PKOCEEDINGS AT BOARD MEETINGS. 11 



Portmore ; .Mr Mylue, Niddrie Mains; Mr Plummer of Sunderland Hall; Mr Ross, 

 Bachilton ; Mr Sniitli, Stevenson Mains ; Mr Sniitli, VVhittinglianie ; Mr Walker of 

 Bowland, C.B. ; Major Waucliope of Niddrie Marisclial, Professor Wilson, ]Jr Aitken 

 — Mr Ferguson, and afterwards Mr CJillon, in the cliair. 



Mr F. N. MiCNZiKs rei)orted apologies for the absence of Mr Hendrie of Larbert ; 

 Mr Kirk wood, Killenuont ; Mr Murray of Dollerie ; and Mr llalston, Glamis. 



FiNANCK.— The Secretary submitted a statement of the funds at the close of the 

 tinancial year, and reported that the books and voucliers liad been placed in the hands 

 of Messrs' Mackenzie i*t Smitli, C.A., the Society's auditors. 



General Muetinu. — The anniversary general meeting of the Society was fixed to 

 be held on tlie 21st January 1880, being the third Wednesday of the month, and the 

 usual day for liolding tlie meeting. 



Ofku'E-Be.vkkus for 1880.- The report by the committee on oHice-V)earers for 1880 

 was read, and the Secretary was instructed to communicate witli the noblemen and 

 gentlemen suggested to lill the vacancies which occur in January next, before publish- 

 ing their names. 



IvKi'oRT OF Dki'dt.vtion TO KiLBURX SHOW. — Report of deputation ajijiointed by 

 the Directors of the Highland and Agricultural Society of Scotland to visit and rejiort 

 ujion the Show of the Royal Agricultural Society of England, lield at Kilburn, London, 

 in July 1879:— 



" According to ]irevious arrangement, the deputation met at the Royal Agi-icultural 

 Society's Rooms, Hanover Square, London, on Monday, 30th June, and thereafter 

 proceeded to the Show at Kilburn. They also visited the Show ground on Tuesday 

 the 1st July, on Wednesday the 2d, and again on Saturday the 5th Jnly. On 

 Thursday, the 3d July, in confornuty with their instructions, they went down to 

 Rothamstead, Dr Lawes' experimentarfarm, and on Friday the 4th to Woburn, where 

 the Duke of Bedford has provided ground to the Royal Agricultural Society for the 

 purpose of caiTying on experiments of a similar kind. 



" The Sh<ni'.—The deputation were much inqiressed with the general excellence of 

 the exhibition. On the rpiality of the stock they think it is unnecessary to enlarge, as 

 so much has been published on the subject ; they may, however, state that they 

 were glad to see that the Clydesdale horses attracted great attention, and still even iu 

 England maintain their pre-eminence as agricultural horses. Of implements and 

 machinery there was perhaps the largest and linest collection ever got together at an 

 agricultural show. It is unnecessary for the deputation to refer to the fearful state of 

 the ground caused by the wet weather, but they feel bound to express their admira- 

 tion of tlie zeal and energy of the management under the most trying circumstance. 

 No doubt the Council of the Royal Agricultural Society could have small choice of a 

 site in the immediate vicinity of London, and although it had been drained previous to 

 the Show at great exjiense by the Society, being of the stitt" composition of the London 

 clays, the water could not readily find its way to the drains, and the spaces between 

 the sheds were almost impassable, except where roads had been laid down -with 

 timber and other material at great expense. This shows the importance of carefully 

 .studying the natuic of the ground where such large meetings are to be lield, and that 

 a dry ojien bottom should always be secured to provide against the unfortunate occm-- 

 rence of l)ad weather. 



" Skeddinr/ ami Befre^hment-Rooms. — The Secretary having arranged to meet the 

 contractor oi' the Highland Society's showyards on the ground, various alterations 

 and arrangements were gone into and agreed upon by them of a nnnor kind, which are 

 unnecessary to mention in this report ; l)ut the deputation think that the plan of 

 having a club-house and refreshment-rooms for the members alone is a good one, and 

 might" be adopted by the Highland Society; otherwise the refreshment-rooms and their 

 management were certainly in no w-ay superior to our own. 



" Stewards.— The plan adoptefl by the Royal Agricultural Society of having stewards 

 assisting in the management of the Show having been so often proposed to the High- 

 land Society as an improvement, the deputation think it right to say that, however 

 necessary they may be in a Show of such magnitude as that which they have visited, 

 they do not see that they are required at the Shows of the Highland Society. Tlie 

 stewards at Kilburn were under the control of one head, Mr Jacob Wilson, who is 

 most energetic, and well able for what he undertakes.* At the Highland Society's 

 Shows, if appointed, they would require to be under the control of the Secretary ; but 

 as the Secretary does not ask such assistance, and has hitherto, with the working staft" 

 which assists him, managed the Shows in a most satisfactory manner, the deputation 

 do not see that iu the meantime any such change is called for. 



" General Meeting. — The deputation attended the general meeting, which was held 



* Since this Keport was puWishcd it has been pointeil out that Mr Wilson is responsible for 

 his own department only. viz.. the general arranKcmcnts in the showj-ard; and that he docs not 

 interfere with the stewards of stock, implements, finances. <fec., nov do they interfere with him. 



