Agricultural Items.

Star (Christchurch), Issue 5326, 2 August 1895, Page 3

Agricultural Items.

fBT TUSSOCK IN " CAKBBBBaKT TIMES** The Bath and West of England Show last month was very successful. Many nameß familiar to New Zealand sheepbreeders appear in tbe prize-list, and I quote the following remarks from the A'eZcf.:— " The Leicester breed made a highly creditable display, consisting of nine pens of shearliDg rams, six pairs of ram lambs, and seven pens of shearling ewes. Mr G. Harrison, Underparlc, was the most successful exhibitor, winning all three first prizes, second prize for ewes, and third prize with a necond shearling ram. His sheep are well known to be of the Yorkshire type, having more size and substance than the others display, although the Leicesters kept in Cornwall, of which a good shearling ram owned by Mr T. Telland, of the neighbourhood of St Austell, won second prize, are also of comparative large scale. Mr Yelland won both second and third prizes for ram lambs with animals having good heads and wool. In the ewe class, Mrs Perry-Herrick won the third prize. Her sheep were more of the character Bakewell was known to propagate, although the Yorkshire and Cornish Leicesters may at the present day be better rent payers. "Southdowns came out magnificently, nearly every one of the nine Bhearling rams receiving notioe. ° H.R.H. the Prinoo of Wales won first and third prizes, his (WO rams being divided by a very nice ram belonging to Mr E. Ellis. In the class for ram lambs, those of Mr Ellis and Mr Blyth were very well shaped and of nice character. These exhibitors received the three prizes, and one of Mr Ellia's ram lambs waß awarded the champion prize for best ram of the breed on the ground. There were Beven pons of ewes, and all from leading flocks. Mr Ellis won another first with sheep of truly superb character, Mr Blyth coming Becond with a pen of very even matching sheep of rather more Eubstance. Earl Bathurst won the third premium, and I H.R.H. the Prince of Wales reserve, with pens far above average merit. "The Shropshire element always prevails whenever a big Bhow is held anywhere within reasonable reach of the breeders. There were no fewer than thirty-four shearling ramß entered, and there were very few not thoroughly deBerving. Mr W. F. Inge had chief post of honour, Mr A. E. Mansell carrying off second, and Mr Foster-Harter third premium. Mrs M. Barrs showed the reserve ram, and of the others cix were highly commended and ten commended The Beason is rather early yet for Shropshire ram lambs, but the display was highly creditable. First prize waa won by Mr Foßter-Harter, second by Mr J. Beach, and third by Mr B. P. Cooper, Mr Kirkham obtaining reBerve. In the shearling ewe class Mrs M. Barrs had the high honour of being fitßf, for the display wbb an admirable one. Mr P. L. Millß came second, and Mr FosterHarter third, all these pens being truly of grand character, while that of Mr T. S. Minton, which was reserve, must be considered far above average merit. Hampshire Downs made a large display, especially in the ram lamb class. Professor Wright son, Mr A. de Mornny and Mr J. Flower were the winnere. At the Royal Counties Show the following week, Prof. Wrightson and Mr Flower were again sucsessful in Hampshires, and Mr T. F. Buxton won several firsts. In Southdowns Sir W. Throckmorton, Messrs Toop, Heasman and Ellis were the winners in specially good classes. Shropshires saw Mr A. E. Mansell successful, he also winning the special for the best ram or ram lamb in the show. Messrs W. Milieu and H. Page were the winners in Bomney Marsh sheep. There was a good show of sheep at Edinburgh the Bame week. In Border Leicester shearlings Mr Russell Tress, Whitelee, St Boswelta, was an undoubted winner with a Crichton Mains tup, which he purchased in a lot of five as a lamb. Mr Clark, Oldhamstocks, was second with a sheep of greater size. Lord Rosebery was first for gimmers. The only exhibitor of Shropshireß'was Lord Rosebery. It is to be hoped that when the Government sent Home particulars of the Perthshire affair it also sent a copy of tbe Now Zealand Stock Acts and Regulations. The English authorities await a perusal of these before assenting to tbe request; cf the Agent-General, that stock from New Zealand be permitttd to land alive even though the vessel carrying the stock had touched at any coaling port on the voyage. One would have thought that these Acts and Regulations would certainly be filed at the Agent-General's office. It will be a pity if, from the absence of the necessary information, Mr Cox's shipment is prevented from landing freely in England.