AGRICULTURAL AFFAIRS IN SCOTLAND.

Otago Witness, Issue 3102, 27 August 1913, Page 17

AGRICULTURAL AFFAIRS IN SCOTLAND.

THE H. AND A.S. SHOW AT PAISLEY A HUGE SUCCESS. GREAT ARRAY OF CLYDESDALES. GLASGOW, July 11. The Highland and Agricultural Society of Scotland has achieved a great triumph with ita annual Show at Paisley. Glasgow haa not in tho past exhibited that amount of interest which might reasonably bo expected in such a great event, and the directors thought that change would bo of advantage. They accordingly decided to give one of tho other west country towns a tr-al. Ayr. Lanark, and Paisley each strove for tho distinction of a visit from the Highland, and in the end it was decided to hold the 1913 show at the latter place. The town authorities at once set aliout making the occasion one of special note. Tho Provost initiated a local fund, and in an amazingly short time accumulated a sum of £3500 to augment the pnze-hst and add other attractions to tho gathering. Unfortunately the head of the municipality has not lived to see the full measure of his enterprise. In every sense tho show has been a huge success. The drawings at the gate so far have been greatly in-excess of what they were at the last Glasgow meeting, and tho exhibition of slock is one of the finest—if not the finest—in tho history of tho society. The visits of the Duke and Duchess of leek yesterday and to-day have been great social events, and drew huge crowds. All the cattle sections wore splendidly filled. Shorthorns, for which Scotland has become so justlv famed, formed a magnificent show. Although tho supremo championship went to England tho animal was full of the finest northern blood. And no ono grudged the honour to his Majesty King George V, who brought north from the Royal Farm at Windsor a two-year-old heifer tho superior of winch has not been seen in recent years. This was Windsor Belle, which was female champion at tho Royal Show at Bristol. Bred by hie Majesty, she is by Evander (95105) out of Zoo IX, by Royal Sanquhar (79339). The King had other two animals forward which were also in tho prize-list. The reserve to W incisor Belle was the two-year-old bull Woodcnd Stamp (115755), which hailed from Mr Geo. Campbell’s herd at Harthill, BieUeide, Aberdeenshire. Ho was male champion at the Royal. The Aberdeen-Angus classes were likewise filled with magnificent specimens of the breed. Here the championship also wont to a female —the cow Prde of Silecia, shown by Mr J. Ernest Kerr, of Harvicstoun. She had never been shown before, but is one of tho most perfect specimens of the black-skin breed which has over entered a ring. The reserve to her was the bull Elmehore (29122). bred by tho late King Edward and owned by Viscount Allandale. Never has thero been a more magnificent show of Ayrshire cattle at a show of the Highland and Agricultural Society. Tho final contest for tho Fife and Kinross Perpetual Challenge Cup was one of the most cxcit’ng in the history of the breed. All over the stock was of superb quality. Ayrshire men have learned the lesson that tho wedge-shaped animal is not the kind from which to rear healthy, robust stock, and flier" never was a bettor illustration of this than at the present show. All round the cattle were of tho well-developed order, with big. wide frames, plenty of room for their heart to nlay in, and rnilky-looking to a degree. The president’s medal went to Mr James HowVs great bull Sir Hugh, from Hillhouse. Kilmarnock. A two year-old, lie was bred by Sir Hugh Shaw Stewart, of Blackball and Greenock. Bart , and was got by Budget (8037) out of Braw Miss (23484). by Erin-go-Bragh. Ho has had a practically unbeaten career. Eleven magnificent specimens competed in tho older class, which is quite an exceptional number for a Highland show. Th" winner war, Mr James Howie’s three-year-old Carsegowan Coronation (9120), which was bred by Messrs T. W. and R, Lindsay. Carsegowan. Mr Howie’s two-, vear-o’d bull also won the Fife and Kinross Perpetual Gold Challenge Cup As in the case of the president’s medal the reserve was tho first prU<? agM cow in milk owned bv Mr Robert Wilson, Manswrae, one of the most noted of breeders of Ayrshires. Those wore close and somewhat exciting contests. The cow is a magnificent example of the breed. M.u-svvrae N-ule 24590) bv name, she is a. fi ve-vear-oM as fresh and clean as u heifer. Got by the noted Lull Dr "nr. nan (7068). she is out of Manswrae Primrose II (17456). This cow was awarded the female chnmp’ouship. the reserve in fin’s oaso being the three-year old cow in milk

shown by Mr James Luwrie, West Newton, by Aitkenbrao Snowflake (78S) out of Lady Strathaven. She is Lady Jane VI (33705), by Aitkcnbrae Snowflake (78699 out of Lady Jane 11, by the famous S : r John of Old Graitnoy. Holstein cattle arc gaining in popularity in Scotland on account of their deep-milking qualities. Several herds have been established in localities where there is plenty of keep and good pastures. They, however, could not live in many of the parts whero the Ayrshire not only thrives but achieves distinction in the matter of milk records. Two classes for bulls and two for females have been instituted at the Highland th a year, and the competition was fairly keen.

The Paisley Highland will long be remembered for the magnitude and excellence of its Clydesdale exhibits. The judging may not have been quite as satisfactory as those who have the best interests of the breed at heart wish, but that does not detract from the general goodness of the exhibition. One fact which is- worthy of particular note is that all the first and second prze females which competed for the Cawdor Cup had to go through a thorough examination by veterinary inspectors appointed by the Clydesdale Horse Society—namely. Principal M'Call, F.R.C.V.S., Glasgow; Mr John Brown, F.R.C.V.S., Invergorden, Rossshire; and Mr W. F. Houston. M.R.C.V.S., Paisley,—three of the most reliable and expert practitioners in the United Kingdom, and that not one of the animals failed in the test. This speaks volumes for the soundness of the breed. The aged class of stallions was a magnificent one. There could bo no question about the first horse. The celebrated Dunure Footprint (15203) was brought out' in the pink of condition after a heavy season in Central Aberdeenshire. This great son of Baron of Buchlyvie is now five years old, and is already making Irstory as a breeder. Messrs A. and W. Montgomery, Netherhall and Banks, Kirkcudbright, were second with the four-year-old Signet (16816), a got of the Surradalo stud horse Allandale, which was first in his class at Cupar last yea l- . Ho is a slallion of good weight and substance. The Messrs Montgomery were at the top of the throe-year-old class with their Netherhall stud Imrso Baronet of BaUinda’loch (1710]), bred hv Sir John Macphorson Grant, of Ball’nda’.lceh, Bart. He is by the famous Baron’s Pride out of Fair Ellon, hv the noted brecd-ng stallion Royal Favourite, while his granddam is the wellknown Flashwood mare -Ellen Terry, which was a famous prize-winner in her day. Home people would, however, have preferred to have seen the second prize horse in the premier position. This was Mr William Dunlop’s Dunure Peer. Ho is a heavy, solid horse of true draught type, with abundance of quality, flat, flinty bone, good feet, and capital action. A son of the famous Baron of Buchlvvie, he is out of a splendid mare by Frivolity. Dunure Peer is altogether a more impressive-look-ing sire than the horse placed first, and he will prove that yet. It is no fanciful idea to say that the two-year-old stallion class was the most magnificent ever seen at the show of the Highland and Agricultural Society. Of the 43 entries made the larger proportion were forward, and the all-round quality was something for Scotsmen to bo proud of. I cannot, however, congratulate the judges on their placing of the animals. The Messrs Montgomery wore given three of the four first awards. At the top was placed their Baron’s Seal (17097), a rather plain-looking colt, and not up to a very big size. He lias good bones and feet, and moves satisfactorily. Like the rest of the Montgomery colts, he is by Baron’s Pride. Good judges would, I believe, every tim" have preferred the big, slashing Dunure Stephen, one of the best ev>!ts of his age ever seen in a show ring. He is a horse of snlistanoe and quality, with superb limbs anti carrying a body of the finest shape for a true cart horse. Dunure Stephen is a get of the great Baron of Buchlyvie out of one of the best mares I ever saw. the great Minnihaha, by the four times Cawdor Cup champion Hiawatha. He can Irde Irs time. This oolC was champion at Edinburgh and Glasgow. beating his eolebrnrtd half-brother The Dunure. which won the Cawdor Cup. In a class of 16 yearlings Mr Robeit Brydon, The Dean. Sen ham Harb' ur. had a decided win with his first prize colt at the Royal. Phillipine. by his Cawdor Cun champion Bonnie Buchlyvie (14032). TVs is n big horse for his age. with the right kind of bones and feet, and altogether a rare specimen of the young Clydesdale. Next to him stood a black colt. Lord Bute, owned bv Mr Robert Ryan, Orchardton, Cumnock. He jq a son of the noted Dunure Footprint out of a Hiawatha mother, and he has won nuite a number of important prizes. For the group prizes the gets of Baron’s Pride were first and those of Baron of Buchlyvie second. Perhaps one of the greatest surprises of the day was the awarding of the championship to the Montgomery two-year-old eolt in preference to Dunure Footprint or the yearling Phillipine. Lots of people held their breath when this joke was perprtrated. The judging of the females was not quite so ridiculous as that of the males. The brood mare class was topped by Myrene, a daughter of Baron of Buchlyvie. Dunure Ideal, the dam of Footprint, was nt the top of the yeld mare class, and in that for three-year-olds the old battle was renewed between Mr Stephen Mitchell’s Nannie, bv Anukwa from Boouhan Kipn»n. and Mr J. Km ret Kerr’s Harviestoun Phvllis. The latter won on this occasion,

and she was subsequently awarded the Cawdor Oup. There is little to choose between the two mares. Both are great specimens of the breed. The two-year-old fillies were led by a couple from Demure Alains. They arc Dunure Chosen and Duntiro Toby, both by the great Baron of Buchlyvie. The former Was subsequently reserve for the Cawdor Cup. In the class for .yearlings Air Andrew Brooke, North Dipl i ins tone, Tranent, was first with Lady Betty, by Apukwa. She has been winning all along the lino this year. Then came Boquhan Lady Margaret, by Dunure Footprint out of the celebrated Cawdor Cup champion mare Boquhan Lady Peggy. She was bred and is owned by Air Stephen Mitchell, of Boquhan, and bids fair to follow the example of her mother some day. The activity in the Clydesdale trade is well reflected in the activity displayed at the show in the hiring of horses for the next two or three years. A large number were fixed upon, and extravagant terms were forthcoming whenever the right horses could be procured.