WANGANUI AGRICULTURAL ASSOCIATION.

Wanganui Chronicle, Volume L, Issue 12345, 15 October 1909, Page 5

WANGANUI AGRICULTURAL ASSOCIATION.

On ft , glancing through the schedule of the Wanganui Agricultural Association for their forthcoming show on the 17th and 18th:; November next, we. were struck by the I liberal prizes offered. Among them, Quibell Brothers; through their local agents (Dalgety and Go.) have-offered a silver cup valued at 25 guineas as a points prize in classes one to 80, inclusive, to be Avon four times at intervals and three times in succession, and we compliment the sheep stewards on the way they have catered . for the woolgrowers. They have provided classes for every breed of sheep exhibited on this coast, viz., the Lincolns, Border-Leicesters, English Leicesters, Ronineys, Southdown, Shropshire Downs, j-tyeland and Correcdaie, whilst in the fat classes jfchere are classes for fat wethers, tat ewes, heavy weights, fat .wethers, best adapted for freezing, fat wethers that are most profitable (wool and mutton combined), fat, lambs .(long wool), fat lambs (Downs or Down crosses). The latter are one of the conundrums of the show,'as was proved last year. At the Masterton show the fat lambs were shown alive and awards made. .These were carefully noted and the different pens marked, killed, frozen and sent Home and submitted to expert valuers at Home, with the result that in no solitary case was the verdict of the local judges upheld, the order in some cases being reversed. In others the placed pens were right out of it, whiJst the pens that were not mentioned here were awarded Ist, 2nd, and 3rd prizes at Home. This would go to prove" that they were judged from different standards. The big, well-conditioned lamb that so filled the eye and gained the award here, was overlooked for the small, compact, nicely conditioned lamb, which, was most in demand with the London, experts. With a continuance of good weather, sheep should be in tip top condition by show time, and we anticipate a record entry of sheep this year. There has been an extra class added in the Romneys, viz., a pen of five hogget rams. This class is a very popular one with the Hawke's Bay exhibitors, and we expect to see it will filled here. Entries close on 3rd November. All intending exhibitors who have not received a programme can obtain one by writing to the secretary or ringing up 222.