PROCEEDINGS AT GENERAL MEETINGS. 13 



Mr Hendersox of Stemster stated that what he understood was intended by Mr 

 Mollison was a recommendation to the Directors, who were to consider whether it 

 would be prudent to go on with the Show or not. 



Mr Walker thought it better to leave the matter to the Directors as a recommenda- 

 tion. Before this day week the Local Authority would be able to communicate to the 

 Directors the restrictions they had made. When these were received he would be quite 

 prepared to go the length of the motion ; Vjut at present they were acting on uncer- 

 tainty, because they did not know that that view would be endorsed by the Local 

 Authority of Inverness. 



Ikir Pott of Dod pointed out that if the Directors met on the 27th, three days would 

 elapse before the 1st July, in which an outbreak might occur. 



Colonel Williamson of Lawers asked, supposing prosperity surrounded them on all 

 sides, what would be the probable gain or probable loss in connection with the Show 

 at Inverness ? 



Mr Mexzies — Mr Mollison says we will have £2000 to the good. I asked him if he 

 would guarantee that ? 



The Chairman said that, with all deference to Mr Williamson, he thought they had 

 come pretty unanimously to the conclusion that expense was not to be considered ; 

 and he thought it better that it should not be brought up now. 



Mr Mollison suggested, as they might be limited in time in getting the guarantee 

 which Mr Walker properly asked for, it mght be better to put ott' the deliberation and 

 decision of the Directors for an additional week. By that time there was no doubt 

 they would be able to put in the hands of the Directors the assurance which Mr 

 Walker asked for. 



It was then agreed to leave the matter in the hands of the Directors until the first 

 Wednesday of July, to which day the meeting of Directors would stand adjourned. 



Edinburgh Show, 1884. — Colonel Gillon then submitted the list of classes of stock 

 for the Edinburgh Show next year, and stated that the Directors were wilhng to accept 

 on this occasion, the centenary of the Society, suitable champion cups or prizes for the 

 recognised breeds of cattle, horses, and sheep, for which all former prize animals would 

 be eligible to compete. He pointed out that there would be family or group prizes in 

 all the breeds of cattle, as well as in the class of draught horses, and in the blackfaced, 

 Cheviot, and Border Leicester breeds of sheep, and that the animals to form these 

 family or group prizes would be announced in January. The Commissioners of Supply 

 for the counties embraced in the district of the Show — Edinburgh, Haddington, and 

 Linlithgow — had all imposed voluntary assessments to raise contributions towards the 

 expenses of the Show. 



Potato Culture. — Mr Dudgeon, Easter Dalmeny, reported that the Directors had 

 appointed a Special Committee to carry out the resolution of last General Meeting, and 

 that on their recommendation the Board resolved to ofter £50 as a prize or prizes for 

 the best variety of disease-resisting potatoes which had never been sold or offered for 

 sale, su(;h variety being a seedling of not less than five years' growth. Each competitor 

 was required to send not less than one stone of such variety to the Society, under 

 whose superintendence they were to be tested as to their disease-resisting properties 

 for one year, at the expiration of which time the prizes are to be awarded. The pro- 

 duce of the potatoes is to belong to the owners ; l)ut no y>rize will be awardeil to any 

 variety showing any symptom of disea-se. In accordance with these regulations five 

 competitors lodged samples, which have been planted on ground on the farm of East 

 Barns, near Dunbar, kindly granted for the purpose l)y Mr Hope. 



Importation of Foreign Live Animals.— The Chairman gave an account of the 

 proceedings connected with the subject of the importation of foreign live animals. 

 He said that tlie Directors were unanimously of opinion that the matter of security to 

 their Hocks ami herds from infection and disease was a matter of very great import- 

 ance ; and tliey resolved accordingly, after considering the matter carefully, to support 

 tht! action which the Royal Agriiultural Society of England and a number of other 

 iiilluential agri'ultural societies had taken in aiipointing a deputation to wait upon the 

 President of the Council, to urge ujion the (iovernment the importance of preventing, 

 as far as tln-y possibly could, tlie importation of disea.se from abroad. He thon gave 

 an account, which has alreatly appeared, of the meeting of a deputation with Lord 

 Carlingford on the subject. The Society had not rested since the action they took on 

 that occasion. They considered the matter of the utmost iHi]iortance to agriridtnre, 

 and they had taken other means to have as wide an expression of opinion on the subject 

 from persons in Scotland a.s jiossible. Accordingly, they addressed a circular to all 

 tln' local authorities and agricultural a.ssociations in Scotland to ask them to express 

 their views on the matter; and most of tht-m were no doubt aware that in i'onse(|uence 

 of that action a meeting was to be held in Etlinburgh next week, when deputies from 

 various agricultural societies were to take up the subject. The Society had also 

 addressed a circular to a great number of the cattle salesmen and cattle dealers in 

 Scotland connected with the liome trade, a.sking to take some action in expressing an 



