FIRST SHOW AT INVERNESS, 1 83 1. 209 



proposing the Successful Competitors, coupled the toast 

 with the name of Sir Neil Menzies, observing that he was 

 not only a great improver of stock, but an extensive and 

 spirited improver of waste land. Mr Keir also alluded to 

 an extensive carpet manufactory maintained by Sir Neil 

 Menzies at Camserney, observing further that, when recently 

 in York, he found that the carpets woven at Sir Neil's 

 Scotch factory were more sought after than those at Man- 

 chester and other towns in England. Sir Neil Menzies, in 

 returning thanks, said that nothing had ever proved so great 

 a stimulus to improvements of the soil and of the breeds of 

 stock as these exhibitions of the Society ; those who for- 

 merly only fed fifty cattle are determining to feed 100, besides 

 doubling the breadth and produce of turnips and potatoes 

 they formerly reared. Sir Neil having proposed the 

 health of the Judges, the toast was acknowledged by Mr 

 Fergusson of Woodhill, who remarked that nothing was so 

 beneficial to the farmer as having an opportunity of com- 

 paring his stock Avith others, adding that he remembered a 

 saying ' of the first farmer in East Lothian, and consequently 

 the first in the world, the late George Rennie, that he never 

 went twenty miles from home but he came back with a red 

 face, meaning that he always saw something to make him 

 blush for his own deficiency.' Mr Downie of Appin replied 

 to the toast of the Breeders of valuable Stock, and observed 

 that it was no wonder that the Highland Society, which 

 had originated in the Cowgate, should be the means of pro- 

 ducing such excellent bullocks. Donald Home proposed 

 Success to the Inverness Great Sheep and Wool Market, 

 and John M'Kenzie Success to the Farming Societies, 

 noticing particularly the Morayshire Farmer Club and the 

 Inverness, Ross, and Golspie Farmer Societies. To this 

 latter toast Mr Brown, Linkwood, responded, and Mr 

 Fergusson was glad to endorse the observations made in 

 favour of the Morayshire Club by remarking that that Club 

 had on every proper occasion occupied a conspicuous part 

 in the records of the Highland Society. 



o 



