THE ROYAL SHOW

Lyttelton Times, Volume XCVI, Issue 11051, 1 September 1896, Page 6

THE ROYAL SHOW

The annual show of the Royal Agricultural Society of England was held at Leicester on June 22 to 26. It was one of the most successful shows in the history of the Society, the entries being large, the quality of the exhibits well up to the high standard of Royal shows, and the weather, though some clays were showery, on the whole favourable. The attendance was the largest for many years, numbering for the| five days 146,105, of whom upwards of 80,009 visited the show on the first shilling day (Thursday)—the largest attendance on that day since the Nottingham show in ISBS.

The horses were, all round, of verygreat excellence, though a few of the classes did not fill well. Hunters, strange to say, included some of the, scantily-sup-ported classes, hut the horses that were shown included most of the distinguished performers at recent competitions. The hackneys were a most stylish assemblage, and the success of the stock of the lately deceased stallion Danegelt was remarkable. The coach horses, Cleveland Bay and Yorkshire, were only moderate, these breeds at present being eclipsed in favour by the hackneys.

The heavy horses were chiefly notable for a magnificent collection of the Shire breed, which the wealth of its patrons, in addition to its own merits, has established

in the first position as regards popularity. The stock of the old champion Harold was well to the fore, and other winning families of recent years came out well. The champion female. Queen of the Shires, a daughter of Harold, is one of the finest fillies (two years old) yet seen. Clydesdales were less numerous, but were particularly good, especially in the female classes. It is noteworthy that the winning three-year-old stallion, Messrs A. and W. Montgomery’s Prince Shapely, was bred in America. Suffolks were good and the agricultural horses (working geldings) were a grand lot, in which the Shire blood predominated.

In cattle, Shorthorns were numerous, but superior quality has often been seen at tho Eoyal, though most of the leading breeders in England were represented. In bulls three to five years old Lord Polwarth wins with a five-year-old of Warlahy descent, now shown for the first time. In two-year-olds, the Prince of Wales’s Celt won, though he is not without faults, and at IOOOgs, which was paid for him by a South American buyer, he was decidedly well sold. In, yearlings Her Majesty the Queen was the winner with Marmion, one. of tho Scotch type. . He also was bought for Argentina. ,■ The female classes were also well filled. Herefords showed some retrogression in quality, as well as numbers, compared with the collections of some previous years. Polled Angus bulls included fewer striking specimens than is often the case, but the cows were both numerous and good. The entry of Devons suffered from insufficient encouragement* to this popular breed (as also did the Aberdeen-Angus and some others); the older bulls were not a specially high-class lot, but the two-year-olds and the winning cows and heifers were first rate. Ayrshires were very few in number, but of the very highest quality. Jerseys and Guernseys were well represented, and included some remarkably good animals, though there was some irregularity in the general quality. The fashionable Kerry and Dexter Kerry breeds came out particularly well. The Prince of Wales won in tho bull section of the latter.

Sheep were a magnificent collection—the finest in the leading breeds that has been seen for years; if, indeed, it has ever been excelled. Leieesters (English), Lincolns and Shropshiros especially stood out for the highest excellence, and Southdowns and Hampshires were fully up to the Royal standard, while other breeds, though sending fewer entries, were fully represented by quality. The Leieesters were almost all of the bold Yorkshire type, and the w'ell-known breeders, Messrs T. H. Hutchinson and E. F. Jordan, fought out the issue in almost every class. Mr G. Harrison (now hailing from County Durham) received mention in several classes; but Mrs Percy-Herrick, the only local exhibitor, only received h.c. for her St Albans winners. Cotswolds maintained their quality in a short entry. Lincolns cannot receive praise too high. Messrs H. Budding, E. and W. Wright and J. Pears divided the chief honours in a competition which will long be remembered for its keenness and the excellence of the exhibits. Border Leieesters were well represented, considering the locale of the show. Mr John Twentyman was most successful, and other well-known names in the prize list are Mr A. J. Balfour, Lord Rosebery and Mr G. Russell Tress. Southdown saw the noted breeders in strongcompetition, the Prince of Wales, Sir J. Blyth,- Duke of Richmond, Mr E. Ellis, Pagham Harbour Company, Mr J. J. Colman, and others figuring in the prize list. Shropshires surpassed all previous displays. Mr J. Bowen-Jones, Mrs M. Barrs, Messrs P. L. Mills, A. E. Mansell, W. P. Inge, E. P. Cooper, D. Buttar, J. Harding, G. L. Foster-Harter, P. A. Muntz and several others gained distinction. Hampshires were, as already said, of quite the usual quality; Oxford Downs were fewer than usual, and other breeds may be summarised as first-class all round.

The entries of pigs suffered from the prevalence of swine fever. For useful qualities the Tamworths were the best in the show, though some exception was taken to “improvements” that breeders have recently effected in the breed, which, as exhibited, was lighter in front and heavier in ’the hams as well as deeper. The Bsrkshires also showed a tendency to breed for lean meat, even at the cost of admitting some coarseness.

There was a very large exhibition of poultry, alive and dead. The milking trials and exhibition of machinery, especially milking and other dairy machines, in motion, were great attractions.