THE FARMER'S MAGAZINE. 



533 



although Mr. Ledger has used every effort to persuade them 

 to do so. It was, under these circumstances, thought the 

 time was a fitting one for the public to be invited to present 

 a testimonial to Mr. Ledger, and accordingly a meeting was 

 convened a few days ago. The attendance, though smalh 

 was influential, being presided over by Sir Charles Nichol- 

 son, and it was unanimously determined to open a public 

 subscription, and also to communicate with the Government, 

 urging that Mr. Ledger's salary should be increased to £750 

 per annum. A letter was read at the meeting from Mr. T- 

 S. Mort, who was unable to attend, pointing out the high 

 prospective value of Mr. Ledger's enterprise, and bearing 

 testimony to the promises of recompence which were made 

 him in 1853 if he should succeed in landing a large flock of 

 Alpacas in Sydney; a subscription of a hundred guineas 

 was promised by Mr. Mort to the testimonial. A list of 

 the sums collected will shortly be published, and it is hoped 

 that, for the credit of the colony, the high merit of Mr. 

 Ledger, in opening up a new source of productive industry, 

 will be properly appreciated. By many persons the opinion 

 is expressed that Mr. Ledger's recompence should be at the 

 hands of Government rather than depend upon public libe- 

 rality, and it is understood that the Ministry are prepared 

 to support any reasonable proposition to that etFecr if intro- 

 duced by a private member. It would indeed be a dis- 

 grace to the country if Mr. Ledger, after so far successfully 

 completing his zealous and hazardous enterprise, commenced 

 on the faith of promises of handsome remuneration, should 



be allowed to depart to South America, and relate there — 

 what would quickly be circulated in other countries — that 

 an enterprise which had been highly extolled in England as 

 likely to open a new era in British commerce, had been un- 

 requited by the country which would chiefly benefit by it, 

 and whose Government had, after promising him ample re- 

 ward if he succeeded in the enterprise, cruelly disappointed 

 him. 



In support of the claim which Mr. Ledger has upon the 

 colony, it may be desirable to refer to the former failure of 

 attempts to introduce alpacas here, owing to the prohibitory 

 laws of the Peruvian Government, and to the effect which 

 Mr. Ledger's successful evasion of those laws has produced. 

 A correspondent of Mr, Ledger's, connected with the lead- 

 ing families in Peru, and well informed on political matters, 

 writes — " You have so wounded the pride of Peru and 

 Bolivia, that, in order to depreciate the value of your enter- 

 prise, and to prevent your obtaining remuneration from it, 

 the Peruvian authorities contemplate removing the re- 

 striction on the exportation of alpacas." If this intention 

 should be carried out, it is not impossible that wo may in 

 the course of a few years receive other flocks of these ani- 

 mals, as they could on the removal of the restriction be 

 introduced at a comparatively small cost. The propagation 

 of the animals and tlie production of the wool in Australia 

 would thereby be more rapidly brought about, and Mr. 

 Ledger's claim on the gratitude of the colonists more firmly 

 established. 



AYRSHIRE AGRICULTURAL ASSOCIATION. 



This great meeting, which came off at Ayr, on Monday and 

 Tuesday, April 23 and 24, is regarded by the agricultural com- 

 munity in the West of Scotland with a great and increasing 

 feeling of interest. The observation and experience of each 

 successive year deepen the farmer's conviction of the import- 

 ance of consuming the grass and pjrovender of the farm with 

 the description of stock which gives most milk or lays on 

 most meat, in proportion to the amount of food eaten by the 

 animal ; and the advantage is equally evident of cultivating 

 the land and preparing the produce of the farm for food with 

 implements and machines which can be worked with speed, 

 economy, and efliciency. The amount of capital employed in 

 agriculture is still generally far too small. In the well- 

 managed districts, however, it has been much increased during 

 the last ten years ; and where the outlay is large, it is not 

 difficult to perceive that the farmer's profit depends to a con- 

 siderable extent on the quality of his stock and the efficiency 

 of his implements, as well as upon active and judicious general 

 management. 



The following gentlemen acted as Judges : 



Ayrshire Dairy Stock. — Mr. John Baird, Lochwood, 

 by Coatbridge ; Mr. Patrick Graham Barnes, Limekilns, East 

 Kilbride ; Mr. Alex. Buchanan, Garscadden Mains, New 

 Kilpatrick. 



Horses. — Mr, Robert Wilson, Frithfield, by Anstruther, 

 Fife ; Mr. Robert Clark, Hamilton ; Mr. James Salmon, 

 Benstone, Johnstone ; Mr. John Fulton, veterinary surgeon, 

 Ayr. 



Blackfaced and Cheviot Sheep. — Mr. Robert 

 M'Turk, Hastingshall, Miunyhive ;' Mr. James P. Willison, 

 Dalpeddar, Sanquhar. 



Shorthorned Cattle; Leicester, Southdown, 

 Crossbred Sheep; and Pigs. — Mr. Thomas Lawrie, 

 Terreglestou, Dumfries : Mr. Alexander Yonng, Keir, Bridge 

 of Allan, 



Fat Stock. — Mr. Arbuckle, Kilmarnock , and Mr. David 

 M'CuUoch, Auchness, Strauraer. 



DAIRY STOCK— AYRSHIRE BREED. 



For the best bull, not under three years old, Eight Sove- 

 reigns, with one sovereign additional if a pedigree of the 

 prize animal be produced, for not less than two geaerationa 

 back, and the Society's Silver Medal to the breeder ; Ivie 

 Campbell, Dalgig, New Cumnock. 



For the second best, four sovereigns ; John Parker, Nether 

 Broomlands, Irvine, 



For the third best, two sovereigns ; Matthew Hamilton, 

 Newfield, Mains, Duudonald, 



For the best two-year-old Bull, five sovereigns, with au 

 additional sovereign for the pedigree, and the Medal to the 

 Breeder, as above ; John Parker, Nether Broomlands. 



For the second best, two sovereigns ; Robert Dunlop, Auld- 

 ton, Dreghorn. 



For the third best, one sovereign ; Wm, Guthrie, Knock- 

 shiffnoek, Ochiltree. 



For the be?t bull stirk, two sovereigns, with an additional 

 half a sovereign for the pedigree, as above ; John Parker, Ne- 

 ther Broomlands. 



For the second best, one sovereign; William Kirkwood, 

 ShanketoD, Straiten. 



For the third best, half a sovereign ; John Parker, Nether 

 Broomlands. 



For the best aged cow, in milk or in calf on the day of 

 exhibition, ten sovereigns, with au additional sovereign for 

 the pedigree, and the medal to the breeder, as above ; James 

 Wilson, Oldmill, New Cumnock. 



For the second best, five sovereigns; James Wilson, Old- 

 mill. 



For the third best, two sovereigns ; W. & J. Knox, Kil- 

 birnie. 



For the fourth best, one sovereign ; Wm. Lang, of Groat- 

 holm, Kilwinning, 



For the beat aged cow, in calf on the day of exhibition, 

 three sovereign*, with an additional HOTer?((fn forthpnedigiree. 



