302 HIGHLAND AND AGRICULTURAL SOCIETY, 



in the discharge of his duties in connection with the 

 Society. 



In 1848 those directing the Society felt a desire to 

 suspend for a time the holding of their large national 

 shows. At a meeting on the iith January the Chairman, 

 Lord Rosebery, asked the Secretary whether anything had 

 been done with regard to the show to be held in 1849? It 

 was stated that nothing had been done, and that the whole 

 question was open. After some conversation, it was re- 

 solved that the directors should consider the subject of the 

 shows generall}', and report to the half-yearly meeting to 

 be held in July. At the July meeting, accordingly, a report 

 from the directors was brought up on the subject of shows. 

 This document recapitulated the course taken by the 

 Society since the first establishment of shows in 1822, and 

 pointed out that, in 1843, attention had been called to the 

 desirability of considering whether the general exhibitions 

 of stock and implements might not be fixed at intervals, 

 probably of three years. This proposal was also brought 

 before the summer general meeting of the Society, in 

 1843, by Mr Oliver, Lochend. At that time it was re- 

 mitted to the directors to consider what should be done, 

 and in January of 1844 it was resolved that there should in 

 the meantime be no alteration on the existing system, 

 especially as correspondence had been undertaken with 

 respect to the show at Dumfries in 1845, and in Inverness 

 in 1846. Meetings had afterwards been fixed for Aberdeen, 

 and one was now before the Society that year, to be held 

 at Edinburgh. The directors, however, went on to say 



They felt convinced that the proper time had now arrived for giving 

 effect to the alteration which had more than once been proposed, and they 

 therefore recommended that the General Shows should in fliture take place at 

 intervals of three years. The objects which the Society had in view when 

 these shows were originally instituted have in the opinion of the Directors been 

 successfully accomplished. The breeds of cattle and sheep best adapted for the 

 different localities of the country have now been determined ; the ages at 

 which they should respectively be brought to maturity, and the most profitable 

 modes of treatment have been ascertained ; the breeders of one district have 

 repeatedly been brought into contact and competition with those of another ; 

 much practical information has thus been disseminated ; experience has been 



