Balfour expresses her hope that the Highland and Agricultural Society gives him a grant to continue his experiments and thanks Ewart for accepting her financial assistance. She goes on to discuss the 'infection' of telegony and the positioning of animal markings and gradations in colour on zebras and horses.

Douglas agrees with Ewart that funding would not be forthcoming from the Development Commissioners at present. Although he is in favour of the Highland and Agricultural Society supporting Ewart's work, he fears that the Directors will not agree, as at present they are disinclined to spend the Society's money on purely scientific research. However, if Ewart puts in an application, he will do his best for it in the Committee.

Macdonald informs Ewart that the directors of the Highland and Agricultural Society of Scotland have awarded him the Gold Medal of the Society in recognition of his research into stockbreeding and in acknowledgement of his exhibit of zebra and zebra crosses at the Society's show in Edinburgh in July 1898.

MacDonald writes on behalf of the Board of Directors of the Highland & Agricultural Society of Scotland, enclosing a precept for the sum of £200 to assist with the costs of his experiments in stockbreeding. On the reverse side of the letter is a draft reply from Ewart in which he expresses his gratitude for the donation. He also urges members of the Society to purchase Ewart's Penycuik Experiments.

MacDonald informs Ewart that his application for additional funding for his livestock breeding experiments has been presented to the directors of the Highland & Agricultural Society of Scotland. However, the directors have decided that unless Ewart is able to prove that his experiments will be of direct benefit to breeders of farm livestock in Scotland, they will be unable to offer any further grant.

Rider thanks Ewart for the letter and books and states that he will shortly send Ewart photographs of two Holstein-Jersey cross-bred heifers and a tail-less calf. He is interested in beginning experiments with Siberian sheep and hopes to be able to exchange ram lambs with Ewart. He wonders whether the Agricultural Society of Scotland would be willing to send some livestock reports to Syracuse University.