THIRD SHOW AT PERTH, 1852. 317 



nificant, and its importance questionable. At no show has 

 the Society succeeded in bringing together above a few 

 examples of the breed, and the Directors have it, conse- 

 quently, in contemplation to discontinue offering premiums 

 for it. The animals exhibited at Perth were not con- 

 sidered worthy of high commendation.' 



The horse classes were fairly well filled. The best 

 stallion was shown by Samuel Clark, Manswraes,Kilbarchan, 

 being Star 824. The best three-year-old colt was shown 

 by Alexander Lawson, Oldmills, Elgin, and the animal is 

 specially noticed as ' equal to anything of its age seen for 

 some years.' The show of mares, ' though surpassed at 

 Glasgow in numbers, was, perhaps, in point of quality, one 

 of the best ever brought together in Scotland.' The best 

 mare was shown by A. W. Buttery, Monkland. 



In the sheep classes the first prizes for Leicester tups 

 were carried by John Davidson, Brandon, Whitehouse, 

 Northum.berland ; and for ewes and gimmers by Adam 

 Thomson, Rutherford, Kelso, and Mr Douglas, Athelstane- 

 ford. In the Cheviots the first premiums were mostly 

 carried by Mr Brydon, Moodlaw, and Mr Elliot, Hindhope. 

 In Blackfaced the first prizes were won by Robert Paterson 

 of Birthwood, Biggar ; James Tweedie, Nether Abington, 

 Lanarkshire ; James Brydon, Kinnelhead ; and Patrick 

 Small, Dirnanean, Perthshire. The Southdown premiums 

 were mostly divided between Mr Aitchison of Alderston, 

 and Mr Watson, Keillor. The official report characterised 

 the Leicesters and Cheviots as good. The Blackfaced, 

 though very good, yet contained ' some animals scarcely 

 qualified to be presented on such an occasion.' The Direc- 

 tors remarked that ' it is to be apprehended not only that 

 too Httle attention generally is paid to the improvement of 

 Blackfaced sheep, but that an indiscriminate system of 

 crossing may ere long, in some districts, destroy its purity, 

 if not imperil its existence. It is earnestly hoped that 

 every effort will be made to maintain the purity and 

 develop the qualities of a breed so peculiarly suitable for 

 many parts of this country.' 



In the porcine classes ' there were some excellent 



