34^ HIGHLAND AND AGRICULTURAL SOCIETY. 



— one bull, four cows, and two two-year-old heifers, and 

 three yearlings. There were four exhibitors — the Duke of 

 Hamilton, Allan Pollok of Ronachan, Rev. R. Whyte, 

 Lockerby, and John Young, Urioch, Castle Douglas. 



Of horses, there were i66. ' The show of horses as a 

 whole,' says Mr Russell, ' was inferior as to quality.' The 

 animal of most merit was the first prize mare in foal shown 

 by Mr Rigg, Banks, Kirkcudbright, of which a portrait was 

 taken for the Society's rooms. The first prize stallion 

 belonged to David Riddell, Kilbowie. He was the after- 

 wards celebrated Sir Walter Scott 797, and gained the 

 first premium in his class at the Battersea Show, when the 

 property of the Duke of Hamilton. His portrait was taken 

 by Mr Gourlay Steell in 1865 from an original painting 

 executed by him in 1864 for the Duke of Hamilton. 



In Cheviot sheep, James Brydon, Moodlaw, and Robt. 

 Borland, Auchencairn, carried the first prizes for tups. In 

 Blackfaced, Walter Murray, Walston, Penicuik, and James 

 Drife, Barr, Sanquhar, won the first premiums for tups. 

 In Leicesters, which were ' good throughout,' Mr Beattie, 

 Newbie House, carried the first prize for rams. In South- 

 downs, the chief honours were carried by the Duke of 

 Richmond. 



There was a large display of dairy produce, and the 

 quality was excellent. ' Formerly,' says Mr Russell, ' the 

 district was noted for its inferior dairy produce. Indeed, 

 among the merchants in Glasgow and Edinburgh, any 

 cheese of inferior quality was said to have the " Sanquhar " 

 flavour. This year's exhibition has amply wiped away all 

 reproach in this respect, thanks to agricultural exhibitions 

 for the high standard of excellence set before every one.' 

 The class for ' imitation English cheese ' was very full, and 

 comprised mostly imitation Cheddar. The first prize in 

 the class was won by Wm. Dickie, Girthill, Dairy, Ayrshire. 

 The sum drawn for admission and for catalogues 

 amounted to ^^1275 us. 2d., or nearly three times the 

 amount taken in 1845. 



At the usual banquet, which was held in the Dumfries 

 Railway Station temporarily fitted up, the Duke of Athole 



