CHAPTER XIII. 



FIRST SHOW AT PERTH. 1829. 



In 1829, the Society entered upon that series of shows in 

 various districts of the country which has ever since been 

 followed. The suggestion to hold the great annual cattle 

 show in various districts originated with Alexander, tenth 

 Duke of Hamilton, who was President of the Society from 

 I S2J to 1 83 1 . The first place of meeting selected was Perth, 

 recommended, no doubt, b)' its central position. The prize 

 list for cattle was more varied than any the Society had yet 

 issued. It comprehended premiums for Shorthorn bulls, 

 cows, and two-}'ear-old heifers. For the first time, pre- 

 miums were offered for bulls and cows of the ' Angus breed,' 

 a novelty we assume to be due to the presence in the 

 Society of Mr Watson, Keillor. The list also included a 

 premium for the best pair of oxen of the ' Aberdeenshire 

 breed.' No prizes, however, were offered for breeding cattle 

 of the Aberdeenshire stock. For the Highland breed there 

 were prizes for the best bull, best cow, for heifers not ex- 

 ceeding forty months old, as well as for oxen of the same 

 breed. A premium was also offered for the best breeding 

 cow of the Fifeshire breed, this being the first occasion in 

 which breeding animals of this class were included in the 

 prize list. Perthshire being a considerable distance from 

 the seat of the Ayrshire breed, few prizes were offered for 

 it ; but there were premiums offered for the best bull and 

 the best cow of that breed. Sheep also received special 

 attention, and for the first time we have premiums for 

 breeding stock, there being prizes offered for the best tups 

 and ewes of the Leicester, Southdown, and blackfaced 

 breeds. In the class of horses, for the first time a prize 

 was offered for the best three-year-old entire colt, and a 

 special prize was offered for the best mare not exceeding 



