period made a day later. The 

 Committee, believing that the change of one day would be of considerable advan- 

 tage to all parties, recommended that the days should be Wednesday, Thursday, 

 and Friday, in place of Tuesday, Wednesday, and Thursday. This suggestion 

 met with the approval of the Directors ; and the Secretary was instructed to bring 

 the matter before the meeting of the members in the Edinburgh district, and at 

 the general meeting of the Society. If the change is then finally adopted, the 

 Show at Edinburgh will be held on the 28th, 29th, and 30th July— the week 

 between the meetings of the Royal Agricultural Society of England and the 

 Yorkshire Society. 



The classes of stock for which premiums will be afterwards offered at the pro- 

 posed show at Dumfries in 1870, as fixed by the Committee on General Shows, 

 were approved of by the Board, and the Secretary was directed to submit the list 

 to a meeting of members to be held at Dumfries during this month. 



Local Shows. — The Secretary reported that the Committee on District Com- 

 petitions had held a meeting on the 25th of November, when the returns relating 

 to the competitions held in the various districts in receipt of the Society's pre- 

 miums had been revised. The Committee had at the same time the different 



