FEILDING SHOW

New Zealand Times, Volume XXXIV, Issue 8029, 7 February 1912, Page 2

FEILDING SHOW

A GREAT SUCCESS FINE SHOWING OF HBEBFOKDS AND FAT SHEEP. FROM or.', SPECIAL REPORTER. ! KULDING, February 6. These who hive watched tho growth of the Feilding show since its inception seven years ago will not be surprised that tho exhibition which was opened today proclaims another advance on its predecessors. The most sanguine ■ did not, however, expect to find such a splendid all round entry as that to be found in tho pens, tho accommodation space being taxed to its uttermost. Owing to the central position which Feilding occupies entries have been attracted from all points of the compass. In almost every department it has been found' necessary to extend the accommodation. pens, especially for dairy cattle and sheep. This result reflects great credit upon the management, and gives emphasis to the future that lies before • this fixture as a convincing ground amongst tho , champions of spring shows. It is claimed by competent judges that the standard of fat sheep and lambs for export purposes that are on view has never been surpassed in Australasia, either in quality or number.

Tho following summary of tho sheep entries will convey some idea of the prominence held by Feilding as a breeding,and show centre. Tho figures quoted represent individual sheep:—Fat sheep 2C5, fat lambs 528, flock sheep 93, Romneys 193, Lincolns 32, Border Leieesters 21, English Leicester's 44, Southdowns 88, other breeds 4, making a grand total of 1278 sheep on tho ground. In cattle, the dairy breeds are represented by some of the most aristocratic Jerseys and Holsteins in the North Island, especially in the female sections. Ayrshires are weak, but grade cows are a strong lot, covering some particularly line utility stock. In tho beef breeds Shorthorns are entirely neglected, but there is a fine showing of Herefords drawn from 'the president's (Mr E. Short's) now famous stud at Armadale. These red and whites, supplemented by Mr C. A. J. Levett's best, are quite a show of themselves. Unlike tho fat sheep entries, the fat cattle entries are poor in number, Mr Short being again the principal showman, with Mr T. Duncan as hie only opponent. As is usual, the hacks and harness horses fill a very important place at this 6how, and the quality is quite up to tho best' that has ' been seen anywhere. In one class alone—the hunters' competition—there is tho splendid entry of 41 high-class performers, while from twenty to thirty entries in other classes are. common. Tho draught horse section includes some very classical Clydesdales, tho president's stud being again drawn upon extensively. Mr Short has on view most of the champions of both sexes, with which he swept the boards at tho principal spring shows. Messrs Hoult and Sons, James Knight, and AV. D. Hastie show typical animals, and there is a good collection of general purpose. farm horses. Of tho classes judged to-day the principal winners were:— HOUSES. In thoroughbred stallions R. Welter's Ghoorka, by - Lochicl —Fiancee, was awarded first prize. The mare most, suitable for breeding remounts was May Belle, owned by H. Beatson the same owner showing the best foal out of a strong class. In tho draught division E. ■ Short won another purple ribbon with Royal Treasure, H. L. Carr's Surrey Warrior receiving tho second award. In two-year-old stallions the Almadale stud scored first and second tickets with Eevelanta and Goldstone, both bred by the exhibitor. The best yearling was also of Mr Short'e breeding, th© minor tickets falling to Hoult and Sons' entries In the female section Mr Short's string of maTes had things practically their own way. In tho aged class the judge's placings were—Thelrna 1, Silloth Lady 2, and Lady Alexander 3, each, of these mares having secured championship honours at previous shows. In tho filly class the daughter of Silloth Lady, Cumberland Lady, was placed before Mr Hastie's Normanby-bred Flower Girl, who secured the New. Plymouth and Hawera championships. Mr Jas. Knight signalised his entry in the domain of draught horse breeding by showing the best unregistered mare with foal at foot. In other filly classes two awards went to E. Short's stock, A. Hastie's entries being second, FAT CATTLE. In fat cattle Mx T. Duncan's Short, horns were placed first in four classes, his only competitor (Mr Short) receiving two first for Herefords. The pedigree beef breeds were confined to two owners —Messrs Short and Levett. All the first awards, which included championships, went to tho first named breeder. The decisions in tho dairy sections were not difficult to arrive at. Except in one class Mr Colpmau, of Waikanao, swept the board with single entries in Ayrshires, Mr J. McFarland's Lord Glenham 111. winning the aged bull class.

In. Jerseys, Mr E. Eagle, jun., of Carterton, had more difficulty in selecting the winners. His first award placed iHleen, owned by Mr Lancaster, first and champion cow, K. P. Walsh's and A. .Buchanan's entries following in that order. Mr "Lancaster gained first and second awards for yearling and threeyear heifers with animals of his own breeding, minor awards going to Mr T. ilclvcnzio, of Carnarvon, and A. Buchanan. Of the males, Mr Milligan'a Lirydear Lad VI., which was placed first at Woodville last week, was again a winner, and added a championship to his credit. 'I 1 . McKenzie's Mentor, bred by E. Eagle, was runner-up in. the aged class. In the yearlings C. Watldn'e Lupin, bred by F. W. Cornwall, gained first honours out of a class of five, the second ticket going to S. Shepherd's Monopoly, bred by A. Buchanan. The Holsteins were a new class at Feilding. and brought together some of the very best representatives of the breed; Cliffside Laddie, now owned by Mr A. H. Street, of New Plymouth, added another championship to his credit, beating Ashlea King. Mr W. I. Lovelock secured a second with his aged bull King Sergis, the "Wild Hose" homestead beating entries belonging to P. I. Johnstone (Hawera) and A. J. Gellihan (Taiiorea). In females the champion-

ship also went to Mr Street's herd, tho winner being Oakland Manor, of his own breeding. Mr Lovelock and Mrs James, of Stanway, each had a win h tho heifer classes. In grade cattle_ tho quality was excellent, and the jiuigys, .Messrs Eagle and Olson, had difficulty in making the final awards, the bulk of which eventually fell to S. K. Lancaster, b'lij secured fire firsts and several seconds. Other winning owners were F. J". Johnston (Hawera), W. A. Vorry (Cheltenham), A. Dernier and P. Ncsbit. Mr Eagle said that in all his experience of judging dairy stock he Had never boon faced with such a uniformly good cla«i of utility animals, every one of which was worth a prize. SHEEP. Tho Lincolns, Border Lei costers and English Leicesters were judged by Mr AV. P. Archibald, of Hustings. Tho Lincolns as a class were not a particularly strong lot, but there were some individual .sheep of lush merit, particularly Mr 11. Gnisford's championn. In mules and females this Hawko's Bay breeder won the bulk of the prizes, other awards going to W. T. London, of Jvim bolton, and D. G. Forlong. The Border Leicosters were true to t3 r po and were considered worthy of «. place in any class. All tho awards, ineluding tho championships, fell to J. Dowthwaito's Fordoll-bred sheep, the. minor tickets going to N. P. Neilsen. In English Leicestcrs the judge said that the sheep shown by Mr Lancaster, which won both championships and ail tho class awards, conformed to the old English standard, for which Mr Archibald seemed to nave a preference, and ho consistently placed that typo first all through. Slack Bros, showed gaod sheep, but had to be content with second cards. Tho Romneys occupied tho attention of the judge (.Mr It. D. Matthews) the wholo of tile day, several of the classes embracing forty entries. A short summary of the placings is as follows: —Mr J. L'. Hewett, of Palmerston, showed the type most favoured and won with two rams under 21 months, AV. Gibson (Kiwitea) 1 being second. 'lite same owner won with one ram under 21 months, with A. R. Fannin (Taihape) 6eooud. Mr Hewett also won with* two ewes under 21 months, with Mr Voss (Longburn) filling second place. He secured further wins with ono owe under 21 months and with a ewe over-that age, gaining first and second in both instances. The only other first awards went to A. R. Fannin (which included tho ram championship) and D. H. Kilgour. When it is mentioned that the flocks of Messrs James Knight, S. It. Lancaster, A. F. Fitzherbert, Ellis Bros., AV. E. Baker, H. Burrell, and J. Ballsiilie wcro drawn upon to supply the Southdowus, it will be readily understood that the judge (Mr W. Little) had «, difficult task set him to mako his placings. Both championships went to Mr Knight's stud, the winners being imported animals bred by Sir Jeremiah Coleman (England). Other first prizes were distributed between Mr Lancaster (throe wins), li. Burrell (ono .win), Elli 3 Bros, (one win), and a number of seconds.

In flock Romneys there was a splendid entry—W. Gibson (Kiwitea), VV. E. Baker (Kiwitea), and' Reid and Sons (Makino) dividing tho prizes. The fat sheep and fat lamb classes were the feature of the show, both in quality and numbers. ,The aged classes were judged by Mr A. G. Pilmer (Masterton), and the lambs by Mr T. W. McKenzie, of the same place. They awarded the. Highden estate a first and two seconds in tho longwool classes. For five fat ■wethers F. S. Moßae, of Fitzherbert, had five wins. In similar classes Reid and Sons (Makino) and A. and 'E. Symes (Waverley) also gained firsts. In heavyweight Down crosses Mcßae was again the most successful. In the fat lamb classes first awards were placed on pens belonging to Messrs J. Knight, Hugh Burrell, A. F. Fitzherbert, Reid and Son, A. Campbell, J. Shortall and S. Gray. The final awards will be made after the exhibits have been slaughtered and sent to England, where they will be again judged on their suitability for the English markets. PIGS. In common with other 6hows, pigs are not a very strong entry, but fair quality is shown. The champion Yorkshire, belonging to Mr J. D. Balmer, is a good specimen, and with him the owner secures a leg-in for Mr AV. S. Poole's challenge cup, valued at £lO 10s. AV. H. Morris secured two wins with females of this breed. He also showed the best young boar. In Devons Mr A. Duke, of Rongotea, made his first appearance as 'i exhibitor, and secured both championships against strong competition from E. Weeks, of Palmerston. In other classes wins were secured by John Bartholomew, VV. H. Morris and H. True. COMPETITIONS. Driving single horse —Miss Jessie Campbell 1, R. T. Sanson 2. Best boy rider—Roy Reid 1, George Hartley 2. Best girl rider—Doris Perrett 1, G. Rutherford 2. Maiden Hunters—V. Shannon's Flirt 1, J. J. Bryce's Peep-o'-day 2. B. Mcßwan's Ringman 3; 38 entrants. I'ony jumping—T. Cameron's Blue Bell 1, H. L. Carr's Darkie 2. High Jump for horses—W. Patterson's Haero 1, H. D. Buchanan's Review 2. MASTERTON SHOW Great interest is being manifested in the Masterton show this year, by reason of the fact that some of the-finest stock in tho Dominion will be exhibited. The grounds are in the very pink of condition. • Since the last show a large number of detail improvements have been effected, and the Solway PaTk is now a model show ground. A sum of .£IOOO is being offered in cash prizes, spread over a largo variety of classes. Jumping competitions will be a feature of the gathering. Late entries will be received up till Saturday next.

HEMP AND TOW GBADED

Tho following return shows tho quantities of hemp and tow graded at the ports of tho Dominion during the month of January:—

Hemp.—The total number of bales graded was 76-13, as compared with 9899 for tho month- of last year, a decrease of 225 G bales. For tho twelve months ending January 31st, 1912, the.number of bales graded was 86,120, as compared with 128,052 for the previous twelvo months, tho decrease being 41,932 bales.

'.Tow.—During the month 2335 bake ■were dealt with, as compared with 3250 bales for the corresponding month, of last year, a. decrease, of 921. EXPORT OF HOUSES The export of horses for December last from tho Dominion to Australia and the Pacific Islands shows an easier tendency, the total shipments from all ports being 7-1 head. According to the official returns published in tho "Journal" the number was made up as follow : 35 draughts {2fi mares. 9 geldings), 27 medium draughts (8 mares, 11 geldings, 8 fillies). 2 thoroughbred fillies, 2 hackney geldings, i light horses (2 mares, 2 geldings), 2 pony mares, 1 trotting gelding, 1 Shetland pony. In. commenting upon the market prospects in New South Wales for horses. a writer in the "Australasian" remarks that the demand and prices are about as.strong as ever. In; the country farmers are requiring a greater number ot horses every year, notwithstanding improvements in ploughs and harvesters, the requirements of a fair-sized wheat farm being about twenty horses, which cro usually valued at about i'fO each.

With an increase of some 150,000 'horse; in tho State, supplemented by considerable importations from New ■ Zealand, the supply docs not seem to overtake tindemand. AVith the constant expansion of settlement in tho country and tho increase of public works construction the demand Jor horses Is likely to bo sustained for some time. GLEANINGS At a special meeting of the Tarnnak; A. and P. Association it was decided tc discontinue holding a spring show in future, and to substitute an autumn fixture instead. It was further decided tc expend .£2OOO on the erection of a suitable building fo accommodate winter show entries. Stock inspectors in the Stntford district have been kept very busy lately inoculating calves against blackleg. About 10,000 calves havo been treated since the beginning of tho year. Farmers, on the whole, havo given every assistance to the departmental officers by mustering calves at tho various depots at tho required time. Owners of young stock now realise tho necessity for vaccination as a preventive measure against a recurrence of the terrible ravages amonsist calves which took place a few years ago. Tho keeping quality of mangolds whon coiTeetly pitted is in evidence on Mr J. B. Vealo's farm at W'oodville. Last; year Mr Vealo had a considerable area under mangolds for stock feeding purposes and the crop was stored by means of pitting. The unused portion still remains in. tho pit and to all appearance tho mangolds uro as sound and sweet as ever.

Much interest is being taken in a consignment of Australian mutton wh:-

«ftor complying with tho meat inspection law, has been distributed to various centres in Germany Fifty members of the Butchers' Guild at Chemnitz partook of tho meat at luucheon, and pronounced the test satisfactory. Tho mutton is being sold in tho shops at 8d and 9d a pound. '

Dairymen around Woodvillo aro rejoicing at tho condition of their pastures, which now retain a spring-like freshness; this of course means a better supply of milk than is usual at this timo of the year. Towards Masterton and farther prospect is not so promising, for the grass is showing the effects of r.utumn weather and does not seem to b'j any too plentiful, although factory returns show a better supply titan is usual at this timo of the year. A Clydesdale stallion. Baron of Buchlyvio, about' which there has been considerable litigation in the Scottish courts, was sold for ,£9500 at Ayr on December 14th. Ho was bought by Messrs Duulop and Kilpatriek, in 1903, for <£7so. About two years ago a disputo arose as to ownership, which was recently settled in favour of Mr Kilpatrick's claim for partnerehip, by judgment of the House of Lords, lie was eventually bought by Mr Dunlop at the record price mentioned* tho next highest bidder being Mr Kilpatriek.

Buda Kale was introduced into Taranaki eight or nine years ago, and has been successfully grown for dairy cows, pigs and young stock. It has a distinctive advantage over other kinds of kaio in that it does not flavour the milk. Being a deep-rooted plant, it stands eating off well, and there is no danger of its being pulled up. It grows all winter, but, of ooui'se, slowly during the frosty weather. It comes.away again well in the following spring, and if shut up in September the seed may bo gathered the first week in December and immediately re-sown.' The land on which Budo Kalo is intended to be sown should be deeply ploughed, and should be well manured with stable manure.

AVhat between wind, rain, and the: lack of sunshine during tho late spring and early summer tho maize crops that havo been planted for use in tho fall are, generally speaking, a failure evorywhorei A great deal of the seed failed to : germinate, while ( in other instances growth came to a standstill when the fodder was about six inches high; consequently many who were relying upon maize as a reserve diet for their cows are disappointed. Speaking to a ' Times" representative on this matter a prominent dairyman expressed the'opinion that maizegrowing is too risky a business in most parts of New Zealand. Ho agreed that in seasons favoui-able for its growth no other crop yields so much feeding material per acre for tho samo amount of labour and oxpense. From his own experience he favoured a mixed fodder crop consisting of oats and vetches, or oats and cow peas. This mixture, he said, can bo grown with safety at all times and in all seasons. It had also the additional advantage of being suitable for hay or ensilage, besides acting as a splendid soil renovator. Maize, on the other hand, is a gross feeder and takes a lot out of 'the ground without putting anything back. This farmer does not recommend the discontinuance of maize-growing, but he advises dairymen to have two strings to their bow by growing a little of each crop.

A. commonly heard remark when A. and P. shows are under discussion is that the societies governing them cater too much for the ring events and sideshow element, which it is faid, overs'nadow the proper functions and primary objects of their existence, which should be iu tho direction of improving the conditions of agriculture and stock raising. While a good deal might bo written in sipport of tho contention that associations seem to be studying the spectacular rather than the p.-actical, it must hot be overlooked that in order to run a show successfully public taste must be considered in order to gain their attendance —and cash. In most instances tho local show provides tho gala day. of the year for tho residents of the neighbourhood. Any departure from tho present ' programme would very likely mean ruin to an event which has large local significance. After all is said, the gate money paid by the public is but a secondary factor in promoting the life of shows, which could not exist were it not for the liberal donations in cash and trophies thaC are made annually by public-spirited persons. These are the people whose practical help enables surpluses to be shown, and it should be loft to the discretion of the committees to say what is the best way to run tho undertakings..

That tho Feilding A. and P. Association is growing in popularity and influence is plainly evidenced by tho largo number of entries received . for its show on Tuesday and Wednesday next, 6th and 7th inst., there being fully 200 more exhibits than last year, which was also a record lor the association. The jumping competitions have filled remarkably well, and there will bo the largest number of horses ever seen at_ the Feilding Show. Cattle entries havo increased by 54 pens, and sheep by close on 100 pens. The association has decided to hold a sheep shearing competition, post entries, for which prizes of JX Pi aro offered. Excursion faros aro available from Taihape, w'anganui, Foxton, Daunovirke, Masterton and all intermediate stations, and a special train leaves. Palmerston North on Wednesday (People's Day) at 12.35 p.m., returning at 4.60 p.m., and connecting .vith train for Foxton, Dannevirke and Masterton.