28471 PRELIMINARY NOTICE. IT has been customary to prefix to each new volume of the NOTICE. THE Society has resolved, in consequence of the prevalence of the Cattle Plague, that the General Shows at Glasgow and Aberdeen shall be postponed for one year, and that all Premiums shall be withdrawn from local Shows, in 1866. reduced price. A feeling, however, had long prevailed that the Society itself should undertake their publication, and issue then to members without charge. This desire the Directors now fin themselves enabled to gratify, owing to the increased opulen of the Society, and it has accordingly been arranged that Repor Premium-Books, Prize Essays, and other official documen shall be printed and circulated annually, two numbers, or t Transactions for two years, forming a volume. This change w necessarily create a considerable increase of expenditure, but it will be incurred to meet the generally expressed wish of Society, the Directors hope that it will be regarded as a leg mate application of the funds. With reference to the more immediate matter of a preli nary notice, viz., the position and progress of the Society in various departments during the two last years, the Directors gratified at being able to report satisfactorily. MEMBERSHIP. Notwithstanding the rapid increase in the numbers o 1913 28471 PRELIMINARY NOTICE. IT has been customary to prefix to each new volume of the Transactions a "Preliminary Notice," explanatory of the position of the Society and of its progress during the two years which have elapsed since the commencement of the preceding volume. On this occasion the Directors have not only to present a new volume, but the first of a new series, and a brief reference to the origin of the Transactions, and to the periods at which the various series have appeared, may not be inappropriate. The first series commenced in 1799. It was published at intervals, and six volumes were brought out between that date and 1824. The second appeared in 1828, was published quarterly, and comprised eight volumes. The third commenced in 1843, and was also a quarterly publication; it was continued till 1865, when its eleventh volume was completed. Since 1828, the Transactions were published by Messrs. Blackwood, and were sold to the members of the Society at a reduced price. A feeling, however, had long prevailed that the Society itself should undertake their publication, and issue them to members without charge. This desire the Directors now find themselves enabled to gratify, owing to the increased opulence of the Society, and it has accordingly been arranged that Reports, Premium-Books, Prize Essays, and other official documents, shall be printed and circulated annually, two numbers, or the Transactions for two years, forming a volume. This change will necessarily create a considerable increase of expenditure, but as it will be incurred to meet the generally expressed wish of the Society, the Directors hope that it will be regarded as a legitimate application of the funds. With reference to the more immediate matter of a preliminary notice, viz., the position and progress of the Society in its various departments during the two last years, the Directors are gratified at being able to report satisfactorily. MEMBERSHIP. Notwithstanding the rapid increase in the numbers of the Society for many years, the constituency is still being augmented, and the roll now contains the names of above 4,200 members. FINANCE. The accounts submitted to the last General Meeting exhibit at the close of the financial year on 30th November, 1865, assets amounting to £49,366, being an increase of £2,374 on the amount reported in the preliminary notice published in 1863. GENERAL SHOWS. The public continues to manifest unabated interest in these meetings. Since the date of the last notice, the Society has appeared at Kelso, Stirling, and Inverness. No show had been held at Kelso since 1832, Berwick having long been regarded as the central point for the south-eastern counties. The Directors, in deference to a local feeling in favour of Kelso, were induced to hold the meeting for 1863 there, and had no cause to regret having done so; for, notwithstanding the deficiency of accommodation in the town, and the inconvenience to which visitors were consequently subjected, the show was highly successful, and entailed but a trifling loss on the Society's funds. Although one meeting, at a period so early as 1833, was held at Stirling, it may be regarded as an entirely new district, the counties of Stirling and Dumbarton having since that time been associated with Glasgow. After the meeting at Perth in 1861, a desire was expressed by many gentlemen connected with Stirlingshire that an intermediate district between Perth and Glasgow should be formed, with Stirling as the place of meeting, and the advantages of its admirable railway facilities and excellent hotel accommodation were urged; and, eventually, a guarantee of £1000 was offered, and a district was arranged, comprising the counties of Stirl ing, Dumbarton, and Clackmannan, and the western district of Perthshire. The result was a show in 1864, so successful as to warrant the Directors in regarding Stirling in future as one of the fixed points for the Society's meetings. The Show at Inverness last year possessed all the elements of a successful meeting, but in a financial point of view it was unsatisfactory. At Stirling, the Society was exposed to no loss, and at Kelso the defalcation was trifling, while at Inverness it exceeded £400. To a certain extent this was anticipated, many circumstances occurring which make Inverness unavoidably the most expensive locality visited by the Society, and, in addition to these, the weather on the last occasion proved most unpro |