82 



JOHN GILLESPIE, The Highland and Agricultural Society of 

 Scotland. (The Standard Cyclopedia of Modern Agric. 6 Rural 

 Economy, edited by R. P. Wright, vol. VII. London, 1910, p. 21). 



" The membership of the Society in 1909 numbers 6829. The 

 funded capital of the Society has been steadily on the increase, 

 and now amounts to about no ooo (equivalent to francs 2 777 500). 



There are two grades of subscription. The higher annual 

 subscription is i $s. 6d. Life members pay .12 12$. Proprietors 

 farming the whole of their own land, not exceeding 500 in annual 

 value, and all tenant farmers, secretaries or treasurers of local agri- 

 cultural societies, factors resident on estates, land stewards, foresters, 

 agricultural-implement makers, and veterinary surgeons, none of 

 whom are owners of land to the value of 500 per annum, are 

 admitted on a payment of los. per annum, or a single life sub- 

 scription of 7 7-f. 



Not unnaturally, for a lengthened period the management of the 

 affairs of the Society was to a large extent in the hands of gentlemen 

 whose residences were within easy access of Edinburgh, and it was 

 felt as a grievance that comparatively few tenant farmers were 

 admitted as members of the Board. Since 1882 the election of the 

 directors has been put on a representative basis. In addition to 

 the office-bearers, the Board consists of 52 directors; 32 of these 

 are ordinary directors, 4 being from each show district, each of 

 whom holds office for four years. One of these is nominated by 

 the members in each show district each year. Of the 20 extra- 

 ordinary directors, 10 are chosen from the district in which the 

 show for the year is to be held, and the other 10 are chosen 

 because of their known interest in, and their work for, the Society. 

 One-half of the directors in each of these classes must be landed 

 proprietors or other persons paying the higher subscription, and the 

 other half must be tenant farmers or other persons paying the 

 lower subscription. 



For many years Scotland has been divided into eight show 

 districts: (i) The Lothians, (2) South-east of Scotland, (3) South- 

 west of Scotland, (4) West of Scotland, (5) District around Stirling, 

 (6) Perthshire and adjoining districts, (7) North-east of Scotland, 

 and (8) Inverness-shire and North-west of Scotland, and annual shows 

 have been held in the month of July at some centre within these 

 districts in successive years. 



The sums given in prize money at general shows from the 



