The Bristol Show , 1913. 
193 
About 100 acres of the celebrated Downs were enclosed for 
the purposes of the Showyard, which was situated amongst 
charming surroundings on a plateau some 250 ft. above sea 
level, overlooking the Avon Gorge. In form the site followed 
the letter Y ■> the outer fencing of the upper arms being erected 
alongside the road running round the top of the steep incline 
known as “ The Gully.” 
A certain amount of levelling was necessary, but somewhat 
less than usual. The presence of trees and bushes in many 
places, however, though serving to beautify the Showground, 
called for a good deal of ingenuity on the part of the officials 
in setting out the various buildings. Great care also had to be 
exercised in erecting the shedding in order that a number of 
footpaths across the Downs should only be closed for the 
briefest possible period. The making of the thousands of post- 
holes necessary in the preliminary stages was by no means 
a simple matter at Bristol owing to the rocky character of the 
ground. 
The Showground was some considerable distance from the 
centre of the city, but the electric tram, motor cab, and chara- 
banc services provided by the Bristol Tramways and Carriage 
Co. were of such an excellent character that little difficulty was 
experienced by visitors in getting to the Show. The Railway 
Companies, on their part, did everything that was expected of 
them, both in connection with the passenger traffic and the 
transport of exhibits of all kinds. 
The first day, July 1, was largely taken up as usual, by the 
judging in all departments. 
A section of special interest at Bristol was that devoted 
exclusively to the exhibits of the British Dominions oversea, 
a new departure for which a special local committee were 
primarily responsible. This committee, by the issue and 
distribution of 250,000 copies of an “advance programme,” 
also did much, in the Colonies and in the United States, to 
advertise the Bristol Show, and it is doubtful if any previous 
exhibition of the Society had so many visitors from the 
different parts of the British Empire oversea and from foreign 
countries. 
On the second day, July 2, the Governors and Members 
held their meeting in the large tent, when the announcement 
of the awards of the Judges of Farms and of Plantations was 
made, and resolutions were enthusiastically passed thanking 
the Lord Mayor, the Corporation, the Local Committees, and the 
Railway Companies for the assistance they had severally 
rendered. An interesting ceremony at the meeting was the 
presentation of the Diploma of Honorary Membership of the 
Society to the Hon. James Wilson, ex-Minister of Agriculture 
VOL. 74. H 
