THE SHOW.

Marlborough Express, Volume XLV, Issue 56, 7 March 1911, Page 3

THE SHOW.

PRIZE ESSAYS

m Following i& the test of the winning essays' on the 1910 A. and P.: Show, written by Grwyneth Reid, Clinton Botham, and and Myrtle Sheridan respectively: —

The morning of the Agricultural and Pastoral Association's Show broke with a heavy rain and a very dark sky. Everyone was disappointed, as Show Day is always a much looked forward to holiday by the people of Marlborough, and I am sura the ladies did not want the new dresses they had got for the occasion, spoilt. The rain fell heavily until about twelve o'clock and then ceased, leaving, the earth fresh and sweet after the rain.

People's Day broke clear and fine, and about two o'clock I wended my way to the Show Grounds.

The first sight that met my eye was the mass of people and the blaze of color from around the ring. Some interesting displays of tradesmen's vehicles was ebing carried on in the ring and everyone was interested. Only one merchant's tent was shown, that one belonging to J. J. v Corry Esq. In it was different kinds of grain, seeds, and a little wool Two or three motor-cars and very few implements were exhibited, and so besides the sheep, pigs, and a few other things there was not much else to be seen apart from the ring and produce shed. Mx Dowling and Mr Course, gave a display of carving and upholstery. In the former's apartments there was a beautiful green chesterfield, and it3tiokeict' > so soft and cool that' I would Yliave liked to have had a rest in it. Mr Course al^o showed some good, carving and pieces of work. ' i , Just underneath the grandstand there were a number of pianos which looked very inviting. A man was playing some of the time, and the music was very sweet to listen to.

Then came the produce shed, and I was ver3 T disappointed on looking round me to see what a little produce was there. On the previous year the benches were full, but this year there were many empty spaces. But the produce that was there looked very good, especially the butter and cakes.

At*, one end of the building there was a hive of bees. It was placed in such a position that the bees could be seen making %he honey. The work was really wonderful, and no one would think that so small a creature could do such work.

At the other end the Grovetown School exhibited many things that had been done, grown, or found by the school children. _ Vegetables, nowers, paintings, drawings, birds' nests and eggs, and numerous other things. Itj was a good exhibit, and well worth its prize. ' Very , few sheep were, exhibited. /Thei-e'riiust<have been'aboutsso pens .instil and only ten were filled..: The chief kinds1 were Romney Marsh, crossbreds, and % few others. Mrs Ren wick won the Quihell Cup for the best three ewes in the Show, and well she deserved it, for the ewes were really splendid. So few pigs were tHere that they are not worth taking up much time with. The chief that were there were Berkshirs,

The ring had the greatest attraction for me, as the horses and ponies were so beautiful. Their beautiful glossy coats and arched necks looked so pretty. ... Many ponies were exhibited, and they all looked so well that it seemed SJich a pity that all of them : could not "get a prize. Mr Goulter* snowed three Shetland ponies he had brought from England. They were quite black in colour, and the highest was about the size of an ordinary table. It seemed that these small animals were too small to carry anyone or play any tricks, but it wa<s all that the' boys and girls' th at held them could do to keep them still, as they pranced and kicked like an ordinary

The jumping was splendid. The ponies jumped so well and neatly. None of them shirked their work, and all deserved a prize. The horses' jumping was not so good as the. ponies, as some .went at the jump in such, a hurry . that they did not' have time to raise themselves .for the leap, and consequently kicked the hurdle. The high jump was also good. Only two horses were entered, and one of them jumped very high. Only one lady attempted the riding over hurdles.

The cows' were not very numerous. The chief exhibited were Jerseys and shorthorns. There was a huge bull exhibited, beside some smaller ones. Thi* bull Avas so huge and fiercelooking that it was led by a stick through its nose to prevent it from trying to get loose. ' A continual yelping and barking told us that there were dogs at the Show. On following the direction of the barking I found tied to the fence at different places, a number of dogs of all kinds. Some of them looked so fierce at their long wait that I dared not approach. The grain and wool in the produce fehed was very scarce. The most of a kind exhibited were the peas, but -sometimes in the case of wheat or barley there was only one exhibit. I left' the Show that night with a feeling I had enjoyed it, but with tho sure idea that the show of 1910 was not nearly so good as the show of 1909.

The first tiling with; regard to the Show is to find out what it is, and what is the use of it. The dictionary says that show means exhibit, so I I>hink the Show ie an exhibition, but ■called'by the name of show. Now, what is 'the use of the Show ? There must be seme use, or there wouldn't lie any. The sheep-farmers go to the Show," and ask of the other farmers wha,t i£..re the best kinds of sheep for mutton, wool, etc. Then they asl; whether ..the other farmers run iheir sheep on the hill or flat, and what kind of grass they feed their sheep on. The dairy-farmers look at the cattle, and perhaps they see a. good Aryshire cow. They then ask the owner of that cow if the Aryshire cows pay the best. If the man says they pay tho best, perhaps the other man buys on^ or two of that kind cf cow. Thus by going to the Show the dairy-farmers have larger 'milk cheques, and the cheep-farmers larger wool cheques. Some of the big dairyfarmers look at the milking machines to think whether they ought to buy one or not. Thus we find that we would not have so good machinery or stock if we did not go to the Show. Now, what was there to ree at the Show ? There was an exhibit of horses of all kinds, and of sheep. Mr Course had a stall showing his own cabinet work. In this stall there was bedroom furniture, sideboards, and fancy tables Mr Dowling had a, tent showing the latest kinds of 'furniture. Ira

Mr Corry's stall there were some cream separators, some Slayo for killing rabbits, and some formalin for killing tho blight on potatoes. Adams. Brothers put in the Show .at fat bullock, for which they won first prize. There were shown some Lincoln sheep. These sheep could bo told by their long wool. The merino sheep, which can be told by their large wrinklay necks, have good wool, biit poor mutton. Tha champion Shropshire Down sheep, belonging to Mr Vavasour, had a band ( round it, on which was written "The Marlborough A. and P. Association's Champion ? 1910." The carts representing tne different trades paraded in the ring, Mr Sowm&n's representing the grocers, Bythell's th« ■<3irect importing companies, Mr Draper's the butchers, dung's the produce merchants, Millar and McKay's the ironmongers, Alabama Dairy Company's . tho milkmen, Gosling's wood and coal, and Mr Langridge's bricklayer. In" the produce stall there was a ease of Italian be&s shown by Mr Lucas,1 not'in a competition, '6'ut for people y #o' ace. If -ths' ladies go to'the Show they learn how to cook better. The ladies ask the-prize-winners for cookery; what temperature they put scones, 'cakes, and bread in the oven at, and also whether they make the articles on a hot or cold day. Thus you see the ladies benefit by tho Show as well r.s the men- The Grovetown School exhibit was a good one. In this exhibit there was a dressed sheep, a rabbit, some paintings, and somo cooking. The hen eggs exhibited were larger than I'vo, seen before. There was a great variety of cooking. The wood chopping was Tron by Mr Pulowsky.. Looking round the show grounds I saw two or three kinds of wool presses, one of which was called the Sandow. There were a great number of ■things / exbibited, and a greats number of people there, so I think the people of Marlborough must have Profited by the Agricultural and astoral Association's Show of 1910.

Oh November 22nd and November 23rd was held the annual show of the Marlborough Agricultural and Pastoral Association. The Show was a decided success, and the Association is 1 to be congratulated. The attendance wjjs quite up to the average, and in some classes the entries were far, more numerous than" usiual. Especially &o was this the case in th various horse classes." '

In the stock classes some sections were not as well represented as they have some other years. Quality,'however,1 was'present if quantity was not. The horses were, many of them, splendid examples of their kind, and did great credit to their exhibitors. The sheep, cattle, and pigs were, many of them/ greatly admired by the many people who gazed at them. As a whole the sheep were a fine lot, and attracted much attention. It cannot be.said1 that the majority of the cattle and pigs were exceptionally good, but they were very fair samples of their classes.? , ' •. '■■-.:'■■■:.

The cereal; and home produce shed was thronged as soon as the doors were open, the exhibits well deserving the admiration they gained. Although ■tlid quantity of the home produce was not extraordinary, tho quality was excellent. Of cereals vfchere wa> an abundance, and, what is more to the point, they were of splendid qnaltiy.

Various competitions which were held were keenly contested, and were followed with great interest by a greatly interested' public.

Never, it is thought, has a better parade taken place than that of the

1910 Show which was a credit to the Province.

Congratulations are deserved by the Association on the success of the Show, and if the public was not pleased it was its own fault, for the wants and amusements of everybody were thoroughly catered for. If there was a cloud visible it was the absence of tho machinery stands, but their absence in no way made tlio Show any less - successful. Marlborough is to be congratulated on its progressive Agricultural and Pastoral Association, which produced the 1910 Show—a credit to the Province.