EIGHTH SHOW AT EDINBURGH, 1 859. 343 



Luss ; John Parker, Nether Broomlands, Irvine ; Lawrence 

 Drew, Merryton ; and George Pender, Dumbreck, Kilsyth. 

 Mr M'Lagan notes that the Ayrshires, as a class, ' were not 

 equal to those of former years,' though it is owned that 

 there is ' decided improvement on the size of the animals,' 

 due probably to the remonstrance made by the Directors 

 in their report of the Glasgow show of 1850. 



Of Highland cattle, there mustered fifty-five, and the 

 quality was fully an average. Allan Pollok of Broom took 

 the first prize in aged bulls ; and R. D. Campbell of Jura 

 the first in the two-year-old class and three-year-old heifers. 

 Allan Pollok carried the first honour in the class of cows ; 

 the first prize in the two-year-old heifer class falling to the 

 Marquis of Breadalbane. 



Of horses, the show was inferior. Mr M'Lagan remarks 

 that ' most of those exhibited were unworthy of any prize, 

 and even those gaining the prizes could not be considered 

 first-rate.' 



Of Leicester sheep, there was a fair show. Thomas 

 Cockburn, Sisterpath, carried the first and second prizes 

 both in the tup and dinmont classes ; Samuel Wiley, 

 Brandsby, in both coming in only third. These entries 

 from Brandsby and Sisterpath really represented different 

 varieties, which were spoken of at the show as the English 

 and the Scotch Leicester, the latter since termed the Border 

 Leicester. ]\Ir M'Lagan says, ' Both the English and the 

 Scotch Leicesters were well represented ; the former by Mr 

 Wiley's sheep, the latter by Mr Cockburn's. So wide is 

 the difference getting between these two varieties, that the 

 decisions will be regarded ere long as capricious, depending 

 very much on the tastes of the judges whether they be in 

 favour of the English or Scotch variety. It would be well 

 if this matter were considered when the question of general 

 shows is again taken up by the Society.' The Society took 

 opportunity to consider the matter, and decided in favour 

 of the Border Leicester. In the ewe class, John Collie, 

 Ardgay, was first ; Mr Wiley, Brandsby, being first in 

 gimmers. 



Cheviots were well represented, and the first prizes 



