ACCOUNT OF THE SHOW HELD AT INVERNESS IN 1883. 241 



ACCOUXT OF THE SHOW OF THE HIGHLAND AXD AGRI- 

 CULTURAL SOCIETY HELD AT INVERNESS IN 1883. 



The annual Show of the Society was held at Inverness on the 

 24th, 2oth, 26th, and 27th July. This was the fifty-sixth 

 Exhibition, and the seventh which has been held in that 

 quarter. 



The site chosen for the Show occupied about 24 acres on the 

 farm of Dalneigh, on the estate of Mr Baillie of Dochfour, and 

 in close proximity to the town. The situation was beautiful, 

 commanding a view of the woods of CuUoden, Ben Wyvis, the 

 valley of the Ness, the Beauly Firth, with the Black Isb, the- 

 remarkable hill called Tomnahurich, and the wooded mountain 

 ridge which terminates in Craig Phadruig. 



In no district visited by the Society is there a greater degree 

 of interest excited among all classes than in the capital of the 

 Highlands. It was, therefore, with a corresponding feeling of 

 regret that the inhabitants learned that, in consequence of the 

 prevalence of foot-and-mouth disease in Scotland, the propriety 

 of holding the Show was discussed by the general meeting in 

 June. Fortunately, however, the Directors, in consideration of 

 the regulations by the local authorities of the county and burgh 

 of Inverness and the wishes of the exhibitors, resolved that the 

 Show should go on, though no doubt fear of contracting disease 

 prevented some who had made entries from sending their stock. 

 It is satisfactory to state, on the authority of Principal Williams, 

 Edinburgh, and Mr Thomson, V.S., Inverness, who were in at- 

 tendance throughout the Show, that the stock was in a healthy 

 and satisfactory condition; and it is a source of much gratifica- 

 tion to add that no evil resulted from the Show. 



The general arrangements of the yard were similar to those at 

 former meetings of the Society, but some of the fittings were 

 arranged in a somewhat different manner than usual, the Com- 

 mittee Ptooms, Members' Club Pioom, General Meeting Pavilion, 

 Band Stand, and Pefreshment Tents being erected right and 

 left of the main centre thoroughfare. 



For the first time in the history of the Society, stewards 

 were appointed for the different departments — Sir James 

 Gibson-Craig, Bart., being for Cattle ; Lord Arthur Cecil, for 

 Horses; the Pev. John Gillespie, Mouswald, for Sheep, Swine, 

 Poultry, &c. ; Mr Forbes of CuUoden, for Forage ; and Mr Scott 

 Dudgeon, Longnewton, and Mr Shaw, Skaithmuir, for Imple- 

 ments. 



The business of the meeting commenced on Tuesday morning, 

 with the judging of the stock, at eleven, and took place during. 



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