THE PORT ALBERT AGRICULTURAL SHOW.

New Zealand Herald, Volume XI, Issue 3846, 11 March 1874, Page 3

THE PORT ALBERT AGRICULTURAL SHOW.

To the Editor of the HEiiiLD. SIH, —While adding our thanks to that of tlio meeting lo the judges of the stock at the agricultural allow held hero ou tlio <Uh, and guarding wlmt follows with this remurk that wo (the Port Albert people) show oar confidence in the judgment and uprightness by inviting them to act, wo oaunofc help thinking they committed one error very palpable, in awarding the prizes to the rams, and giving the first prize to a ram bred in the yutj flock the second prize ram was brought to improve. The latter was bred by Sir. Baßsett, and was shewn by him in Auckland at the show of 1872. Ho clipped 17j lbs. washed wool, Bhewn in the show-yard, and gave 17i lbs. of greasy wool at the next shearing in 1873, being then about 27 months old. We need scarcely say he is a good sheep generally, after stating ho wus shown by Sir. Bussett as a hog ram, as worthy of a prize. " But," said one of the judges, " his wool was so coarse, ho hardly called it wool, and the price of such wool will not be so high as the othors." Now, if that gentleman is acquainted with the nature of wool and hair, he should know that the difference between the two is not essentially the greater degree of fineness or coarseneeß, as he will learn by studying Youatt a little on the subject. We need not trespass on your space to discuss that now. Then as to priee. Mr. Bassett's clip in 1872 sold for 21Jd per lb., the highest price, wo believe, realised that season, and this sheep was one of his best. We have not seen his name this year in the wool sales, and do not kuow the prices of his clip last year. The other ram's wool was undoubtedly finer, and if the two had been on apar in other respects, might have decided the point in his favour ; but we maintain, in the face of this decision, there was no comparison between the sheep. They made an allowance, they said, in favour of the other for having bare legs and shoulders becaußO of his age ; but he is only about four and a half years old, and should be in his prime, whilo ours is only two and a-half years. —Tours, &c., E. over G-. AND T. ix DIAIICWD. Port Albert, March 3,1874.