334 



THE FARMER'S MAGAZINE. 



Let Mr. McLagan go fully into the question of the 

 swing-plough being the better at one period of tlie 

 year, and the wheel at another ; and then let him 

 show us that they have actually a better wheel- plough 

 in Scotland than we have here in England ; with ample 

 explanation of other points at present by no means 

 generally understood. The Duke of Atholl has done 

 right good service by insisting on the Report. It is 

 alike a duty to the public, the competitors, and the 

 Judges themselvej; and we hope to see it go for a 

 precedent hereafter. 



Last year the Duke of Atholl made arrangements for a 

 ploughing match at Stanley, Perthshire, with the view of 

 testing the relative metita of swing and wheel ploughs, which 

 attracted a good deal of attention. This season the match has 

 been renewed, and came off on Wednesday and Thursday at 

 Strathord. Thirty-one ploughs were entered, nearly the whole 

 of which competed. Among the English makers who com- 

 peted are the names of Messrs. Ransomes and Sims, Plornsby 

 and Son, and J. and F. Howard, Bedford. It will surprise 

 some to learn that Messrs. Howard's ploughs were not placed, 

 while Hornsby and Son's only obtained the third and fourth 

 prizes. Mr. Andrew Gray, plough manufacturer, Meigle, was 

 again this year the most successful competitor. The first 

 prize was awarded to No. 4, which was made by Andrew Gray, 

 Meigle, and the second to James Finlayson, Pendreicb, Bridge 

 of Allan. The third and fourth to Messrs. Hornsby and Son, 

 Grantham, Lincolnshire. The fifth to Andrew Gray, Meigle. 

 The ploughs awarded the second, third, and fourth prizes are 

 wheel-ploughs — the first and fifth are swing-ploughs. The 

 conditions of competition were a depth of not less than six 

 inches. The weight of the ploughs, aj tested by the dyna- 

 mometer, formed an element in determining the respective 

 merits of the competing ploughs. As showing bow keenly 

 the competition was gone into, we may mention that Messrs. 

 Ransomes and Sims brought a pair of horses from Ipswich for 

 the trial. Some of the other competitors had their plough- 

 men to guide the ioiplemeuts. The fields were not deemed 

 very suitable for the trials. This is so be regretted, as it may 

 tend to deter in future the English implement makers from 

 comiug forward to compete at Scottish ploughing matches. 

 It waa stated on the field that the Duke of Atholl insisted that 

 the judges should furnish a formal report, stating the reasons 

 which guided them in their awards. This is a step in ad- 

 vance, and one that we should expect to see advocated by his 

 Grace in the Society of which he is President — the Highland 

 and Agricultural Society of Scotland. We understand that 

 Mr. Peter M'Lagan, jun., of Pumpherstou, has since been 

 appointed to draw up the formal report. — North British Agri- 

 culturist. 



The match was confined to makers of ploughs alone, each 

 maker being allowed to exhibit two ploughs of each class — 

 wheel or swing. The match excited great interest, as it be- 

 came one of national importance, makers from all parts of the 

 kingdom being there — Ransomes and Sims from Ipswich, who 

 brought with them a pair of beautiful Suffolk horses ; Richard 

 Hornsby and Sons, Grantham, Lincolnshire; J. and T. 

 Howard, Bedford ; and a number of the Scottish implement 

 makers. The number of entries was no less than 31. The 

 weather was beautiful throughout, and a large number of farmers 

 and others crowded the ground. Her Grace the Duchess of 

 Atholl and Miss M'Gregor were on the field during the first 

 day. The judges, Mr. Henry Stephens (author of the " Book 

 of the Farm"), Mr. George Hope, Teuton- barns, Mr. Peter 

 M'Lagan, Pumpherston, Mr. Thomas Wylie, of Airley 

 Wi-ht, and Mr. Ford, Harden-green, Dalkeith, were on the 

 ground both days during the whole time, the first day being 

 devoted to ploughing half au acre of lea by each plough entered 

 for competition, and the second day to testing the draught, 



turning over fallow, &c., &c. At a given signal— the firing of 

 a gun — the pl.'iuhs started, and it w^^ a beautiful sight, 

 the whole field alive with motion. At the close of the first 

 day's proceedings ten ploughs were selected by the judges to 

 return to the second day's competition, all the others having 

 fallen, the fortunate ten being Richard Hornsby and Sons, 

 Grantham, 3 ploughs ; Howard, Bedford, 1 ; Andrew Gray, 

 Meigle, 2 ; David Robertson, Guildtown, 1 ; James Find- 

 laysoD, Bridge of Allan, 1 ; Douglas Allan, Caputh, 2. The 

 second day the frost was rather severe, and made the draught 

 much heavier than it would otherwise have been. The judges, 

 after patient investigation, awarded as follows: — 1st prize, 

 Andrew Gray, Meigle, swing; 2ud, James Findlayson, Bridge 

 of Allan, wheel; 3rd, Richard Hornsby & Sons, wheel; 

 4th, Richard Hornsby & Sons, wheel; 5th, Andrew Gray, 

 Meigle, swing. The judges have agreed to write a report, 

 giving their reasons for the decisions they have arrived at. The 

 Duke of Atholl took great interest in the match, attending 

 both days, and presided at a public dinner on the close of the 

 first day's proceedings, when about 100 gentlemen sat down to 

 discuss, not only the excellent dinner which was provided, but 

 many subjects of importance connected with the proceedings 

 of the day. — Galloway Advertiser. 



THE HIGHLAND AND YORKSHIRE 

 SOCIETIES' SHOWS. 



In November, 1859, Lord Herries, as President of the 

 Yorkshire Agricultural Society, forwarded to the Duke of 

 Athol a resolution from the Council of that body, objecting 

 to the shows of the two societies being held simultaneously, 

 and suggesting that "in future the time of holding the 

 meetings of the Highland Society should be so fixed as to 

 avoid the first week in August." The directors of the latter, 

 though well impressed with the disadvantageous manner 

 in which the two shows interfere with each other, were not 

 prepared to adopt this suggestion, nor to admit the grounds 

 on which it was advanced. This subject was formally 

 brought under the notice of the Yorkshire Society by the 

 Highland Society so far back as 1853, and again in 1856, and 

 certain resolutions passed. The directors of the Highland 

 Society still adhere to the views then expressed, and are of 

 opinion that no change can be made with full advantage to 

 the publif, which does not permit exhibitors to take the 

 meetings of the Royal English, the Yorkshire, and the 

 Highland societies in succession, an arrangement easily 

 accomplished, as the interval between the first and last 

 atfords ample time for the meeting at York. 



The Highland Society has, like the Yorkshire, been 

 in the habit of holding its shows during the first week of 

 August, and it would readily give way, could the difficulty 

 thereby be obviated ; but the second week of August can- 

 not be taken, on account of the 12th happening to fall 

 within it— a counter attraction it would be impossible to 

 contend against. 



The subjoined is the letter from Mr. Hall Maxwell to Mr. 



Hannam, Secretary of the Yorkshire Society, dated 4th 



December, 1856 : 



"Dear Sir, — I am induced to write to you in the hope 

 that some means may be adopted in order to prevent our 

 respective shows occurring at the same period. I am aware 

 that by tlie rules of both Societies their meetings should be 

 held in the first week of August, which, I presume, with 

 you as with us, will be that commencing on the 3rd ; but I 

 believe that cither body can obviate the inconvenience of 

 simultaneous meetings by altering their rule. 



"I have no intention of asking the Yorkshire to make such 

 an alteration, on the ground that it should concede to one of the 

 three national societies. I stand entirely on the public con- 

 venience. The Royal Agricultural Society of England meets 

 at Salisbury in the week commencing on the 20th July; 

 let the Yorkshire take that beginning on the 27th; the 

 Highland Society the 3rd of August; and let the Irish 

 close the ball. We should thus play into each other's hands, 

 and accommodate exhibitors by enabling those who wish it 

 to take the four shows. " I am, yours faithfully, 



•• J. Hall Maxwell." 



