614 
The late Sir B. T. Brandreth Gibbs. 
references which it makes to the chano;es which he himself 
had witnessed in the Society's proceedings. 
"It was the Society's third Show, the two pi-eceding having been held at 
Oxford and at Cambridge. These, however, had paved the way for the 
marked improvement which Liverpool showed over its predecessors ; ami 
this in a great degree was in the Implement Department, which hitherto 
had been inconsiderable — so much so, that implements had not even 
had any special shedding. In 1841, however, this was accorded them, and 
two rows of .sheds were filled, — a large show for that period, — and the 
Judges sjioke of the improvement in their quality and construction as 'a 
vast stride in the mechanics of agriculture,' which resulted 'from the 
encouragement given by the Society to these objects.' 
"... The names of many who still do credit to our Showyard already 
figured in the prize-lists of that jieriod. It is true we no longer have thu 
Earl of Ducie, who then had a factory, and was a considerable exhibitor and 
prize-taker; but still, as then already conspicuous, we have the Ransomes, 
Hoinsbys, Howards, Garretts, Crosskills, Cooch, and others, who competed 
successfully in 1842. 
"The great 'novelty' of that Meeting the Judges reported to be a 'por- 
table steam-engine.' It was a patent disc engine, invented by Mr. Davis, of 
Birmingham, but exhibited by Messrs. Piansome, who must therefore be 
credited with the honour of having exhibited the first portable steam-engine 
at our Shows. 
" Among the prize-takers, Horasbj' and Garrett were then conspicuous 
with their drills; Garrett, Huckvale, and Lord Ducie with their horse-hoes; 
( 'oocli with dressing-machines ; Wedlake with hay-rakes ; and Smith, of 
Deanston, with chain harrows. 
" The general arrangement of the Liverpool Show differed from its pre- 
decessors. Hitherto the live-stock had been placed under shedding round 
the outer fencing; whereas, on tliis occasion, the plan of parallel sheds was 
adopted, and has been found so advantageous that it has been followed ever 
since when the nature of the site permitted. ... Of the extent of the Show- 
yard in 1842 I cannot speak with certainty ; but I well recollect that it was 
but a very few acres, much less than at the Southampton Meeting three 
years later, when it was thought the Society had enclosed an enormous 
Showyard, including a trial-yard, the total being 14 acres. 
" Now in 1877 we again visit Liverpool, and occupy something like 
80 acres. 
" There are a few points connected with this period of the Society's history 
which perhaps may be interesting to those whose experience otdy goes back 
to .some of the recent Show.s. Such, for instance, as that there was no 
arranged catalogue of im])lements, with reference numbers, &c. Tliose 
entered for comixitition did not stand as a part of the general collection 
of tlie firm to which they belonged, but were placed by themselves. Thus 
all the drills were together, and so on ; no doubt very convenient for com- 
jiarison by visitors, but a system that had to be abandoned, as it entailed on 
the exhibitors a number of attendants, and would be quite impracticable with 
such extensive collections as are now sent by the leading firms. 
" In the live-stock department matters were quite as different. Public 
judging was not contemplated, and so great was the desire for secrecy, that 
the animals arrived under a fictitious number, which was changed for a per- 
manciit number early in the morning of the judging day ; this being intended 
to frustrate any knowledge on the ]'art of the Judges as to the ownership of 
the animals. Such a precaution now seems strange indeed, because the 
number of Shows at which animals compete, and their coming year after 
