CANTERBURY'S 90th AGRICULTURAL AND PASTORAL SHOW

Press, Volume LXXXVIII, Issue 26887, 13 November 1952, Page 10

CANTERBURY'S 90th AGRICULTURAL AND PASTORAL SHOW

BIGGER ENTRIES IN MOST CLASSES

Total Highest Except For Royal Show

■ Th. e broad sweep of farming activity, and the increasingly important part in it played by scientific research and improved types of farm machinery are demonstrated with remarkable, clarity in the Canterbury Agricultural and Pastoral Association s ninetieth annual show, which opened at Addington yesterdav.

There are more farm animals in the show than there were last year, the area devoted to farm machinery appears to be even larger than in previous years, and the special displays such as these prepared by Canterbury Agricultural College. Lincoln, and the Department of Agriculture offer convincing evidence of the outstanding results which can be achieved through a scientific approach to farming problems. The art handcraft section, and the suggestion of the farm kitchen held by the rows of preserves and the smell of fresh cooking in the produce section, helped to round off what is no more than a resume of farming, but a most interesting and instructive one. Entries for the show, which is also a South Island championship show, have only once been exceeded—in the 1950 Royal Show. Details are:—

Canterbury shows have long been noted for the excellence of the sheep exhibited, but it might have been expected that this year the recent spell of wet weather would have had its effect on quality. There was, however, little indication of the unseasonable weather in the sheep exhibits, which were of a uniformly high class, and the recovery the sheep have made is remarkable. The horse and cattle classes were well up to standard, and both were more soundly supported by exhibitors than they were last year.

The weather yesterday was fine and sunny, but there was a cold southerly wind. Although the turf in the main arena was soft after the recent heavy rain, the grounds were in splendid order. Since last year the association has completed the task of raising the levels of all the sheep pens. To give access from Matipo street to the Addington trotting ground, 22 loose boxes have been removed and rebuilt. A further 75 horse yards for the night accommodation of horses have also been built. The day was devoted chiefly to the judging of stock classes, although a start was made on the x jumping

e | events. There was comparatively 1 little activity in side-show alley, but f today and tomorrow the picture will e be very different. e To appreciate the scope and extent r of the show, it should really be seen e from a helicopter. It is a complex e affair, and it must present a thousand i problems to the organisers. That - everything yesterday went so e smoothly was chiefly to the credit of r the secretary of the association (Mr - M. E. Lyons), whose experience of i the Canterbury Show now extends 'over a quarter of a century. ) The gate takings totalled £126, i 'compared with £ 163 for the first day Jlast year.

1952 1951 1950 Sheep .. 984 889 1403 Horses .. 1284 1250 1448 Cattle .. 605 546 829 Pigs 161 91 155 Dog trials 62 47 57 Poultry .. 348 354 375 Produce 318 303 415 Art and handcraft .. 394 262 391 Wool 47 50 49 Implements and machinery 17 18 23 Wheat 5 4 10 Goats 20 28 — , - , Totals .. 4245 3842 5155