3l8 HIGHLAND AND AGRICULTURAL SOCIETY. 



specimens of the small breed, but the show of the large 

 was deficient.' 



Of poultry ' the exhibition was more than usually large, 

 but the judges did not report favourably. There was a 

 want of superior birds generally, and the deficiency was 

 particularly noticeable in the section of dorkings.' 



Of dairy produce the exhibition was limited in extent. 

 In point of quality, the report was favourable. ' The 

 Stilton cheese ' (for which the first premium was awarded 

 to M. S. MTnroy, Lude, Blair Athole), 'was pronounced 

 equal to any that the county of Leicester produces.' 



Of implements there was a large display. A premium 

 for the ' best broad-cast sowing machine for grain and 

 grass seeds ' was awarded to John Lennie, Lauder Barns, 

 Lauder ; and a prize was awarded to Thomas Sherriffs, 

 West Barns, Dunbar, for the best drill-sowing machine for 

 grain. Premiums were offered for best sowing machines 

 for turnips and for beans, but in each case there was ' no 

 award.' A great feature in the machine section was the 

 trial of reaping machines. Of five machines exhibited, 

 four were on the principle of Hussey's, and one on that of 

 the Rev. Patrick Bell. Of these, only two were entered for 

 trial. The Hussey machine was exhibited by Crosskill of 

 Beverley ; the other was the early constructed machine 

 invented in 1828 by Patrick Bell, with certain improve- 

 ments lately introduced by his brother, George Bell of 

 Inchmichael Farm, Perthshire. The judges of the trial were 

 Messrs Lawrence Oliphant of Condie ; Henry Stephens, 

 author of ' The Book of the Farm ;' James Stirling, C.E., 

 Edinburgh ; John Finnic, Swanston ; John Dickson, Saugh- 

 ton Mains ; John Gibson, Woolmet ; James Steedman, 

 Boghall ; William Watson, Errol ; John Young, engineer, 

 Newton-upon-Ayr. The Duke of Athole superintended 

 the arrangements for the trial. The judges unanimously 

 decided in awarding the premium to Mr Bell, '(ist) for the 

 decided superiority of his machine in economising time and 

 expense, owing to the greater breadth cut by it with the 

 same horse power — the difference being as ten to six and a 

 half; (2nd) for the character and quality of the work 



