THE FARMER'S MAGAZINE. 



49 



THE LEADING FEATURES OF THE IMPLEMENT DEPARTMENT OF THE 

 ABERDEEN (HIGHLAND SOCIETY'S) SHOW. 



The contrast between the show held at Aberdeen in 

 1847 and that of 1858, the leading features of which 

 we now propose to glance at, must have been grati- 

 fying to all interested in the steady and healthy progress 

 of the Highland Society, The tabulated results of the 

 two gatherings exhibit in a marked manner the develop- 

 ment of its capabilities of usefulness ; the increase of 

 entries of 1858, as compared with 1847, being nearly 

 three-fold, the entries of the two years standing 

 thus : 



1847. 1858. 



Cattle 361 458 



Horsea 105 189 



Sheep 230 590 



Swiiie 24 79 



Poultry 102 366 



Implements and uiachiiies 49 802 



Total 871 2,484 



The increase in the entries of implements and ma- 

 chines — the department in which we are for the pre- 

 sent specially interested — is the most marked feature of 

 the above tables, and affords evidence of the increased 

 and increasing practical interest taken in the department, 

 not only by the manufacturers who invent and con- 

 struct, but by the farmers who use the implements and 

 machines exhibited. And here we deem this a fitting 

 opportunity to point out how much of the increased 

 value of this department of the show is due to the Eng- 

 lish manufacturers. While not for a moment endeavour- 

 ing to detract from the merit of their Scotch brethren, 

 or to lessen the praise justly due to them for their en- 

 terprise and ability ; there is little doubt of the (act 

 that the energy of the English manulacturers, and their 

 known liberality in incurring large expenses in prepar- 

 ing for the shows, has done more than any thing else to 

 raise the implement department of the Highland Society's 

 shows from the comparative inutility and baldness of 

 exposition, of bye-gone years, to that of the fulness 

 and efficiency of later exhibitions. And this statement 

 naturally brings us to the consideration of a point con- 

 nected with the management of the shows which has a 

 close bearing on the interests of the manufactunrs who 

 have mainly contributed to the success of this depart- 

 ment. Need we say, thit we allude here to the vexed 

 question of classification of the machines and imple- 

 ments .' — a question which, although often discussed, is so 

 important to those immediately concerned in its ppee<ly 

 and satisfactory solution, that it cannot be too often 

 broached and dwelt upon, if this will in any measure 

 help on the agitation, which has for its object the repeal 

 of the system now so rigidly adhered to by the authori- 

 ties of the Society. 



For the benetit of those of our readers who may be 

 ignorant of the state of the question, we may here state 

 that the Implements and machines are not arranged as 



at the shows of the Royal Agricultural Society 

 of England, in groups, directly under the control 

 and supervision of the party who exhibits them, no 

 matter how diverse in character they may be ; buli they 

 are classified according to the uses to which they are put 

 in practice. Tiius ploughs form a distinct group from sow- 

 ing machines, and these again from thrashing machines, 

 the two classes being placed at different parts of the yard. 

 Not only this, however, but the great divisions are sub- 

 divided into sections, so that we find ploughs in reality 

 not in one, but in many groups ; to wit, " two-horse 

 ploughs for general purposes" forming one group, 

 " trench or deep-furrow ploughs" a second, " subsoil 

 ploughs for two horses" a third, and so on. The same 

 principle is carried out in sowing machines — " broad- 

 cast" forming one group, " drill sowing machines" a 

 second, and so on ; this principle of subdivision being so 

 developed that we find the implements and machines 

 exhibited, extended over no fewer than eightij-iwo 

 sections. Now, if the interests of one party were those 

 only to be consulted — namely, the visitor anxious to 

 inspect the various machines exhibited, this classification 

 would be all that is desirable, so far as the facilities it 

 affords for making comparaliue observations are con- 

 cerned ; nor is its utility to the judges less marked and 

 satisfactory. But the interests of the exhibitors are 

 also to be consulted, and primarily so ; for to them the 

 department is altogether indebted for its practical 

 utility : without their efforts the department of imple- 

 ments and machines would sink into the insignificance 

 of the early exhibitions. The articles exhibited by 

 them, if diverse in character, being, to suit the classi- 

 fication adopted, placed in different parts of the yard, 

 obviously demands of the exhibitor one of two things— 

 either tliat he go to the expense of providing one atten- 

 dant or attendants at each section to describe to the 

 visitors the peculiarities and prices of the machines there 

 exhibited ; or to content himself with leaving his articles 

 to speak for themselves. Now, "either alternative," 

 as we have elsewhere remarked, is not pleasant to be 

 contemplateil ^y business men, anxious to do a good 

 business, to reimburse them for the expense of time 

 and money which they incur in bringing their articles to 

 the show. Nor, in fact, are the exigencies of the case 

 provided for, by securing extra attendants ; for business 

 men know well enough that purchasers like as well to 

 do with principals, as, on the other hand, principals 

 like to deal at first-hand with purchasers. And many 

 of our leading men can tell of numerous orders lost 

 through not being able to get directly in contact with 

 intending purchasers. It would be as impolitic in prin- 

 ciple as it would certainly be impossible in practice, to 

 ask the exhibitors to forego their business views in 

 coming to the show, and to look upon it simply as a 



