I06 HIGHLAND AND AGRICULTURAL SOCIETY. . 



extend his machinery for spinning wool. A sum of ;^2i 

 was voted, at same time, to John Beith, Lochgilphead, for 

 erecting machinery for teasing and carding wool, and to 

 enable him to erect machinery for spinning wool. A sum 

 of ;^io los., or piece of plate of that value, was voted, 1810, 

 to George Mercer, Wilderhaugh, Galashiels, for his inven- 

 tion of a machine for raising the pile of wool on cloths, and 

 other improvements in machinery. £21 were voted, 1813, 

 to Dougald MacLachlan, Auchleven, Bonaw, Argyleshire, 

 for his having constructed, at a considerable expense, and 

 introduced into that district, proper machinery for the 

 teasing, carding, and spinning of wool, and as an encourage- 

 ment to him to extend the manufactory to the making of 

 cloth. A premium of ten guineas was, in 18 17, voted to 

 James Kellic, Islay, for erecting machinery in that island 

 for carding and spinning wool, and making the same into 

 cloth. Seven guineas were, in 18 17, voted to Walter 

 Mercer, Galashiels, for a machine for doubling, twisting, 

 and reeling yarn. A piece of plate of the value of fifteen 

 guineas was, in 18 19, voted to Robert Thom, of the Rothe- 

 say Cotton Mills, for a self-acting apparatus constructed by 

 him for economising and regulating the supply of water for 

 operating on these mills. 



Rearing and Selling Oxen. 



Amongst the original premiums offered, as given 

 above, was one of ten guineas to the farmer drawing the 

 highest price for three-year-old stots that had not been 

 housed for the last two years, reared on his own farm, and 

 sold in Scotland, not under ten in number, and on a farm 

 in the counties of Caithness and Sutherland. The full 

 premium was awarded 6th January 1786, to Lieutenant- 

 Colonel James Sutherland of Uppat, Golspie, for rearing 

 oxen on the farm of Dunrobin, Golspie, possessed by him. 

 The certificate transmitted to the Society bore that Colonel 

 Sutherland had sold to Captain Mathison of Shinnes, who 

 is designed ' drover and dealer in black cattle,' in the month 

 of June 1785, ten three-year-old stots at the price of £^0^ 

 and that the stots had not been housed for the previous 



