AGRICULTURAL EXHIBITION.

Lyttelton Times, Volume XXIII, Issue 1391, 25 April 1865, Page 4

AGRICULTURAL EXHIBITION.

The first exhibition of the Canterbury Pastoral and Agricultural Society was held on Saturday last, at the Town Hall. Taken as a whole, it was ft «uocess, although there were some drawbacks to it. It was the first which has been held, and there are always many little difficulties to be overcome when a movement is initiated. The first step towards any undertaking is proverbially a difficult one; it is always some time before the machinery gets fairly into operation. Then, again, the exhibition was but scantily attended. There was not nearly such a large attendance of those engaged in agricultural pursuits as might have been expected, considering that the show was got up, it may be said, almost exclusively for their benefit, by promoting emulation, and consequently improvement, in farming matters. The exhibits, too, were fewer in number than were anticipated; but they were good of their kind, and proved what great advances the art of farming has made in the province. Probably the apparent apathy, of which complaint has been made, arose more from a defective knowledge of the intention and condiditions of the sho'w, than from any neglect or indifference as to its objects. Those who have tried the experiment speak with confidence as to the eminent qualifications possessed by our province for the parsuit of agriculture, and if any proof of the correctness of this surmise had been wanting, Saturday s show would have been sufficient to convince the most sceptical. Some of the exhibits, from their size and growth, would have don© credit to any show in England, and to soils which have undergone the utmost cultivation. The exhibits were arranged on platforms running the whole length of the Town Hall. As has been mentioned, they were not numerous, and the manner in which they were arranged, whilst it afforded an advantageous opportunity of inspecting them, detracted from the effect, for the paucity was the more apparent. The exhibits comprised almost every variety of agricultural produce, and of the objects connected with it. The show of wheat was very good; Mr. Wilson's " Hallet's Pedigree" being especially remarkable. The grains of this wheat are very large and heavy. The yield is great, in some instances seventy-eight bushels have been raised on an acre. There was also a fine sample of Talavera wheat.. Mr. Manson contributed some very fine barley; this was greatly admired, but the opinion was expressed that it was too much dressed. Mr. W. Wilson sent some good specimens of grass-seeds, comprising English sorts and mixed grass for sowing paddocks. The potatoes were very fine and large; they were also very sound and heavy. They consisted of Derwents, American Earlies, Ash-leaved, and Pink-eyed. The mangold-wurzels were well represented; they comprised samples of the Orange Q-lobe, Long Red, and Red Globe. The turnips were very large, and would have done credit to any shiw, the Norfolk Purple sorts especially. The carrots sent in were only of middling quality, by no means so fine as those shown at the. Horticultural exhibitions. Mr. Swale furnished a sample of Kohl Rabi, which, we are informed, is one of the best articles for feeding ewes and lambs; it is very easy of cultivation, and may also be used as a vegetable, resembling Jerusalem artichokes in flavour. The pumpkins were of very large size : one weighed fifty-seven pounds and six ounces, and measured five feet and an inch in circumference. A vegetable marrow attracted some attention, both from its dimensions and its bright green tint; the specimen was sent by Mr. Donald. There was a fine specimen of oaten hay. Mr. Lane sent a sample of wheat; it was of the best quality, Canterbury grown, and silkdressed. Mr. W. Wilson contributed some very fine Queen and Dwarf peas. The exhibition of dairy produce was a very creditable one; although the exhibits were not numerous, they were all of first-rate quality. The cheese and butter were greatly commended by the judges ; some of the cheese was made by the Dunlop System —query, as practised by Jeanie Deans, and others on the Cheddar principle. There was also some potted butter, which was pronounced by the judges to merit commendation.

The show of poultry was very limited. The poultry, although good specimens, were not very large Or heavy. There was, in many instances, a difficulty in getting a good view of them, as they were, for the most part, cooped up in little dark pens, which caused them to be seen at a great disadvantage, and must have rendered the adjudication of prizes very difficult. Two pens of ducks Were very much admired ; their pure white plumage and bright eyes were very remarkable. There were some geese shown, but they were not very heavy, or, indeed, noticeable for any peculiarity, either of beauty of plumage or size. There were a couple of white Dorking fowls, which were admired by the connoisseurs. But the most noteworthy contributions in this respect, were the pens of fowls sent in by Mr. Scott, of the Healhcote Valley. These, we were told, were samples' of Lord Berkeley's breed, and were at first imported into Victoria from the yard in Berkeley Castle. One pen contained the parent birds, and the other the progeny; of these there are eleven handsome, game-looking birds, aged four months. These will in time, no doubt, be fine Bamples; at present they are only what are technical! called " stags," or " cockerells." PRIZE LIST. White Wheat. —Ist prize, Bowie ; and W. Wilson, for his Hallett's pedigree wheat. Barley.—No prizes.—A specimen exhibited by Mr. Manson, of Governor's Bay, was highly commended. Mixed Grasses and Clover.—lst prize, W. Wilson; | 2nd, — Barnett. Cocksfoot Grass.—lst prize, W. Wilson ; 2nd, — Boag. Potatoes.—lst prize, G. Duncan. There were eight competitors. Carrots.—lst prize, G. Duncan. Mangold Wurzell.—lst, — Clarke, Kaiapoi Island: 2nd, W. M'Cormack. There were seven competitors. Turnips.—lst prize, — Clarke, Kaiapoi Island. Oaten Hay.—lst prize, C. Wright. Clieese.—lst prize, — Duncan ; 2nd do, — Bowie. Fresh Butter.—lst prize, — Duncan; 2nd do, — Bowie. Salt Butter.—:lst prize, — Bowie; 2nd do, — Duncan. Ducks.—lst prize, Dr. Foster; 2nd do, W. M'Cormack. Game Fowls.—lst prize, — Scott. JUDGES* Messrs. Howes, Brooker, Robertson, Hislop, W. Wilson, Brunsden, J. G. Aikman, Hickman, Hill and Milbanke.