148 HIGHLAND AND AGRICULTURAL SOCIETY. 



To ploughmen with two oxen — William Graham, plough- 

 man to Sir Alexander Gordon. The gentlemen of the 

 Societ}' and neighbourhood dined together afterwards, 

 when the health of the Society was drank with every re- 

 spect, and the)- requested the convener (Mr Gordon, yr. of 

 Culvennan), to express to the Mighland Society the obliga- 

 tions the countr)- considered the}- lay under to it for the 

 rapid improvement in ploughing which had taken place in 

 the Stewartry since these ploughing matches had been in- 

 troduced by the Society, which appeared in a ratio almost 

 incredible, as at this Highland district competition only 

 three old Scotch ploughs were seen, when, five years ago, 

 one English plough only was to be found in it. 



TJie Fourteenth PlougJiing Match (the third for the 

 county of Lanark) took place at Cleland, in the parish of 

 Both well, in the Middle Ward of said county, on the 26th 

 November 1805. Fifteen ploughmen appeared. The first 

 and second prizes and medals were awarded to, ist, John 

 Weir, servant to Sir James Steuart's tenant at Garrion- 

 haugh ; 2nd, Charles Russell, servant to Mr Hamilton of 

 Bothwellpark. 



TJie Fifteenth PloiigJiing Match took place at Eshiells, 

 Peeblesshire, on the 21st December 1805. Twenty-eight 

 ploughmen appeared. The premiums were awarded as 

 follows : 1st Thomas Paterson, servant to John Craig, 

 Hattonknowe, Eddleston, £^ 5s. and the Society's silver 

 medal; 2nd Thomas Cochran, son of William Cochran, Wor- 

 miston, Eddleston, £1 3s. and the Society's silver medal ; 

 3rd Alex. Dickson, servant to Sir James Hay of Smith- 

 field, Bart., at Eshiells, £2 2s. 



The Sixteenth Ploughing Match took place at Earnock, 

 near Hamilton, in the county of Lanark, on the 8th of 

 February 1806. Twenty-three ploughmen appeared as 

 competitors. The two first prizes were awarded as follows: 

 1st, A silver medal and £2 to Robert Young, serv-ant 

 to Gavin Laing, Bothwell ; 2nd, a silver medal and ^i 15s. 

 to James Smellie, servant to Professor Jardine, of Glasgow 

 College. At this competition, one of the rules was — ' The 

 judges .shall be present during the execution of the work to 



