THE WATERINGBURY SHORTHORN SALE.

New Zealand Herald, Volume XI, Issue 4020, 30 September 1874, Page 3

THE WATERINGBURY SHORTHORN SALE.

[from the "field."] When enthusiastic gentlemen breeders of dogs come to us with stories of their success, we treat their statements with the respect which belongs to all professions of faith, and if we be incredulous, we hold our tongues about it. But this prudent course of conduct will not avail an honest critic of cattle. If these do not weigh well, we must say stoutly tkerc is no improvement. No matter upon wdiat testimonials new importations come to us, unless they can show that the new comers make, or help to make, better butcher beasts than we had before, the policy of tho introduction must be questioned. There should be 110 mistake in this matter : everything lias its objects ; that of cattle is to make beef, or that which is the arrested essence of beef—milk and cream. It is of no avail to say they are graceful; the grace we want is that after a full meal. Having very firm "pjiioira ?n this l:«v3, the Wnteringlmry herd this day, July 2, hoen exam:r.'j.l. The t.'.ctics of its owners are manifest —to get the best possible Bates bulls, and to put to the best obtainaWy Bfttes or Kn-ghtley i.ows (purchased regardless of expense), and to offer part of the produce to breeders gerif. '1 y, from tijne to time—and the result this day mast have been eminently satisfactory. Mr. Strafford had to facc a company as numerous, as influential, and as liberal as any which he can ever have encountered. The gathering at Willis's Rooms seems to have convinced all breeders that the pursuit is not losing ground ; and we think that assemblage added ten per cent, to the value of all Shorthorns. All of the most influential assemblers 011 July 1 in King-Btreet, St. James's on July 2, went into Kent. And the place was equal to tho occasion. Possibly a prettier spot may bo found ; we never saw one, nor one more replete with evidence that: liberal treatment is that to which Dame Nature responds most readily. Fertile soil, high-farmed, every inch cropped with hop or fruit tree, corn or roots, till no room was left for hedges, or the green edgings to the road which the horseman loves. Hound the paddock, at Messrs Leney's, the hop yards stretched in every direction. And Shorthorn breeders '' turned up'' at every turn ; comiag up the roads, or between the alleys 'mid the bines—a gathering as miscellaneous and as enchanted as that which Mr. Riviere has painted bewitched by the music of Apollo, and for a moment forgetful of all ancient strifes. 011 this occasion Mr. Strafford piped the melody ot Pan, to the bewilderment of sober reason ; and tho company responded, not with silent enjoyment, but with lavish promises of five-pound notes, till reason reeled, and one wondered where it all must end. First came the examination of the lots for sale. These were arranged in "lean-to" sheds, or under cherry trees laden with fruit, from which many a visitor plucked a furtive berry or two and fancied himself a boy once more robbing an orchard on a holiday. The two famous bulls were introduced for the visitors to examine. Eighth Duke of Geneva is kept poor for work ; but he has a fore arm grand as a lion's paw ; a front, like Jove's, awful; a rear that looks a little mean, and the side view is marred by ribs which certainly are not well sprung. So many of this tribe have dark, almost irongray, roan, that a yellow red is a boon to breeders, and his calves inherited this merit; all were gay coloured, and most were wellframed to boot. But the nine months old Duchess calf, for which a new Shorthorn breeder, Mr. Lodcr, of Nortliamptonsliirs, was content to give 2000 guineas, was certainly not the most sightly of the lot. Still, taking them all together, the calves by Eighth Duke of Geneva were au improvement 011 those by the sires employed before ; whether by (hand Duke of Oxford (25.764;-, who seems to have been a failure, or Grand Duke of Kent (20,259), who (better than his predecessor) was not so good as the American, whose odd lopping ears, vast bulk, and thick muscles (the himl legs arc especially good) are not likely to be forgotten. And striking as he must be allowed to be, his colleague, Sixth Duke of Oneida, was in most respects a better bull. He, too, has a complete freedom from undue tendency to blackness. Horns, nose, cherry coloured hue, ribs, feet —every point is good ; anil hard-handling hair is 110 blemish in a bull. Effeminacy is the vice to be 1 trended most. A coat which will turn a snowstorm and repel the wind is none the worse for not being silky-. Let silks and sati.-is be for feminine wear. Altogether, the American introductions seem to be successful. High colonrs, and good carcases on high legs, have followed; and if these bring high prices, who shall impute failure? There is 110 mistake about the "growth" of their offspring ; the whole of the American-bred calves were big for age, if a little tall. And the talk and the prices were to match. But of these, as we give a complete list of sums fetched, and the names of the buyers, we need not treat. Suffice it to say, it is plain that Knightley topped up with Bates is a mixture in great request, and there seems 110 reason why it should not continue so for some time to come. Below is a list of prices atid tile names of the buyers :— BULLS.

1. doling knightley, red ami white: barn, 1572; Key. J. btorer, purchaser; 00 guineas 2. Charming Prince, roan; born, 1573; Mr. Larkworthy, purchaser; SI guineas 3. Young Thorndale, ml roan; born, 1573 ; Mr. beuchlhdil, purchaser; 05 guineas •1. Duku of Kirklivington, led: born, 1573; Mr. Godwin, purchaser; (i(j guineas a. March Duke, red anil white; born, 1573; Mr. T. Jiigg; ;".0 guineas (J. Nestor, white; born, 1573; Mr. Bendall, BrecoD, purchaser; 20 i;uinea.s 7. Tho Young Knight, white; born, 1573; Mr. Harvey, purchaser; 51 guineas 8. first Lord, red roan; born, 1573; Mr. Larkworthy, purchaser; 210 guineas 0. Wild Duck, 2nd white; bora, 1873; Mr. C. Collard, purchaser: 1-15 guineas 10. The lloval Duke, roan; born, 1573: passed 11. The Hoyal Prince, red: horn, 1573; Mr. Larkworthy, purchaser; 140 guineas 12. White Kaivsley, white; born, JS74; Mr. A. P. Clear, purchaser; -ir> guineas 13. Till) J'riar, red oixl white; born, ISM: Mr. J. Thornton, purchaser; ,W guineas 11. Caliph, red roan: born. IS7-1; Mr. Staveley 71 ill, purchaser: -IS guineas •II lots made £!)0!)5 'Js. ail average of £221 10s 7Jd 2S cows and heifers .CSOOI. an average of £2SI 15s 13 bulls and calves £1094 2s, an average of £S4 3s-Id.