364 HIGHLAND AND AGRICULTURAL SOCIETY. 



carried by Thomas Bealc Browne, Salperton Park, Glou- 

 cestershire, with Cotswolds. In Short-woolled sheep, other 

 than Southdowns, the prizes went to Charles W. Hamilton, 

 Hamwood, Dunboyne, Ireland, for Shropshire Downs. 



Among the curiosities of the stock department were a 

 Brittany bull, exhibited by Mr Erskine of Linlathen ; and 

 a Bretonne tup and two ewes, shown by Mrs Fergusson 

 Blair of Inchmartine. These sheep are smaller than the 

 diminutive Welsh sheep, and are rarely met with out of the 

 more backward districts of Brittany. 



The sum drawn for admission and for catalogues was 

 £\y2g 2s. 2d. 



At the dinner, which took place in the Corn Exchange, 

 about 400 gentlemen were present. The President, the 

 Duke of Argyll, occupied the chair, and the Duke of Mon- 

 trose was croupier. Amongst those present were the 

 Marquis of Lome, the Earl of Rosslyn, Sir Thomas Glad- 

 stone, Admiral Sir William Hope Johnstone, Sir William 

 Bruce, Sir John Stuart Forbes. In proposing the toast of 

 the evening. Success to the Society, the Chairman recalled 

 the change which had taken place in public opinion on the 

 subject of the Corn Laws, mentioning that, four and twenty 

 years ago, when he first entered the House of Lords, only 

 one member of that august body was in favour of free 

 importation of corn, Earl Fitzwilliam ; and the only thanks 

 he got for his pains was the familiar nickname of the ' corn 

 craik.' The Duke adverted to the great increase in the 

 importation of corn. In one year they had imported grain 

 to the value of thirty millions sterling. The importation 

 of live stock was upon a much smaller scale, never having 

 exceeded in value two millions. Pointing to the fact that, 

 in the western part of Scotland, they could have their cattle 

 all the year round in the fields, he urged the propriety of 

 farmers devoting more attention to the breeding and feeding 

 of stock ; and suggested that more attention should be paid 

 to pasture, contending that our climate was eminently 

 fitted for permanent grass. Mr Geddes, Orbliston, returned 

 thanks for the Judges, and gave the Successful Competi- 

 tors, coupled with Mr Mitchell, Alloa. 



