CHAPTER XXVIII. 



THIRD SHOWS AT DUMFRIES, 1845, AND INVERNESS, 1846. 



In 1845, the Society held its show at Dumfries, and the 

 meeting took place on a part of the level haugh called the 

 Dock, situated on the margin of the Nith. The date fixed 

 was so late as October, and the competition opened on 

 Tuesday the 7th of the month. Much apprehension was 

 felt for the safety of the erections on the show ground after 

 they were nearly completed, in consequence of an overflow 

 of the river from the heavy rains towards the end of the 

 week previous to the show. On the evening of Friday the 

 3rd October, the river was over the whole of the White 

 Sands, inundating portions of the Vennel, Kirkgate, and 

 other streets. At ten o'clock same night the outer wooden 

 wall of the showyard, which ran along the river, gave way, 

 and was floated off instantly. A number of hurdles were 

 also swept away. In the morning, however, the river began 

 to subside, and though it rained all Saturday, the water was 

 soon drawn off, by means of tile drains run up through the 

 enclosed space for the purpose. Sunday was fine, and by 

 Monday the ground, naturally dry, was rendered firm by 

 the draining ; and though there were showers during the 

 three days of the show, no inconvenience was experienced. 

 At the show, there were in all 1072 head of stock. 

 Of these there were 537 head of sheep. Seventy-five entries 

 were made of horses, while there were 297 in the cattle 

 classes. The cattle sections comprised 105 head of 

 Galloways, of which twenty-two were bulls, and thirteen 

 breeding cows. There were only fifty-four Shorthorns, 

 eleven being aged bulls, five yearling bulls, thirteen cows, 

 and twenty-five heifers. Curiously enough, there was a very 

 small number of Ayrshires, only forty-five entries being 

 jnade — twelve bulls, sixteen cows, and seventeen heifers. 



