EARLY PREMIUMS. II9 



of the Strathearn Agricultural Society is recorded ; and 

 on application the Secretary, with the approval of the 

 Directors, agreed to become an Honorary Member of it, 

 'the Board being of opinion that the institution of local 

 Agricultural Societies upon a respectable footing, and 

 under proper regulations, must be attended with much 

 benefit to the country.' 



Implements and Machines. 



On 6th December 1793, the Society awarded its 

 earliest premium for an implement. A sum of ten guineas 

 was then voted to the Rev. Alexander Campbell, minister 

 of Kilcalmonell, Argyllshire, as an acknowledgment of his 

 merits in regard to a new-invented plough, of an improved 

 construction, adapted for the culture of Highland farms. 

 The Directors at the same time recommended to the Sub- 

 Committee to cause a model to be made of the plough at the 

 expense of the Society, to be kept for their use. Before one 

 was made for the Society, a plough was constructed under 

 the direction of the inventor, and a trial of it took place on 

 15th November 1793, on a field on the farm of Lochend, 

 near Edinburgh, in presence of Sir John Clerk, Sir John 

 Sinclair, James Clerk, Esq., Mr Marshall, author of the 

 Essays on Agriculture ; William Bennet, farmer at Dud- 

 dingston ; Mr Baird, farmer at Lochend ; and Mr Cauvin,* 

 teacher of French in Edinburgh, and also a practical 

 farmer. These gentlemen agreed that in certain circum- 

 stances and situations, Mr Campbell's plough appeared to 

 them to possess superior advantages, particularly that in 

 strong lea and rank stubble, it would be less apt to choke, 

 and in stony ground less liable to be thrown out or diverted 

 than any other plough. They were also clearly of opinion 



* Mr Cauvin above referred to was Louis Cauvin, the well-known teacher 

 of French, and afterwards farmer at Duddingston, who died in 1825, bequeath- 

 ing his property for the erection and endowment of " an hospital for the relief, 

 maintenance, and education of the sons of respectable but poor teachers ; the 

 sons of poor but honest farmers ; when failing, the sons of respectable master 

 printers or booksellers, and the sons of respectable servants in the agricultural 

 line." The Institution, which is situated at Duddingston, near Edinburgh, 

 was opened in 1833, 



