THE WINTER SHOW.

Otago Witness, Issue 2207, 18 June 1896, Page 24

THE WINTER SHOW.

The following is the conclusion of our report of tha Otago Winter Show, hsld in the Gameon Ball, Dunedin, last week :— THE EXHIBITS. AQEICUCTUEAL PBODTJCB.

There was not much competition in seedi ' except in the open classes, in which Messrs Nimmo and Blair, Messrs Tathill, Wation, and

Co., Messrs Wright,. ' Stephenson, and Co., - and' Messrs Murray, Robert?,- and Co., . and- a few other exhibitora entered the lists, with the result that there was very close running for. the majority of the awards. In the perennial ryegrass olasa. Messrs ' Murray, Roberts, and Co. gained the

first awards; but a really good sample shown , by Messrs Nimmo and Blairoould hardly have bison overlooked 1 had it not been badly dressed.

Similarly, in the Italian ryegrass class, thebeit sample- shown by Mr Fred. Sutton was only \ highly, commended, th& faot that it had not been-- properly cleaned telling ag&iust it.. Mewfe, Nimmo- and' Blair gained first \ awards for this and for cocksfoots (ail 1 the sampler in this clats being < good, but faultily cleaned), for linseed, field bwans, field' pen, atid large black tares, ~ Messrs Tothiil, Watson, and Co: were tuooossful in the olasa for small black tare*, and Merer* Wright,

Stepbenaon, and Co. that for gplden tares. Two splendid samples of- timothy w<rr« shown - by Meters Nimmo and Blair, who also gained the awards for mangel, crested dog's tail,

hard feroue; meadow fetone, tall fesoue, raps, cow grass clover (colonial), cow grass clover ( (open), red olover (open), white olover (open), and alßyke (imported,' colonial; and open). In the sheep* fescue class, in which' a couple

of very fine samples were shown, Messrs

Tothill, Wateon, ,»nd OVn secured the first : prise* as they also did for oow grass clover . (imported), red' clover (imported), and' white clover (imported). Messrs Wright, Sfopheneon, and (Do. secured the principal awards for colonial red and white clover. The seeds exhibited by Messrs Wright, Stephenson, and Coi"'"»nd Messrs Murray, Roberts, and Co. were cleane&by M«ssts Koritzson and Hopkin's machinery. _ The- display of roots was one of the most . noteworthy features of what was all round a noteworthy show. In several of the olaseettha entries were exceedingly numerous, and the competition was correspondingly keen. There were over 30 entries' in the class for sweed turnips, these embracing .exhibits from all parts of Ofogo, with one or two from Sonth Canterbury. Tiw whole- mads a fine exhibition, and the quality was good almost right through; bat the larger roots- were inclined to be a little ' coatfle: Mr John Dallas, of Ksitangata, is, under the circumstances, to be congratulated upon,secnring the first prize, the eecoud falling to Mr D. Sutherland,, of Bast Taieri. The- cla<s of Aberdeen green-topped yellow tamipj, in which Hr Charles Wyeth gained the pink ticket, was also a good ono-. Special mention wa« made by the judges of an exhibit fey Mr J. Allan, which was, however, out of its class, it being a green-top swede of good quality. The latter exhibitor gained first prizs in Che Aberdeen 1 purple-top yellow- class, and Mr GK C. Tothill mat in tbe hybrid class, two entries in _ which were disqualied as oat of their place. In white-fleshed turnips Mr John Turner gained the pink ticket ; whiob, in an exceedingly, fine collection of mammoth long red mangolds, fell to Mr Robert Chatters. Mr G. H Gilroy was second m this latter class, but first in that for orange globe' mangolds. Mr W. Blackie had practically nc opposition to his exhibit of golden tankard- mangel* . An exhibit by the Christ- ■ church Meat. Company of red globe mangels, Cor which there was no class on the catalogue, w"«ff very highly thought) of by the- .judges, on * account- Troth of the splendid growth and quality of the roots. Mr ft. Charters defeated

leveral competitors in the classes for red' and white carrots anff kidney potatoes, while Mr John- Dallas and Mr O. Wyeth gained the •wards for Derwejifcs and round potatoes respectively. There was a very &De collection of garden potatoes, and Messrs J. H. Every and Co. gained the first prize. Mr W. Blaokie well deserved the prize- whioh was awarded him. for his comprehensive collection of farm

produce. There were two entries by counties •. of collections of farm and dairy produce, Maniototo and Taieri counties being the exhibitors ; and the judges considered that each -. deserved a prize. ■'-.; The' sheaf exhibits were all made by Mr W. ' . Blackie, and the only entry under the heading .of. grasses-and weeds wat that of a dried collec- ' JJ t fcKHT of named' "weeds by Messrs Tothill^ Wat«an,»ndCb. ' ; ; ; \ prize, list^ The following is the list of awards we were nnable to publish last week :— . : -.'■-. AGRIGULWRAIi PRODUCE. v - GE*nt, BBBD3, BTO. .''Black oats, four-bushel sack. Six entries—

Hanley Hitcbon (Wright, Stephenson. and Co., agents), li James Smith, Mafcaura(rothill, WatBon, and Co., agents), 2; J. Wilson and Son, Te Houka (Mutual Agency Company, agents), 3. Variowß, four-bushel Back. Six entries— A, FlemiDg, Wafltoikoi (Tothill, Watson, and Co., agents); 1 ; M. Sprott. Waikoikoi (Totbill. Watson, and Co., agents). 2; J. F. Diack, Hamilton, 3.

Rye corn, four^bushel sack. Five entries— D. Andrew; Pukerau (Mutual Agency Company, agents), 1; D. Murray, Pukerau (Mutual Agency Company, agents), 2 ; John Thomas, Southland (Mutual Agency Company, agents), 3. SEEDS. Judges : Messrs G. Pres3ly, G. Browniee, and A. Cameron. Class stewards : MQssra Joseph Allan, John Wright, G. Roberts, and 0. Morris. > Italian ryegrass. Two entries— J. Stapleton, Canterbury (Mutual Agency Company, agents), 1 ; W. Blackie, 2. Linseed, four-bushel sack. One entry— W. Hailes, Balfour (farmers' Agency Company, agents), 1. Field beans, four-bushel sack. One entry — No awaid. Field peas, four-bushel sack— W. Blackie 1. Tares, large black, four-bushel sick. No entry. Tares, small black, four -bushel sack. No entry. Tares golden, four-bushel, sack. One entry — W. Blackie I. Colonial hard or Chewinga's fescue, four-bushel sack. One entry— H. A. M'Laren (Tothill, Watson, and Co., agents) 1. OPEN CLASSES. Perennial ryegraps, four-bushel sack. Seven entries — Murray, Roberts, and Co. 1 and 2, Wright, Stephenson, and Co. 3. Italian ryegrass, four - bushel sack. Eight entries— Nimmo and Blair 1 and 2, Fred Sutton 3. Cocksfoot, four • bushel sack. Six entries— ■ Nimmo and Blair 1, Wright, Stephenson, and Co. 2, Murray, Roberts and Co 3. Linseed, four-bushel sack. Four entries— Nimmo and Blair 1, Kenrpthovne, Prosser, and Co. 2. ' Field' beans, four-bushel sack. One entry— Mmmo and Blair 1. ' Field peas, four-bushel sack. One entry — Nimmo and Blair 1. Tares; large black, four-bushel sack. Two entries— Nicomo and Blair 1, TothiH, Watson, and Co. 2. Tares, small black, four-bushel sack. Three entries — Tothill, Watson, and Co. 1, Nimmo and Blair 2. Tares, golden, four-bushel sack. Three entries —Wright, Stephenson, and Co. 1, Nimmo and , Blair 2.

Timothy, four-bushel sack Four entries— Nimmo and Blair 1 and 2.

Mangels, four-bushel sacs. Two entries — , Nimmo and Blair 1, Tothill, Watson, and Co. 2. | dogstail, Jcwt. Three entries— Nimrno and Blair 1 and 2, Tothill, Watson, and Co. 3. I Hard fescue, four-bushel sack. Six entries — Nimmo and Blair 1, Murray, Roberts, and Co. 2 | and highly commended, Wright, Stephenßon, and Co 3. , Meadow fescue, four-bushel sack. Two entries— Nimmo and Blair 1, Tothill, Watson, and (Jo. 2. ! Sneep'sfescue, four-bushel sack. Two entries— Nimmo and Blair 1, Tothill, Watson, and Co. 2. Tall fescue, four-bushal sack. Two entries — Nimmo and Blair 1, Tothill, Watson, a<id Co. 2. Ripe, broad leaf. Jcwt. Two entries — Nimmo and Blair 1, Tothill, Watson, and Co. 2. Oowgrasß clover (imported), Jcwt. One entry— Totnill, Watson, and Co. 1, Oow(rras3 clover (colonial), Jcwt. Two entries —Nimmo and Blair 1, Wright, StepTienson, and Co. 2. Cowgrass clover (open), Jcwt. Three entries— Nimmo and Blair 1," Wright, Stephemson, and Co. 2.

' Red clover (imported), Jcwt. Two entries — Tothill, Watson, and Co. L Red clover (colonial), Jcwt. Two entriesWright, Stephenson, and Co. 1, Nimmo and Blair; 2. Red cloyer (open), Jewt Three entries— Nimmo and Blair 1, Wright, Stephenson, and Co. 2. White clover (imported), Jcwt. Two entries — Tothill, Watson, and Co 3, Nimtno and Blair 2. White clover (colonial), Jcwt. Two entriesWright, Stephenson, and Co. 1, Nimmo and Blair 2. White clover (open), Jcwt. Three entries— Nimmo and Blair 1 and 2, Tothill, Watson, and Co. 3. AJsyke (imported), Jcwt. Two entries— Nimmo and Blair 1, Tothill, Watson, and Co. 2. Alsyke (colonial), Jcwt. Two entries— Nimmo and- Blair 1.

Alsyke (open), Jcwt. Three entries— Nimma and Blair 1.

ROOTS, Ac. Judges : Means A. Douglass, J. Duthie, James Shiel, and D. Bowie. Chass stewards : Messrs A. C. Stronach, O. S. Reid, and JGS. Bowler. • Swede turnips (any variety). Thirty-three entries— John Dallas, Kaitungata, 1 ; D. Sutherland, East Taieri, 2; K. B. Ferguson highly commended. Aberdeen green-top yellow turnipa. Twenty entries — Charles Wyeth, 1 ; John Turner, Courtney (D. Reid and Co., agents), 2. Aberdeen purple-top yellow turnip. Thirteen entries— J. Allan, 1 ; Charles Wyeth, Woodlands, 2 ; John Turner, Courtney (D. Reid and Co., agents), highly commended. Hybrid turnips (any variety). Eight entries— G. C. Tofchill 1, A. Nelson (D. Reid, and Co. agents), 2 ' White-fleshed turnips (any variety). Seven entries— John Turner, Courtney (D. Reid and Co., agents), 1; Robertson and Doge, Russell's Flat (O. JEteid and Co., agents), 2; K. B. Ferguson, 3. Mammoth long red mangels. Thirteen entries — R. Charters, 1; G. H. Gilroy. 2; J. Sovvden, Dunsindel (U. Reid and Co., agents), highly commended ; W. Lynskey, Kaiapoi (D. Reid and Ce., agents), commended. Orange globe mangolds. Six entries— G. H. Gilroy, 1 ; W. Hibbard, Southbridge (D Reid and Co., agents), 2 ; A/C. Thomson (Tothill, Wat3on, and Co., agents), 3. Golden tankard mangolds. Three entries— W. Blackie 1.

Red carrots. Seven entries— R. Charters, East Taieri, 1 ; D. Sutherland 2, W. Blackie 3. White carrots Six entries — It. Charters 1, Charles Wyeth 2, K. B. Ferguson 3. Field potatoes (kidney), four • bushel -sack. Three entries— R. Charters 1, Charles Wyeth 2. ' Field potatoes (round), four-bushel sack. Eight entries— Charles Wyath 1, J. H. Every and Co. 2. Field potatoes (Dervrents), four-bushel sack. Eleven entries— John Dallas L T. Craig 2, J. Johnstone highly commended, James Petrie commended.

Garden potatoes, bast collection, six of each. Five entries— J. H. Every and Co. 1, W. Blaokie 2, G. H. Gilroy 3, Chas, Wyeth 4. Drumhead-cabbage. Two entries— W. Blackie Best and most comprehensive collection of farm j produce (grain, toots, seeds, &c.)grown and manufactured by the exhibitor. First prize, £1 10s ; second, ISs. One entry— W. Blackie 1. Boat and most comprehensive collection of farm and dairy produce exhibited from any county. First prize, silver medal ; tecond, certificate. Two entries — Maniototo County and Teieri County 1. SHEAF EXHIBITS. Judges : Messrs J. Meek and D. M'Dotmld. Class stewards : Messrs J. Gow aud J. Waters. Two sheaves. AH exhibits to be the bona fide prodaction of exhibitors. , Sbeaf of wheat. One entry— W. Blackte 1. Sheaf of oats. One entry— W. Blackie 1. r Sheaf of barley. No entry. Oat-sheaf chaff ; not leas than two sacks. One entry— W. Blackie 1. Hay ; not less than one truss. No entry. Hay (clover) ; one truss. One entry — W. Blackie 1. Ensilage ; not less than lewfc. No entry. Secokd Day— Thubsdat. The winter show is attracting such crowds that already the attendances during the two days ib has been . open have equalled the attendances for the whole of the three, days of

last year's show. The takings on the first day amounted to £143 17s 6d, and for on Thursday £157 9s. Tho sooiety is to be congratulated on the success of the show so far.

The following speoial prizes have also been awarded:— Classes 43 to 61 (grain) : Gold medal, or £2 10s in cash, awarded to Messrs Tofchill, Watson, and Co., as agents, with 27 points ; Messrs D. Raid and Co. being second with 25 points. Classes 62 to 72(seeds) : Gold medal, or £2 10s in cash, Mr Walter Blaokie with 8 points. Class 102 to 116 (roots) : Gold medal, or £2 10i in cash, Messrs R Charters and O. Wyeth being equal with 12 points each. Clnaß 117 j Gold medal, or £2 10j in cash, for besb exhibit from any farm — Mr Walter Blaokie, East Taieri ; and in Class 118, where a similar prize is given for the best county exhibit, the judges decided on giving both Mr Walter Blackie (representing the Taieri County) and the Maniototo County & first prize each. Messrs Dufchie Bros.' special value, £2 2s, was awarded to Mrs M'Tainsh with 8 points, Miss A. Jaffray being second with 7 points. Mr W. Wright's special priza, one box tea, was awarded to Mra Cuming. With regard to Miss E. Kempshall's first prize exhibit), for the best collection of fancy butter, Captain Duncan, of the r.b. Morayshire, was so impressed with this exhibit that he made application to purchase same. Miss E. Kempahall at once agreed to generously hand over the exhibit, and it is the captain's intention to place the exhibit in the cool chambers and have the butter exhibited on arrival in London,

It should have been mentioned in yesterday's report that Messrs Thomas Meek (Oamaru) -and D. M 'Donald were the judges of grain. About 50 persons attended at the Chamber of Commerce yesterday afternoon when two lectures were given, under the auspices of the Otago Agricultural and Pastoral Sooiety, by Mr J. B. MacEwan, ohief dairy expert of the colony, and Mr S. S. Cameron, M.R.0.V.5., inspector of abattoirs for the City Corporation. Mr J. R. Scott, secretary of the National Dairy Association of New Zealand, presided upon the occasion. Mr Macßwan dealt with matters affecting the dairy industry of the oolony, and gave his impressions with regard to the dairy exhibits at tho show. Mr O&meronfa address had reference to common ailments of dairy stock.

In connection with an exhibit by Mr John Scotfc, of ' Waitahuna, of a sample of handdressed flar r it may be mentioned that the exhibitor saya that every ordinary acre of land in this part of New Zealand, which is good enough ta grow grain or barley, will grow fibre flax well — fay as much as will produce from 45 to 80 stones of dressed fibre, that being equivalent to scwtc wt to 10c wt per acre. The value of dressed flax here is about 11s per stone, that gives, say, £33 as -*he value of the produce of an acre. The cost .of production would be £1 per acre for pulling,.£l for cartage and soaking, £1 for drying, and £6 for dressing by machinery. If the flax ba ttooked and stripped for oil cake and oil-making the extra oost would be £2, making the total cost of production, if it was proposed to make oil cake, £11 per acre, while the raltie of an acre's graduation of the stripped stuff would be £38. The crop is admittedly an impoverishing one, it being secured every five years only, but it is grown very largely in Victoria.

Ti>e special collection sent forward from Maniototo is the only exhibit representative of the productions of our inland counties. The amount of produce is nc c.ssarily small, owing to the difficulty of carriage, but tha different grains, seeds, and roots appear well able to hold their own against those sent from other places, especially when it; is remembered that no artificial manures were used to aid their developed- ut Probably when railway ohargea to Central Otago are brought somewhere nearer the level of those to more favoured districts, Maniototo farmers may ba enabled tojnake use of the many fertilisers so extensively advertised at this show, and so enter into more equal competition with other producers. The grass seeds in the collection show conclusively that tbe climate of Maniototo is especially adapted for grass-growing, the samples from the farms of Mrs Campbell (Eyeburn) and Mr W. J. Millar (Eweburn) being ahead of any ryegrass seed in the show; while the other samples, both ryegrass and cocksfoot, are almost equal to mentioned. None of the grass feed shown has undergone any special treatment for exhibitioa, being only farm dressed. The whaats grown by Messr* Patewon and Dow are declared by competent judges to be exoellent specimens of the Tuscan and velvet varieties respectively, and oompare favourably with tbe best of those competing for prizes. This season's oats are said by Maniototo farmers to be rather lighter and not so well filled as in other years, but very creditable samples of the different varieties are included in the collection. A splendid assortment of turnips, mangels, carrots, and other roots grown without manures is perhaps the most noteworthy portion of the exhibit. , The remainder of the collection is made np of a very oreditable selection of farm and garden produce, an exhibit of nuts grown by Dr Church being especially worthy of mention. The mimu'acturad article is shown in flour from tho Maniototo and Ida Valley mills, which could not fail to be of first-rate quality, being 1 mads with the latest improved machinery and from ManiototD wheat.

The exhibition of Imperial sugar beets are from seeds distributed by Mr W. D. Sutherland, and belong to that typa of beet from which French and German growers obtain the greatest amount of sacuharine. Professor Black proposes to submit, at tbe request of Mr Sutherland, a report on theße beets to the Agricultural and Pastoral Society, and the report is to be made public when ready. Meantime Mr Sutherland is quite satisfied that the beet can be grown as profitably in New Zealand as in any country where it has yet been tried. Messrs Joseph Fison and Co. exhibit two handsome silver cups, which, together with two gold and two silver medals, they have presented for competition amongst the farmers of Otago and Southland for the best fields of turnips grown with their manures. We understand the competitions are to be carried out under the auspices of the Otago Agricultural and Pastoral Society.