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FIRST GENERAL SHOW. l6l 



deserving of mature consideration, and they remitted it to 

 a Committee for that purpose. The Committee reported 

 in favour of the proposal ; and at the anniversary meeting 

 of the Society, held on the 8th January 1822, a sum of 

 seventy-five guineas was voted to pay all the expenses of 

 the experiment the first year. At the same meeting it was 

 resolved that first and second premiums of ten and five 

 guineas should be offered for 'each of the four most approved 

 breeds of black cattle.' 



The premiums, which were duly advertised, were ten 

 guineas and five guineas for first and second prizes for pairs 

 of oxen of the Shorthorn breed not exceeding four years ; of 

 the Aberdeenshire breed not under three years ; of the West 

 Highland breed not under four years ; and of the Angus, 

 Fife, Galloway, or any other breed, not under three 

 years. There were also like premiums for the best and 

 second best ox of any breed and age showing most sym- 

 metry, fat, and weight. 



As this is the first show open to competition from any 

 part of Scotland, it may be interesting to give some details. 

 The exhibition took place on Thursday the 26th December 

 1822, in an enclosure at the back of Queensberry House, in 

 the Canongate, now the House of Refuge. The entrance 

 for cattle was from the gate at the back of the Canongate. 

 The judges were requested to be at the showyard by half- 

 past ten o'clock. Members of the Society were admitted 

 at twelve noon by the gate in front of Queensberry House, 

 and the public at one on payment of is. each. The show 

 continued open till four p.m. on Thursday, the day of com- 

 petition ; and a further opportunity was given to the public 

 of viewing the prize animals on the Friday and Saturday, 

 from eleven to three o'clock. The show attracted a good 

 deal of interest, and the sum drawn for admission was £s i 

 los. It is specially recorded that 'the arrangements for 

 putting up and classing the different varieties of stock were 

 so made by Bailie Gordon of the Canongate, his Majesty's 

 carpenter, who was professionally employed on this duty, 

 that the cattle could be viewed by a very large company 

 without inconvenience or annoyance.' The following is a 



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