xxvi General Meeting, June 27, 1911. 



success of his animals in the show-ring, and express the hope that it was only 

 the beginning of many successes in the future. (Applause.) The King had 

 shown lately a still greater interest in their Society by conferring upon one of 

 its oldest and most respected Members of Council a high honour. (Hear, 

 hear.) He was quite sure he was expressing the feelings of all in that tent 

 and of agriculturists all over the country when he heartily congratulated Sir 

 Bowen Bowen-Jones, Bart., on the honour which had been conferred upon him. 



When, last December, the Members did him the honour of electing him 

 their Acting-President, he promised them a lovely Showground, and he thought 

 that that promise had been fulfilled. (Applause.) Through the kindness and 

 generosity of his good friend Mr. Russell Colmau, they were — to his mind- 

 assembled on one of the finest Showyards that the Society had ever had since 

 Windsor in the year 18S9, and the thanks of all of them were due to Mr. 

 Colman. 



When the Show was hei<l at Norwich twenty-five years ago the Royal 

 Agricultural Society wanted (32 acres ; to-day the Show, through the growth 

 of their great Society, now occupied 125 acres. Since 1886 the horticultural, 

 forestry, agricultural education, and horse-shoeing sections had been established. 



As regards the Horticultural Exhibition, he thought they would find, when 

 the tents were opened that afternoon, one of the finest horticultural displays 

 which had ever been seen in this country. Then, as regards forestry, he was 

 glad to know that the landowners of Norfolk, Suffolk, and Cambridgeshire 

 had supported it right royally. One other matter, and one which he was sure 

 would be of interest to his good friend Sir Thomas Elliott, and through him 

 to the President of the Board of Agriculture, was that they had established 

 prizes for plans of houses and buildings for small holdings, which were really 

 increasing to a great extent in their county of Norfolk. 



Then, as regards the membership of that Society. They now stooil at 

 10,500 odd, but if he might be allowed to say so, in his humble judgment that 

 was a very poor figure for the whole of England and Wales. He hoped to see 

 the day when the membership of that Society, which was doing such grand 

 work for the agriculturists of the kingdom, would be largely increased. They 

 in Norfolk had led the way. They had, he was glad to know, through the 

 kindness of many in the county, been able to raise their number of Members 

 from 324 on January 1 this year to 746 — (applause) — and what one county 

 had done other counties could do with a little work. He reminded them of a 

 well-known passage which their President used when he came back from his 

 Colonial tour. Talking of the Colonies, he said, "Wake uji, England!" 

 Might they not say to-day, " Wake up, Agricultural Englaml : join the premier 

 Society, and help on the good work that it has done for so many years, and 

 can do in the future." (Hear, hear.) 



As regards the financial position of the Society, he thought it was 

 satisfactory, but, at the same time, it required careful watching. He always 

 noticed that when a certain sum was put to reserve there were certain people 

 who liked to spend money ; but, thank goodness, they had an excellent and a 

 verj^ stubborn "Chancellor of the Exchequer" in Mr. Adeane, and he was 

 certain that neither he nor Sir Gilbert Creenall would ever stand waste or 

 extravagance in the management of the Society. (Applause.) 



He believed the Society now stood in as fine and prosperous a condition as 

 it had ever done. And to what was this due .' It was tlue in a great measure 

 to the Members themselves, who were taking more interest in agricultural 

 questions. It was also due to that loyal body of Stewards, who worked early 

 and late for the benefit of the Show ; and it was due, above all, to the hard 

 work and good organisation and the good tact and courtesy of Sir Gilbert 

 Greenall, their Honorary Director — (applause) — and it was due also a great 

 deal to their excellent staff — Mr. McHow and his staff at Bedford Square. 



Some people were a little upset that there had not been a better attendance 

 at the Show on the previous day, but he thought it was to be ex{)lained by the 



