THE FARMERS' CARNIVAL

Evening Post, Volume LXXI, Issue 146, 21 June 1906, Page 2

THE FARMERS' CARNIVAL

SECOND DAY 0¥ THE WINTER SHOW. A BUSY DAY. (From Our Special Reporter). PALMERSTON, 20th June. Although the day opened threateningly and cold, rain kept off, and as the day wore on the temperature became milder. 'Dairy farmers who had come to " the Winter Show for- education and instruction tad their fill of it again to-day. The conference began at 10 a.m., the annual meeting of -the National Dairy Association resumed at 2 p.m., and a further conference took place in. the. evening and at night also. The annual dinner of the New Zealand Institute of Dairy kecrelariea was held in the Empire Hotel, Mr. J. G. Harkness presiding. This afternoon some jumping, competitions were got off in the ring on the show ground, but the jumping was of a poor quality. A large number of spectators -witnessed this display. Another exhibition in the open, which attracted the attention of a small crowd, was a •practical demonstration of the Lawrence Kennedy and the Jardine_ milking machines, and at a neighbouring farm there was a second demonstration of the Hutchison machine before some niaetjy farmers. There was a much better patronage of the show by the public to-day, and not only were the machinery hall and poultry department thronged, but the gfandstand was well filled and the fence round the ring lined ■« V spectators during the period of the contests in the open air. Great interest is being evinced in the intercollege football festival, which is to mark the closing hours of 'the show on Friday at noon. The junior teams of the Wanganui and Te Aute Colleges are to meet on the showground, and at 2.30 o'clock the contest of the two senior teams is to begin.. Some 200 students are to invade Paknerßton for these events. There was a difference of opinion this morning between the local Half-Holiday Association and the executive of the show. Wednesday is the statutory halfholiday in Palmerston, and in view of that lact the executive arranged an attractive programme of jumping' in the ring for this afternoon. There was gene ral disgust this morning when it was announced that the Half-holiday Association had decided to close their shops to-morrow afternoon, so as to give residents of Palmerston the opportunity of going to Wellington, to witness the funeral of Mr. Seddon. ' FAT SHEEP. The exhibition of fat sheep waa very good generally, and very much better than was expected for a first year's experiment. In the opinion of-representa-. tive breeders great credit is due to the .association for including such competitive classes in the programme. The judge, Mr. A. Gadsby, % was especially veil pleased with the pen of long-wool ewes in which Messrs. Stuckey Bros. (Wairarapa) secured all the honours. The success attained was, in the opinion of a prominent breeder and exhibitor at the, '^ring show, quite sufficient to justify the association in keeping the sections^ in the schedule ; but he thought the regulations would have to be altered. At present there were, he said, too many varieties in one class ; next year there ,would have to be more discrimination shovm, and consequently more classes arranged for. . POULTRY. ' Although this- year's tolal entries for' the 'Manawatu Poultry Association's show — which is held in the winter show area — falls short of last year's total by ■just a "feir" birds, th« 'exhibition is not by any means less interesting. There is generally a first-class display, and the quality has in many cases given judges difficulty in picking the winners. During a conversation on the subject, Messrs P. Dacrei (Christchurch) and J. j. Casey (Wellington), two of the judsres, gave some interesting particulars about the birds. Plymouth Rocks, whilst good throughout, provided keener competition cmongst hens, which were of better quality than the cocks. This year's show further demonstrated the growing popu-t larity of Leghorns and Minorcas, which are the best of layers, and Wyandottes and Orpingtons for nil-round qualities tot egg-producing and table purposes. Houdangj which made a strong showing at Christchurch last week, were- out of favour up here; whilst the absence of Cochin Chinas and Brahmas- to-day showed that these birds, which took a lendinsr place six years ago, were now deemed old-fashioned and out of date, because they are not pood utility birds. In Palm«rston to-day Wyandottes — which breed won the egg-laying contest at Lincoln College — were ill stronger evidenco than at the Ciinstchurch poultry show last week, and the very strong entries showed how vpry popular the Wyandotte is in the Manawatu district. tMinorca cocks were only a fair class so far as cocks were concerned, the birds being out of condition. Cockerels were a particularly large class, but they werenot up to the usual average standard of quality And rather small in body. A West Coaster, J. H. Hopkins, of Granity, won the championship for tho best bird in the show with a black Minorca pullet. Leghorns, " which are always popular and always will be," said Mr. Casey, provided good competition, E. H. Holland, of Wellington, sending in some fine birds which proved winners. Andnlusians were- very good throughout, the winning birds being those of G. R. Hutchinson, of Auckland, Fred France, of Wellington, and I". Goodacrc, of New Plymouth, who also won a Bpccial prize. In the Gafflo classes, the winners w-3r« good birds. F. France, S. Y. Wearing, fllid J* T. Sinclair (a special) were the winners. Despite the fact that they ate godd layers, Hamburgs are going out of popular favottr up here. Some fine birds were shown amongst the few entrants. Principal prize-winners AVer© P. A. Anderson, J. S. Milson, and S. Y. Wearing. In thfe few turkey and geese classes, the ■winning gobblers of Donald Ross and S. Avery were as good as any ever previously seen here. Mr. Casey's opinion of the ducks shown to-day wa3 that they were, generally speaking, quite up to anything previously seen at' Manawatu poultry shows. Aylesburys were in strong force and quality He grew enthusiastic over Indian Runners, which were the finest of tlteir breed yet seen in Palmerston, tho winners being very h«rd to pick. This is the breed most useful to and payable for farmers, us the Rtinner, being active, can find most of his food for himself, and he is, without doubt, the best of all breeds ne a layer. Consequently, the Indian Runner is becoming .very popular throughout the colony. Pekins were another good class, excelling in type and colour. It Was found that the old drok«s were better than tho youngsters and tho young ducks were better thaii tho old. In Aylesburys the principal winners were W. A. Sowman, Jas. King, W. W. Cook, S, Avery (with A special) ; in Indian Runnew, T. W<»t and Soler Bros, There' were also interesting exhibitions of pigeons of all kinds and canaries and other cage birds.