PEOCEEDIXGS AT GE^^EUAL MEETINGS. 19 



Mr Maxtone Graham of Cultoquhey said that this was a matter which the Directors 

 wi>he(l to keep open, it being one more for the Society itself to decide. He did not 

 pretend to compete in authority with the mover and seconder, but he had long taken 

 gi-eat interest in the rearing and breeiling of shorthorns, and he had rarely found that 

 animals dropped before the 1st January were materially better than those dropped 

 after the beginning of the year. He would propose as an amendment that a commit- 

 tee be aj^pointed to consider the question. 



Mr Smith, Whittinghame, thought the experience of the English Society truly 

 should be theirs, and their desire to encourage anything that might lead to uniformity 

 in the regulations of the national societies should lead them on the present occasion to 

 jxiuse, and not to go directly in the face of what the societies were doing. He moved 

 the previous question. 



Principal Williams seponded this motion, holding that as regards the promoting of 

 the health of the future stock, it would be undesirable to encourage breeding from so 

 young animals. 



Sir James Gardiner Baird called attention to the inconvenience which would arise 

 from large agricultural societies adopting different periods from which to date the age 

 of animals, and suggested that any committee appointed should be empowered to hold 

 a conference at least with the Royal English and any other large society with the view 

 of agreeing upon a date for the age of animals brought forward forjudging. 



The Chairman — Do you pro[josethat the conference should be personal or by means 

 of communication ? 



Sir James Gardiner Baird — I leave that entirely to the discretion of the com- 

 mittee. 



After some further discussion, in course of which it was suggested that any com- 

 mittee to be appointed should have power to reconsider the ages of the polled Angus 

 as well as that of the other classes — a proposal which was opposed by Mr Ralston, 

 Glamis ; Sir William Forbes of Craigavar, Bart., and others — a motion that a com- 

 ndtteebe appointed by ttie Directors to consider and report on the ages of shorthorn 

 cattle only was adopted. 



Shropshire Judges. — The next motion on the programme was the following by 

 Mr Dangertield, Balboughty : — " That in view of the large and increasing entries of 

 Shropshire sheep at our annual shows, the Directors secure the services of Shropshire 

 breeders as judges of that class of stock." 



ftir Dangerfield stated that he understood the Directors had agreed to act as he 

 proposed, ami he therefore withdrew the motion. 



Inspectors of Shearing Sheep. — Mr Crawford, Pitlowie, moved — "''Tliat two or 

 more inspectors of shearing be appointed by the Directors to exauune the sheep on 

 their admission to the showyard, with instructions to mark any animal or animals 

 which they find has been unfairly shorn ; further, to cause a disqualification ticket to 

 be nailed on the pen over their number, and to report the case or cases to the stewards 

 or attending members." He said it was often the case that an artist was employed to 

 give a sheep a good outline. 



Mr Dundas, Dunira, seconded the motion. 



Mr Melvin, Bonningtou, said that uidess the Society drew out special instructions 

 for the guidance of the inspectors it would not be possible to carry out the proposal 

 contained in the motion. It was a very dilHcult matter for a judge to decide what 

 length of wool should be left. 



Mr Smith, Whittinghame, said he thought they should leave the matter a.s it stood, 

 l»ut ask the judges to give si)ecial attention to the subject. 



Lor<l Arthur Cecil said that the gi-eat roguery that had been discovered in some 

 places in regard to sheep shearing had led to the aiipointment of inspectors. 



Mr S.mith, Stevenson Mains, said that tlie system adojited by the Koyal Agricultural 

 Society of ap])ointing inspectors did not give satisfaction. He thought that the i)re- 

 sent regulations of the Society were suHicient if they were a little more strongly 

 t-iiforced. He moved the previous (juestion. 



Mr Howatson of Glenbuck seconded the amendment. 



On a division, the ])revious ([uestion was carried by a large majority. 



Proposed Show at (Ilasgow in 1882. — Mr Gillon of WalUiouse then reporte»l as 

 follows : — From the jiublicity given in the uewspa])ers to the proceedings at tlie 

 Directors' meetings, the members ])r('sent are no doubt aware that in accordance with 

 the ordinary system of rotation the General Show of the Society would in 1SS2 be held 

 at Inverness, and that the Directors have resolved to recommend to this meeting the 

 substitution of Gla^-gow for Inverness in that year. The reason of this alteration is 

 that the centenary of the Society is in lSb4, aiul the Directors think that the show 

 .sliould be hehl in h>linburgh that year, as it would not do to have Edinburgh follow- 

 ing Glasgow. It is tliereforo jtropose<l to go to Glasgow in 1882, and have Inverness 

 betwixt it and Edinliurgh. As instructed by the Director^, the Secretary communicated 

 the proposal to the conveners of all the counties connected with Glasgow and Invemes.s 



