76 



FIELD AND FERN 



see his name on this great Scottish bede-roU of agri- 

 culture, the terms* upon which he can enter do not 

 encourage that mere membership for a year, when the 

 Society comes to his own locality, which is fostered by 

 the roving English pound. His Majesty Napoleon III. 

 heads the list, and the oldest member on the books 

 is ^' Mr. Robert Campbell of Sonachan, Inverary, 

 1802" ; and the Marquis of Tweeddale, K.T., v/ho 

 was a constant judge at the earlier shows, dates from 

 1809. The Presidency has been held by sixteen 

 dukes. John fifth Duke of Argyll was elected in 1 785, 

 and died when he had held office for two-and-twenty 

 years. All the others, with tlie exception of the late 

 Duke of Gordon, who also died during his term cf 

 office, have presided for four years, and none of 

 them but the late Duke of Hamilton (who went on 

 for another year by virtue of a bye-law) have been 

 elected twice. 



The cardinal object of tlie Society is, by means 

 of district competitions under committees and con- 

 veners, to throw out its fibres all over the country, 

 and to keep all the local societies in communion with 

 head-quarters at Edinburgh. Hence there were at 

 least 211 districts during ^64 in the receipt of money 

 or medals under the Society's conditions, quite irre- 



* New members are admittocl at tlio amiiial meetiiip: iu January, and the 

 summer general meeting in June or July. The ordinary subscription is 

 ^1 33. 61. annually, which may be redeemed by one payment, varying from 

 £12 12s. to £7 li., and regulated by the number of previous annual payments. 

 Tenant-farmers, secretaries, and treasurers of local Agricultiu-al Associations, 

 resident agricultural factors, and jjroprietors farming the whole of their own 

 lands, whose assessment on the valuation-roll does not exceed £500, are ad- 

 mitted on a subscription of 10s. aimually or £5 5s. for hie. 



