537 
THE PLYMOUTH MEETING, 1890. 
Five-and-twenty years have elapsed since the Koyal Agricul- 
tural Society paid its first visit to the Three Towns. With 
the field of the Society's active operations bounded only by 
the coast line of England and Wales and the border-line of the 
Cheviots, Plymouth, with the associated towns of Devonport 
ind Stonehouse, represents, up to the present, the westerly limit 
>f its annual migrations. Only twice previously, indeed, has 
he Society, during the half-century of its existence, penetrated 
>nto the great county of Devon — great as a maritime county, 
the fame of whose seaports is inscribed upon the archives of 
England ; great as an agricultural county, with breeds of cattle 
rad sheep and pigs peculiarly her own ; and great absolutely, 
nasmuch as the extent of her broad acres is exceeded by that 
)f only two other English shires — York and Lincoln. The two 
brmer Devonshire Meetings were in 1850 at Exeter, and in 
865 at Plymouth. In 1875 the Society travelled as far west 
ts Taunton, eighteen years previous to that the meeting was 
t Salisbury, and on two occasions — 1842 and 1878 — Bristol 
las been the rendezvous. 
The Show-ground. 
The site of the Show-ground was peculiarly beautiful. As 
a 1865, it occupied the rich hilly grazing lands of Penny- 
omequick, from the summit of which — in the centre of the 
ihowyard — one of the most picturesque views that even pic- 
uresque England can afford could be enjoyed. The rapid 
lcline, which faced the visitor after he had passed the entrance- 
•ates, compelled the Surveyor to somewhat shorten the main 
entral avenue which he is accustomed to take as a base-line, 
js it were, from which to develop the minor features of his 
lan. But, arrived at the highest part of the ground, at the 
erdant open space where, during four days of the Show, the 
and of the Koyal Marines discoursed sweet music, the eyes of 
be visitor were gladdened with a panorama which is probably 
nsurpassable. 
Beneath the sunny sky glanced the blue waters of Plymouth 
ound. Ships at rest and ships in motion only served to 
ring into greater prominence the faint low line of the famous 
reakwater stretched across the mouth of the vast harbour, 
'hilst far away in the dim distance could be discerned, loom- 
VOL. I. T. S. — 3 N N 
