NOTES FROM THE OLD LAND

Otago Witness, Issue 3489, 25 January 1921, Page 27

NOTES FROM THE OLD LAND

FIRST OF THE GREAT FAT STOCK SHOWS. LESSNESSOCK AYRSHIRE SALE—42O GUINEAS FOR A BULL CATF. THE CLYDESDALE INTEREST—EXPORTS FOR THE YEAR. FIRST-CLASS ABER DEEN - A NGUS CATTLE FOR NEW ZEALAND. (From Oor Special Correspondent.) GLASGOW 7 , November 30, 1920. Farmers in Britain have had a most successful year. The weather during the sum- j mer months was undoubutedly of a most ; variable character, and when harvest came j round, the crops were not perhaps all that j could be desired, but the spell of good j weather in autumn compensated for the ! shortcomings of the earlier part of the year. I In localities where the crops were secured j at about the usual time, there was some heating of the stacks, but this was the j exception to the rule, and will not mated- > ally affect the general prosperity. What is i particularly gratifying is that, even in the j very late districts in the higher-lying parts of the north, the tenants have had quite a good harvest, securing all their grain, and their other crops as well, in first-rate con- i dition. This bounteous harvest is having the tendency of bringing down the prices, | but still the figures are far above what is good for the consumer. Milling oats, ac- j cording to the Board of Agriculture for ] Scotland’s returns for the past week, are j selling at 48s lid per quarter. In the open j market, however, feeding oats have been ! offered at as low a price at 25s per quarter. I Potatoes, of which there is a fair crop —in inany instances a bounteous crop—-have all been got into the pit, and in many quarters j farmers are now busy securing their turnips. All over, the farmers of the Old Country have nothing to complain about, but much to be thankful for. BEEF ON THE lIOOF. The first of the great fat stock shows — the Christmas shows, as they are called have taken place at Norwich and Birmingham, and the exhibits and attendances at these afford sufficient proof of the fact that we are getting back to pre-war conditions. At Norwich, the entries were only some 50 short of the number in 1914. In the cattle classes, the numbers showed a considerable increase on last year’s figures. Strangely enough, throughout the show the heifers made a rather better display than the steers. The championship of the show j went to tho Duke of Portland for his white ' Shorthorn heifer, Wellbeck Lass, two years j and seven months old, and turning the scale at lbcwt lqr 161 b. This is a great ! weight for an animal of her age. Last year Wellbeck Lass took the King’s dial- j lenge Gup at Smith field for the best animal | bred, by the exhibitor. In her class for 1 heifers or cows under four years old, she j won easily, and the general impression was that she was the best heifer over the back seen at Norwich for many a day. The re- j serve for the championship was Eva of Stageuhoe, an Aterdeen-Angus heifer three ! months old and 2c\vt lighter. She belongs j to Mr A. W. Bailey Hawkins. Breeders of j the dual-purpose red Polls will be gratified by the success attained in winning the Presi- i dent’s prize. The King was the successful | competitor in this case with the heaviest ! animal of the breed in the show. In this ! case the reserve was a red roan Irish-fared ! animal bought in the Norwich cattle mar- j ket, and owned by Mr G. Emery, of Eding- I thorpe. The King won most of the prizes j in the ordinary classes for red Polls j Shorthorns, in general, made a oompara- i lively poor show, Mr Cazalet, Fairlawn. I Kent, being the leading exhibitor along with the Duke of Portland. The largest, and perhaps tho most interesting, class in ■ the show was that for steers or heifers, any breed except red Polls, and not over two years old. In this case, the winner was a Shorthorn-Aberdeen-Angus first cross. In the class for steers any age, bred in Norfolk, Mr H. Groom won with a British Friesian steer. This is the first occasion on which a pure-bred Friesian has appeared : at Norwich. It is interesting to note that the darn of this steer is a cow giving 1000 gallons of milk in a lactation, which goes 1 to prove the worth of black-and-whites as i dual purpose cattle. The sheep and pig 1 classes were poorly filled. The bec-f on the hoof at Norwich was worth going a long way to see. BIRMINGHAM. The sixty-eighth annual fat stock show j under the auspices of the Birmingham Agri- j cultural Exhibition Society was opened on Saturday. On the whole, the display was not far short of that of pre-war times, the exhibits in some of the sections being equal to anything seen for quite a number of 3'ears. It is impossible to go into detail concerning the different sections. The Breed Cup for Shorthorns went to Sir Richard Cooper for Ruby Queen VI, which proved a very easy winner in her class for cows or heifers. At two years two months old she scales 13cwt, and, what is more, she is a heifer of remarkably fine quality. She handles to perfection, for her flesh is very evenly laid on, and is deep and firm. Mr Vv. M. Cazalet’s yearling steer, Lancaster King, was reserve. He was bred by Mr A. H. Reid. Hillhead, Aberdeenshire. At one year seven months old he weighed 14c,vt 111 b. The Aberdeen-Angus classes contained a number of exceptionally fine specimens, which it took the judges some time to put in their places. The breed championship went to that, most enthusiastic of breeders, Air J. J. Cridian, of Maisemore Park, Gloucestershire, for Kris, bred in Scotland, and -weighing 13cwt 3qr 111 b at two years and eight months old. Tie is a thick, short-legged stamp, grandly covered over the back. Air A W. Bailey Hawkins was the runner-up with his reserve champion at Norwich, Eva of Stagenlioe. The crossbred cattle were a somewhat mixed lot, although, on the whole, very good. The Crossbred Cup was won by Sir Richard Cooper with his heifer, Tslue Bell, which was champion at the Smith livid shewed a year ago. She was bred in Scotland by Air John Robertson, Burghead, and at two years eight months and five days she weighs 14c\vt 2qr 111 b. This is a thick, wide, heifer, near the ground, with any amount of substance and quality. The Earl

of Durham was reserve with his two-year-old blue-grey steer, Ronald, three-quarters Shorthorn. At two j»ears nine months and five days old he weighs just under MJowt. The championship competitions were watched with keen interest. That for yearlings was keenly contested by a Hereford, Bounds Jester, owned by Messrs H. Weston and Sons, and an Aberdeen-Angus steer? 1 Tne former won. Although two months younger than the black, he is lewt heavier, 'the Elkington Cup for the best animal in the show was keenly contested for. With the exception of the Hereford, all the rearlings were passed over in the preliminary examination, and then it became practically a battle between the two-year-olds. In the end, the crossbred Blue Bell was put up top, thus gaining- another championship. Air Cridian s A.berdeen-Angus steer was reserve. Ilie \\ ebb Cup for the best animal bred by the exhibitor went to the Alessrs Weston _ for their Hereford, the Earl of Durham s crossbred steer being reserve Air Robertson, the breeder of Blue Bell secured the Thorley Cup as the breeder of the best animal in the show. In the sheep section, the Pendley Stock Farms won the Challenge Cup for the best pen, with Hampshire Down limbs. The reserves were Southdown wethers. Tamvvortli pig.s won the championship, with crossbreds reserve. LESSNESSOCK. A great company of breeders- of Ayrshire cattle assembled at Lessnessoek, t, itree when Mr Adam W. Montgomerie, J.P.’ held the nrsc home sale of the season of bull calves and in-calf heifers. Mr Montgomerie has about as line a herd of milk record cows as can he found in Scotland, but being a cheese-making farm they are calved late, and this in some measure militates against high prices when the sale comes round. Alany animals are bought by. private treaty from Lessnessoek. Only 21 bull calves were sold on this occasion, and for them tiie average was £zs 9s. The leading figure (1 f 420 g-s was given for Lessnessoek Speculator (19023), a get of the 1420-guinea sire Bargcnoeh Royal Champion (17296). Speculator is a March ca'f of the finest shapes,with a beautiful mellow' coat and a characteristic Ayrshire head. His dam. Lessnessoek Heather Bell (53802), gave 913 gallons at the high percentage of 4.04 butter-fat from March 27 to October 22, and she was still producing 301 b of milk daily at 4 per cent, butter-fat when the test had finished. Speculator was bought by Mr Walter Crawford, Chapmanton, Castle Douglas. A number of other bulls made three figures. Twelve in-calf heifeis were disposed of at the fine average of £99 15s. A number of them made threefigure prices. The Hon. G. Corbett,, Rowallan Castle, Kilmarnock, gave 205 gs for a heifer of quite exceptional merit in Greoeh Veronica. 11, out of Greoch Viola (42339), which has a milk record of 765 gallons at 3.56 per cent, butter-fat in 40 weeks The overhead average for the 33 Ayrshires sold was £9O 13s. CLYDESDALE EXPORTS. During the years of war the bottom was knocked almost completely out of the export trade in Clydesdale horses. The highwater mark in Clydesdale exportations was reached in 1911 when 1617 animals left the country; the following year the exports numbered 1348; in 1913 the figure fell to 857; and in 1914, the first year of the war, 253 Clydesdales were sent overseas. For the following- years the numbers were: 1915, 47; 1916,'71; 1917, 68; 1918, 24; and 1919, 46. This year to date the number ot animalk exported is 71. They have gone to tiie following countries :—-Canada, 64 ; South America, three; and South Africa, four. A decided impetus has, however, been given to the export trade of late If room could be found on board ship many more animals would have gone abroad. Canadian agents have been here inquiring for horses of a high order, and many have changed hands. Last the year the Government of Alberta bought a high-class stallion from Mr James Kilpatrick, of Craigie Mains, Kilmarnock, and this year representatives have been here from the Government of Saskatchewan, Canada, with £5003 in their pockets searching for a stallion of merit. They -could not get a mature and tried horse at the money to please them, so they adopted the alternative of taking home with them a couple of yearling colts of first-rate breeding, which have already made names for themselves in the showyard. One was Craigie Insignia (to be known in future as Craigie Enchanter), bought from Air James Kilpatrick, and the other Bonnie Eyrie from Messrs J. and R. Cocker, Hill of Petty, Fvvie. It is stated that the deputation have had to "o beyond the £SOOO to become possessed of these great colts. Craigie Enchanter is a son of the great horse wraigie Litigant (18071). out of the splendid mare Nell of Iverse (44168), by Montvave Mariner (17333), and he traces back to the invincible Moss Rose and other great animals in the Stud Book He wa-s first in a strong class at the show of the Royal Agricultural Society of England, and first and male champion at the recent back end show at Kilmarnock. The other colt, Bonnie Fyvie, is by the noted champion Bonnie Ruchlvvie (14032) out of Milleraig Duc-hess TV (3611.22), bv the Cawdor Cup champion Marcellos (1110), one of the most successful sires of females the breed has ever known, ancl going back through the high-priced Merry Lad (9616) and other famous Clydesdales to the Merryton Prince of Wales (673) and Old Samson (74). Bonnie Fyvie was perhaps the most coveted animal of his age in Scotland. He was second in his class at the show of the Highland and Agricultural Society. Colts of this class are the kind to bring to a. new country, and the Canadian people have made a wise selection. Another recent shipment consisted of 21 stallions —several of them horses of proved merit individually and as breeders —and one filly. They go to the Province of Manitoba.. in Canada. The outlook for tho Clydesdale breed is altogether hopeful. BLACK REINS. An important consignment of AberdeenAngus has left the country for New Zealand bv the steamer Wa-ikouaiti. The animals have been selected bv Air F. Armstrong, Akitio, for his own herd and for that of Mr Hope Gibbons. Air Armstrong has had considerable experience of Aber-deen-Angus cattle in New Zealand, and Mr Hope Gibbons has just started a herd. It is seldom that better blood has left the country, for Air Armstrong has exercised n. wise discretion in the families he has drawn upon, and has paid a good deal of attention to their individual merit as well as to the sires in their pedigrees. Mr Alexander Whyte. Faster Denoon. has parted with two fash?-’ nably-bred Yearling heifers —an Erica and t Pride. Eugossie of Denoon, the Erica, if by Vellox out of Euliina. Beatrice by Bi-r-vit Major. This is a combination of the verv best blood, and the heifer herself is a regular dandy. Patricia of Denoon, the Pride heifer, is a

daughter of the Beauty bull Hayston Black Baron, an excellent breeding son of the noted Black Jackin of Ballindalloch. The pick of Mr Whyte’s bull calves accompanies these heifers, and a long price had to be paid lor the youngster, ’this is Hayston Bright Print, belonging to the well-known Beauty of Hayston family His sire is the 6000-guinea Rerinthian, which was reserve champion at the show of tho Highland and Agricultural Society, and is now in the 1 nited States o? America at the head of the celebrated herd of Dr Huggin in Tennessee. The shipment is also enriched by the inclusion of the yearling heifers Black Jilt of Philorth, a grand specimen of the celebrated Jilt family bred by Lord Saltoun, and got. by Black jackto of Ballindalloch; Elcynet.ta of Ballindallock by the first-prize Highland and Agricultural So-iety bull Evileseo of Ballindalloch; and Eleanor of Damside from the herd of the late Mr T. L. Anderson, and got. by the ITarv:'-toun-bred Prince of Pedigree. This is a group of young females which it would be difficult, to match anywhere outside of Scotland, and they .should assist materially in enhancing the reputation of the black-kins in thol Dominion. There is a splendid combination of the best blood in the bull Plato of Rnthvon, a Regina Pride purchased fromi Air Macßae. Got by Ecklas of Invercsliie, a son of Elect of Ballindillcch, he is out, of Bride of Eric by Junior Eric, while his grand-dam is by the Highland and Agricultural Society champion bull Everlasting of Ballindalloch. There was aleo got from Air Macßae Evistie of Ruthven, an Erica of the Enchantress line, and closely bred to the great Everlasting of Ballindalloch. He is got by Prince of Nit.h out of Etrava of Stenhouse, both being got by Everlasting of Ballindalloch. -Eddy of Ruthven is a handsome yearling by Prince of Nith out of a dam by Earl Echo of Ballindalloch. Th's is another Enchantress Erica, and a right good one too. Another very fine young bull is Evereldo of Ruthven. He also is by the Pride sire Prince of Nith and out of Kola of Truim by Etolydon. Evereldo is grandly fleshed with any amount of Angus character about him, while he is well grown for his age. The rest of the shipment consists of three very fine hmfer calves bought from Air Alacßne. They are all bv Prince of Nith, and are named Ermla of Ruthven. Emma, of Ruthven. and Evelan.na of Ruthven. This is undoubtedly as fine a lot of Aberdeen-Angus cattle as have been taken to New Zealand for a long time, and it is to be hoped that Air Armstrong and Mr Hope Gibbons will have every success with them when they reach the other side of the world.