OUR YORKSHIRE LETTER.

Dominion, Volume 2, Issue 425, 6 February 1909, Page 8

OUR YORKSHIRE LETTER.

SMITHFIELD AND ITS LESSONS. (FROM OUE BPEOUIi' COttEESPONDEHT.) ' ■ :"._' ;...- : Bradford, December 25, 1908.. Sniithfield practically .stands , on a level with the, English Royal, except that it-deals exclusively with fat live stock, whereas the Royal is a 'summer exhibition'of Entfleh live stock,'at which is seen the ver/best breeding blood that the.farmers:of Great Britain eon muster. According to the..constitution.';rf tho'Smithfield Club, "The primary \aini- is to encourage.the selection and breeding, of the; best : and most useful' animals for. the productionof meat,and to' tost their.'-' capabilities.' in respect of early maturity, or, to quote the words of.theiouriders of : the club' upwards pf > one hundred years ago, the ..cattle markets of Smithfield. arid elsewhere .with ■ the cheapest and • best meat'.'" The Smithfield show is so massive, so bulging, ura; word, so. successful, that it dwarfs every other fat-stock show in the whole of the United iungdoin.. Take this year's figures as. proof of the position it occupies, 'and its size:— '•■■ .'•'■-'•■ ' Cattle classes ... ... *' ... ~ ' 38. '_■: Entries .„:-,;;.,.. ... .'.278 .' ..: Sheep, classes ... .„, ... ... 31 . \ _,Eiitries- ..,;■...■:...:.;... 135 - - ■■', rig classes ... ... : ' ... „,. 21 '■ 'Entries .......:,.... ... 152 ; Total exhibitors .... ... ...'; 205.. :,';,-.: Total prize money..... •... .. ... .£4195 lls. ■'.This battle show always takes place during the. last. week, of every December -wool sales, consequently: in the evening,■• when the day's work, is done, many buyers : take 'a trip to the Agricultural - Hall ■ at Islington, and . spend a Pieasant evening, looking at the various pens, i. could' not. help ;thinkirig,. as. I-observed the cattle and sheep, that there: were here "many important, lessons for colonial. South. African, and . South American agriculturists and- pastoral-ists,.-ior the quality: of.-the stock .shown'ivas .equali.to any of its predecessors.': : :..:.,-,•,: There were varying .opinion's.as to the quality of thestock shown, but there could be no doubt •in the mind, of -anyone who really examined the classes, and --especially ..thecattle, that there was'in almost every one.somo rare good beasts. The shorthorns, which are always-first in the mind of: the average English agricultural ..visitor, were not : what they.might have been, and yet' there were' a ■ few of' great excellence, especially \ Mr. : James M'Williams's Daisy V., whith;-won the cup for the best. ■ She was two years and;seven months old, very compact, and in consequence'looked rather small, ;whilo/her form: and quality were admirable.' Slie weighed nearly': liiiwt. ; The King's - white ■■ steer, two years and -ton'months old, was also a 'finelyfornied .beast, with mellow fleshy/and that docile disposition'which helps \a" beast to feed' arid fatten; ..The. Devon' classes, were useful, as. a whole,'.if.'we except that devoted • to South Deyons, which' it is difficult to commend. .The cup.: for : the best >'bf.- the, breed' wont ■'. to "Mr. Magari, pf.Whimnle, : Exeter,' fpr : Don, a handsome, .well-fdrmed'' steer';''just .'under two'years'. He; beat-the King's first" prize: heifer, which was a well "finished-specimen of the fatuous breed...The bipgest beast in all the English;, classes of 'purebred stock was.'Sir Rv Cooper's; Favourite., :At 'two'years and' ten months'old he exceeded.lߣcwt, and was a mas- , siye steer,, with a heavily-fleshed-.- carcass and grand .quarters, altliough he was slightly: de , - hcjent.. on the back. ■ -Mr.:..AVynn beat the King, who took : second place for- heifers, both being of excellent type;, In, Hie Sussex classes, .which continue to maintain their improvement, Mr. James Buchanan,; of Petworth, won the cup with' a heifer, Olive,, a fins specimen of the breed, elthough she was somewhat patchy., In the .classes of redpolls, which 'were not' large, the ex-Mihister of Agriculture led with a steer which'gained the-cup. ,He was twoyears and ten months"old.;and weighed l lSJowt,'"••■•'' ■,-As:a .section the Aberdeen Angus cattle were ■ extromely./Kood. -"-Sir .B. Cpoper won with' a twO'-yearKtW,.steer ;bieedin B ;-'. Hβ :was ; anothor massive beast,: arid, 'if hnythinE, .carried too much-flesh,.like.the giant Hereford, ps er.eatest-. failing wasva; weak 'spot .iri-tho :top ;Jjne. >He.: was, however,-beaten by.-.thfl fampup Birmingham oK'ampion.'Lady.-'Seifield's Her-.-lTajesty, V—a heifer.,,which'."might' almost have'.cpme out of a niould,.so' perfect was.her form..', She was.-full; of quality, and' looked like a ,blue, riband winner when I .saw , her. .Miss ,i3iggar,ofjPalbeattie, won'the cup for Galways;; although, a good specimen of the breed; the .steer had somewhat' sloping quartets. 'The Welsh, were not so charming a collection -as the black oattle; of Scotland, although there were ; a few lisehil. specimens., The chief place went to Mr V-?:' Wy/"?.?for.a; steer: which .weighed■l6sc\vt., and. Iras of good quility arid' form.. ln ; the Highland - : classes, the. mos.t -: pictmesqno. of, all ; in notable, collection...the-King was beaten just for one? by Sir: William, Osilvy Dalgloish with a massive dun. The Royal winner: was a snaggy:yellow,:-large and bandsbme, and well . worthy ! of'.the r res6Tve position which: he 'held Among.i the crossbved cattle,'were many 'speci-.men3..o.fcrospes.between^he-shorthorn arid the ,-. An f a .Sv": a n. a '■ Mr.• Hudson," of-Jireat'iHarlow, took.tho,cu;: with .6ne,of these,'- the sira being an, Angus; Hβ; was known-.as Dane'sueld Fortune., , His, colour.. was'.blue grey, his age two years .eleven.' months, .and his weight; 150wt.not one: of,:the. heaviest,- in the,ishow',''but he for .small- cattle.were fairly: filled.: 'Sir Salter Gil >ey.-.won t witK. a: tiny, black- Dexter, well tatted, if. not. perfectly. Isymmetrical.- ■ In tho classes .for' crossbred cattle, which -"were not 01.any,;very practical account, the Essex fe a §' tt .took '¥ leading : place and.woii rt'»w,' shee P classes there -was raidivisionior champion awards, r aud this year the short wools . the.3>nnc e ;of. Wales-s.'cbampion': trize best .pen.of.'short, wools,-.which--forva ohan"ewerenot Southdowns,but ,the,blackiac"dS: dent that this breed is not being done iustice £ fl r^ roCd fvf-' Messrs.; Dean have fn foWer years .been the, owners:of many good 'pens of lambs and wethers, but.it is a question Ihether ■?L?i ' t^ haTa , ev er bad two finer.pens than show- "kf^r ■■*£• 6 , uccessf "l at tlie recent npnhcable ,ta the fine pen of wethers that ,veS nnS'rtirrf- ■'■ ■:-"SwaUowi'.-who owned second s ;;:..- PIRMNESS: 1 J: : '; C^i lerilig '- e - ? re , so near the holidays' it surprising, how firm and -active s the market, for, : since last- Thursday tWues have .sensibljympwved.: , Of: course" y most"oi it,hae t all the .same,,therer has. beeh a v'fair.' weight of tons fe'^a^r 5 ". in ',merinos 6 and*cS than tte^Ph^S" la < s f lnarket - «-as much better man.tne i'nursday.before-.and to6malr4r=! whn w e re,:very;ready:seUers a wk'a?o at 22W shght;ease tWohas boen done'alot Z 's bS g ' : This't "d^j s ■ d^ ißOt , ly fl ™er q and The wool'at theUmhds oFmSnts -.very good;, intact, ™ T -I s * fc to - ' rs; " than -anybody :'•'ever inh° cipated.ythere- being, much"seekiniup ? it "ho since theVclose of •th/reSnt Lot don. sales. There' seems-to be a very, stromr isTL^n,^ ll^3^^ Precious little topi S ,now.te a t :I lid.:Wnd .there teems to b ?| an end. tovthe loose, ; flippant:ialk,of lid. being accepted,, which', has been- so much *n evidence this last fortnight. .-: Spinners if an'y° .thing, are t a shade better off,- and the'market active,; but spmners are ; all fully employed wears .-a much brighter aspect. Mohair is inl and, trade generally, in regard to textiles looks m .«etealtV v - t The'.holidays are coming ou with ,th 6 markets in a more optimistic niood; and with the turn :of the year- a.further-i u l creased-turnover should result. There is more conhdence in the future of wool values than we have seen;during the,last.two.weeks, f or . those who, a week i ago,were disposed- to talk things down: and sell ; a few, packs .directly they.have done,that, agaih. to the Vgher .nuotations.,current;dunng the recent series of London.sales. :-\.--, ; ....:.; ..,' ■ ■:. ■