BREAD, SCONES. AND DRESSED

Otago Witness, Issue 2413, 31 May 1900, Page 22

BREAD, SCONES. AND DRESSED

As usual, the bread and scones section has evoked a lively competition. The entries number 207. -which, is an increase on la?t year. The quality of the exhibits is well up to the standard, and, judging by the numbers that inspected them, they created a good deal of interest. The dressed poultry. was also well represented, and some line birds veiy tastefully trussed and prepared for the table were shown. | AGRICULTURAL PRODUCE. GBAIN. The first section under the above heading !is "Dressed grain fit for seed." Generally speaking, the samples of grain throughout this ' section of the show are of fair average qu.lity, | but seldom risa above mediocrity, and therei fore called for no special commendanon at j the hands of the judges — Messrs Thomas Craig (East Taieri) ' and W. N. Dawson (Oamaru). In red Tuscan wheat the exhibit cf Mr T. A. Jor.os (of MiddlemaroW , which secured firet place, was a very good sample, | and the same remark applies to the New Zealand asid Australian Land Company's (Totara) exhibit in red velvet wheat, Mr W. Dobbie's (Athol) in 'Chevalier barley, Mr Neil ■ M Tad gen (Middlemarch) in Cans barley, Mr F. E. M'Lsan's (Taieri) in dun cats ; Mr H. Smith's v fGove) in Sutherland oats. Mr R. A. Kemp«heU"s (Maungatua) in Canadians, Messrs ' Murray, Roberts, and Co. (Gladbrook) in , black o?ts, and Mr A. Hr Sim's (Heriot) in ! the class for any variety. The v.'innin^- exhibit shown by Mr Sim was a sack of Gordon 1 oats, and was about the bes 1 : sample of oitls shown in the hall.- The samples of velvet-ear j wheat were of very fair quality. In the open .' classes (grain fit for seed) the exhibits were of ! fair standard, without calling for any special praise. Though in both farmers' raid open classes the gram shown was only of average quality, it may be staved thai there was an , absence of inferiority throughout this de1 partment, of the show. Messrs R. A. Kempi shell (of Mi.ungatua) and J. C. Gow (of 1 Palmersiou) both secured v number of firsts , and seconds in the varied classes in which trey exhibited. Mr Neil M'Fadgen was | placed first for white Tuscan wiier-t. and for Cape barley, and the remaining places of honour were chief!;/ occupied by Messrs T. A. . Jones (Middlemarch), David Ross (Palmei 1 - I Rton). W. Grey (Milburn), W. Dobbie (Athol), f Q. Blaikie (Heriot). F. E. M'Lean (Taieril, H. i Smith (Gore), Thomas Cannon (Milton), A. j H. Sim (Ileriot), and the firms of Messrs j Nimmo and Blair. Murray, Roberts, and Co., and the New Zealand and Australian Land Company. SEEDS. Although the number of exhibits ia seeds is rather small, the quality, on the whole, is above the average. The samples of ryegrass j seed were very fine, and were of a heavy, j shotty_ order. The entries in Italian rye were - small in number, but the quality and type of what was shown was very good indeed, and among Chewings's fescue were to be found some excellent samples. In cowgrass and red j clover there were also some very fine exhiI bits, and the colonial growers quite held their ] own against the imported article. Some of j the white clover and alsyke was also well up ! to the mark. In the oxjsii classes the rye, j Italian, Timothy, meadow fescue, meadow foxtail, cowgrass, and al yke were all good samples of seed. In the class for white clover the competition was very clos^e, and there was oreat difficulty in separating tf>e exhibits : in faci-j several of the samples shown were worthy of a Srei place. Taken on the whole, the

exhibition in seeds compares very favourably with what bas been shown in former years. In the farmers' clos^ef- tiie lieaviest prize-taker in the New Zealand and Australian Lund Company ; while in the open cla-.'.e-', for which a gold medal is awarded to the largest prizetaker, Messrs jNTrmmo and Blair score heavily, but are close run by Messrs Wright, Stephenson, ond Go. and Messi's Tothill, Watson, and Co. From the wins Messrs Nimmo and Blair have secured it appears probable that the medal will go to them, but the decision with regard to this was not obtainable last night. ROOTS. The representation made by growers of roots was not so large as it would have been had all the exhibits, come to hand. As it was. many of the exhibits from the south failed to reach town in time for competition. The roots phown were good, but the Fame complaint that has been made in years past is again heard — that quality is sacrificed to quantity. It will be understood that in the judging, quality Avas taken very largely into consideration in arriving at ay. ards, aud size, to a very great extent, ignored. Strong expression of opinion is given utterance to that the attempt to aim almost exclusively at size should be discountenanced, and also that the clooses toy v, eight should give way to classes for quality. The potatoes, shown were exceedingly fine, and swedes were very good, as they always are in this part of the country. The greatest difficulty was experienced in awarding the prizes for these, the quality beins^- so high aud the difference between exhibits so slight. In cabbages the display wos j an exceedingly fine one also, and the quality of the vegetables show n was such as to deserve the highest praise. Before leaving the swede turnips it may bo mentioned that several varieties were ''shown in one class, a matter that makes judging difficult of achievement, and it is considered that a better decision could be come to if. the varieties were classed independently of each other. The same remark applies to the softer turnips, an objection being taken to white and yellow being exhibited together. Among the liea\y soft turnips were several that were regarded by the judges ps "puff balls," and may be classed as feed turnips merely. In mangels . the display was good, though not numerous, and one very fine specimen, for which tliero was no class, was regarded with such favour bj the judges that they declined to pass over it without highly commending it. Of the potatoes, to which passing reierenca has already been made, the kidney and round field varieties could scarcely be improved upon, and other kinds were of high quality. In several of the classes for mangels and carrots Mr "Walter Blackie, of Ea«t Taieri, was prominent as a successful exhibitor, Mr Robert Charters, of Mosgiel, however, prov- . ing a strong opponent in some instances. Other prize-takers in roots were Mr James Buchanan, jun.. of Outram ; Mr George Nicol, of Allanton ; Mr Roderick Cameron, of Goodwood ; Mr D. Mitchell, of Wanga 7 oa : MiAndrew Carruthers, of Pufcepito. who secured a number of prizes ; Messrs Flint and Webb, of Invercargill : Mr R. Moffat, of Balclutha ; the. Christchurch Sunny -side Asylum ; Mr John -Dow, of Outram ; Miss J. Kerr ; and Mr W. Mollison. of Balclutha. SBEAF EXHIBITS. The entries in this c!ass were rather meagre. Mr John Tough (of Milton^ added another, to his long list of "firsts" for- oaten chaff with a fine rample of well-cut feed, for which his district is well known. Mr Kempshell (of Maungatua) also entered a couple of sacks of good stuff, but not so well cut as that awarded fii'st prize. Mr Denis O'Brien deserves o word of praise for a bale of good sweet clover haj', the only entry in the class. WOOL. Mr R. M. Turnbull. of Linnbum station. Maniototo, exhibited four very nice samples of merino combing wool off his well-known stud sheep. They were exhibited in a suitable glass case near the platform. It is a pity there wa'- nothing competing against Mr : Turnbull' s exhibit, as it would be interesting and instructive to see breeders of merino? competing in woo l as well as> in the animals themselves.