EXHIBITION OF THE OTAGO A. AND P. ASSOCIATION.

Otago Witness, Issue 1777, 12 December 1885, Page 7

EXHIBITION OF THE OTAGO A. AND P. ASSOCIATION.

The second tlay of the meeting promised from an early hour a great success financially and otherwise. Long before the previous ordinary time for the influx of visitors there were crowds on the grounds, evidently with the purpose of " seeing everything." On the Thursday it was interesting to note the methodical way visitors set about effecting their object. " Beginning at the beginning," the implement and machinery collections, with the produce and manufacturing departments, were first inspected ; then there was a crush into the dairy produce building, and from thence a continuous stream of people poured along to the cattle and sheep exhibits, all evidently with the view of being in time, after inspection of the exhibits forward on the previous day, to be present at the adjudications in the horse rings.

The number of entries in this division of the show was on the whole very satisfactory. In some sections of draught horses there was a sparsity, but taking them throughout, the exhibits were more than ordinarily select. Nearly all the best stud& were represented, and it is much to the credit of such owners of draught horses as Mrs Nimmo, the Hon. Matthew Holmes, Mr Robert Gawn, Mr Charters, Mr Bannatyne, Mr Gow, Mr Jas. Spence, and other well-known exhibitors that they persevere in their efforts to encourage the breeding of first-class animals by exhibiting regularly at the central show. It was to be regretted that competition was so limited in the class for aged entries and that for three-year-old draught sires, but this may to some extent be accounted for from the circumstance of hold, ing the annual horse parade a few weeks only previous to the show. Were it possible to carry out an arrangement combining the show and parade the entries of sires would be more numerous, there would be a more considerable influx of country visitors, and the relative merits of the various stud horses travelling for the season would be better and more generally understood. With the exception of tho two sections referred to above, competition was exceedingly close throughout, and the various classes afforded direct testimony to a material revival in the business of draught horse breeding. The younger animals especially showed, although not pampered, that much more care had been bestowed on them than was customary in previous years. As an illustration of this we may mention that a noted breeder from another part of the Colony approached the ring and put the query — " What is the class?" "Yearlings," was the reply. " Oh, no," said he, " they must be two years old, they are too well grown for yearlings." The following horses sired the winners from three years to yearlings : Lord Salisbury — Good Hope, Ist 3-year colt ; yearling colt, Srd priae ; filjy, 3-year old, Ist ; filly, two years old, 2nd and 3rd ;

filly, one year, Ist and 2nd. Young Banker— 2nd prize, 2-year old colt; Ist do. year-old colt; Ist do. 2-year old filly. Prince— 3rd prize, 2year old colt ; 2nd do. for 3-year old filly. Gladstone—2nd prize year-old colt. King o' the Vanquishers— lst prize 2-year old colt. Tt is probable that at future show.s 4 aud under the inilueuce of the operation of the Sires' Produce Shakes, the yearling classes will be still better filled, and we counsel ownuis of good marcs to insist upon the owners of sires patronised by them to qualify and to advertise the fact. Assuredly really superior horses will soon be hard to procure, and breeders should bo very circumspect in the matter of mating their marcs with sires. It is unnecessary to remarkon the other sections of the hor.se exhibits, ver.y precise details having been already furnished in the usual reports, aud therefore we close our notes on the special features of the live stock department with a list of winners of the cups in these: — Largest, pri/etakei* iv slipcp ••• John JJpiil shorthorns . TJ. Mpnlove Ayrsliires . A. and J. MaeiiirUnp draught horses ]Jober(, Oiuvii light hoi-bC".. . 11. Tnogarfc. Throughout the day tho building set ap.xi't for the dairy produce exhibits wa^ inconveniently crowded, and the public had just to accept the ruling of the judges without question. In addition to the well-earned distinction the award of a prize confers, there was something on this occasion very substantial attached, as the following figures .show : JL'. s. d. Mrs D. M'Donald. Nt fresh butler ... L' 0 0 do. Ist powdered b lttrr ... 2 0 0 do. Largest prize-taker iv butter, cup ... 5 o 0 <10. Special prize in addition to Ist for fresh butter 2 2 0 do. Special pH/.e for largest prize-taker in dairy produce ... ... -'i :5 0 JEI I 10 0 Mrs Thornton, 2nd pri/.e fresh butter ... 1 10 0 do. Special for 2nd ... ...110 do. 2nd tor powdered ... 1 10 o £110 Mrs A. M'Kay, orel prize fresh butter ... 1 0 0 do. Special tor tiesh butter ... 110 do. 2nd tor salt butter ... 110 d £? 11 0 Strange to say iv the Agricultural Produce department there were only three competitors in most of the sections. In wheat and oats the exhibitors were the British and New Zealand Mortgage and Agency Company, Mr F. A. Twiname, and Mr H. Mitchell. The company received, as they well deserved, lion, commendations for their exhibits of wheat, oats, and barley, and set an example which may well bo followed on future occasions by firms who profit largely by the trade. Blessrs Nimmo and Blair exhibited quite extensively in other suctions, securing first place for ryegrass seed, cocksfoot, and linseed. The firm had the large.it of two collections of turnip seeds, but as both were commended the -judges must have had some difficulty in making an award. Another exhibit well worthy of notice was their collection of garden seedn, comprising some 70 leading varieties. A mo~.t interesting exhibit, sent forward by Messi.-. Niinmo and Blair, was that of the agricullur.il seeds exhibited by the firm at tho Wellington Exhibition, although not so extensive as at Wellington, owing to the uncertainty of accommodation, but the collection attracted much attention. Features in this exhibit were the elymus arenaiius and arundo arenaria, both said to be capable of reclaiming laud from the sea. A paragraph in a late number of the Otago Daily Times drew special attention to ono of these varieties, which, it was proposed, the Ocean Beach Domain Board should procure. At the conclusion of the show Messrs Nimmo and Blair handed over to Mr James, the secretary of th« society, samples of those grasses, and it is to be hoped they will be carefully tested, in order that it. may be satisfactorily determined whether they are as useful as is asserted for the allege 1 purpose.