AGRICULTURAL EXHIBITIONS JUDGES' REPORTS.

Otago Witness, Issue 1797, 30 April 1886, Page 6

AGRICULTURAL EXHIBITIONS JUDGES' REPORTS.

The report on the exhibits of live stock at Shrewsbury, published in the October ( number of the journal of the Royal Agricultural Society of England- contains a variety of information of much value to breeders in the old country, and enables those interested in the pursuits here to foriu correct ideas in regard to the exhibition as a whole, as well as of the merits of the various classes and individual animals exhibited. It has been for years the custom with the council of " The Royal "' to require of the senior stewards of the exhibitions detailed statements of the proceedings in the various departments. Official reporters— experts in the duties— are commissioned to criticise in detail the separate classes and animals ; and to complete the information required the judges are asked to place on record their opinions of the exhibits submitted to their inspection. The reports of the judges and the observations of the official reporters are invariably mo&t instructive, and it would be well were the example bet by "The Royal" followed by all agricultural associations of note. Were slich a course adopted by leading societies in these Colonies, where instruction is much needed; "1 reliable information would be disseminated, and the educational advantages of exhibitions more widely appreciated. Judges' reports would have an especial value. The public wbuld thereby be informed of the grounds on which the several awards were based, and much inconsiderate and hurtful wrangling would be put a stop to. Disappointed exhibitors too frequently indulge in baseless assertions and insinuations, and in comparatively small communities these _mutterings are apt to obtain credence. Under the system suggested, competent judges having the courage of their opinions, would, in a few words, express and vindicate them in their reports. The judges' reports on the Shrewsbury show illustrate the advantages of the course adopted by the English society, and we therefore propose to review some of them, for the purpose of showing how instructive they may be made. In the draught horse classes, class 1 is passed without much comment, but in class 2 it is remarked very significantly of the second prize animal : " Had this colt possessed bone of better quality he might have been placed higher in the prize list." The winner in the class for three-year-old shire stallions is thus described: " A bay, with good legs, feet, and pasterns, full of quality, and a grand mover ; undoubtedly this is one of the best colts seen of late years." Of aged agricultural stallions out of five entries only three put in an appearance, and two of which failed to pass the veterinary examination. The judges add that " because of the paucity of entries and the inferior quality of the animals, we unanimously advise the omission of these classes from future prize lists." In the class for two-year-old agricultural colts not qualified to compete as Clydesdales or Suffolk, the judges say : " Some of the best colts in this class showed such evident signs of over-feeding or want of exercise that we were reluctantly compelled to pass them over." We may here interject that were a similar course adopted here, and without the opportunity of explanation, dissatisfaction would beintenseandloudlyexpressed. Of the two-year-old agricultural and shire colts the judges state that had the commended colt possessed good pasterns he would have been placed before either of the winners. Again, in the class for shire mares and foals, a commended mare is described as superior, " but the foal was crippled in the hind legs." The judges of Clydesdales notice No. CO thus : — " This is a true type of the Clydesdale, having grand legs, ribs, and quarters." In class 6 the winner was "an extraordinary good horse, having good feet and legs, splendid action, uncommonly good in chest, back, and ribs." The 2nd prizo horse was " nice and even, splendid back, quarters, and ribs, and nice goer." 3rd, " a big horse a little plain iv the body, but likely to develop with age." The Ist prize Clydesdale mare " had grand feet, legs, and action ; " 2nd prize " a perfect model of the Clyesdale, her only defect-being a slight stiffness in her pasterns ;" the 3rd was a good mare, a little worn in the legs, and the 4th a strong mare but a Stiff goer. Of the younger Clydesdale mares the Ist prize was won by " a mare very leau in condition, with grand feet and pasterns, splendid action, and is certain to be heard of again " ; 2nd, " a nice, sweet mare, but goes wide behind"; 3rd, " strong filly, but wants quality." In fillies the Ist "has grand legs, feet, and pasterns — splendid goer"; 2nd, " strong filly, grand fore legs, but a little out of form"; the 3rd, "very big, but wants quality." In the competition for hunters two of the classes are reported on as " very bad," and in one, the 3rd prize, for the reason stated, was withheld. Another class, "very good, but tho entries small." Again another, "We consider this class very good; the horses were full of quality, with plenty of substance and action ; we wish to commend very highly this class." Class 41 : "A very bad class, small, weedy animals, bad movers, no quality." The judges of hackneys and roadsters remark that in class 15, with the exception of the Ist prize horse, the exhibits were a very moderate lot. Among the mares the winner of class 22 " was a very grand mare, a model of what a roadster mare . should be." In class 45 the Ist prize was wou. by " a grand mover, with wonderful action aui^ quality"; and the 2nd by "a regular park hack, which can do all its paces well, but of an entirely different stamp of animal to the Ist prize." The judges suggest to the council the desirability in future of having hackneys and roadsters in distinct classes.

The reports of the judges of cattle are in some cases meagre, notably so in regard to shorthorns. Of one class of these it is stated "not a strong one beyond the prize animals. The rest not up to the usual standard." In class 49 : " The judges had little to do in this class, the first-prize animal taking a decided lead." Again in class 55, families: "Only one entry put in an appearance, and these animals were so indifferent there was some hesitation in giving them a prize." The Hcrefords were reported on as extremely meritorious. Tho first-prize aged bull had " superior form, groat t-übstauce, symmetry, and length." In class 60, Ist prize was awarded to a bull, "long and straight topped and level form, but a shade leggy." The 2nd prize one was a trifle defective in the shoulders, and the 3rd prize beast was not perfect in the rump The winner of the 2nd prize in class 61, was "stylish, but somewhat uneven in his back." The Ist prize cow was — " in grand form and well entitled to her position ; the 2nd — " a fine cow in business having a capital calf at foot." In the Devon classes, an otherwise good animal, which was commended only, "lacked firmness of flesh, apparently from orerßhowing," Among

the Sussex breeds the Ist prize aged bull was " a grand massive auimal, with good head and capital touch." The 2nd prize " was one of the best fore-quarter bulls of the breed that has come before the public this year, but very much wanting in the hind quarters." The remarks of the judges of Leicester, Cotswold, aud Lincoln sheep are very concise. The exhibition of Shropshire sheep was, however, thoroughly representative, and we extract some of the judges' remarks. In two-shear rams the first prize ram " was a good specimen, carrying beautiful character, with good head, straight spine and well covered with a fine fleece," the second prize " had a splendid touch with a well covered back, and tho third showed great masculine character, with heavy flesh." The same rule is observed in the judging of pigs, the judges being required to give particulars where necessary, in regard to the awards. Thus, for example, in class 145, No. 1469, the judges' remark, was " considered by us more fit for the middle breed classes than the larger ;" and No. 1478 was disqualified owing to the pigs exhibiting with her being over age. We have selected the foregoing extracts in order to show the importance of obtaining from judges at shows incisive aud unreserved statements of their opinions, aud reasons for the conclusions arrived at The different sections of judges could prepare their reports with very little sacrifice of time, and these, when published by the committee of an association, would be of great public advantage.