The Stourbridge Observer, Cradley Heath, Halesowen & District Chronicle.
Stourbridge, West Midlands, England, 1884-07-19 00:00:00

The ROYAL AGRICULTURAL SOCIETY'S

- SHOW,
The annual sho4of the Royal Agricultural Society
opened on Monday at Shrewsbnry, and was remarkably
good in every department, the horses, horned cattle,
sheep, and pigs being all of high merit, which in many
of the classes made it a matter of great difficulty to
award the prizes.
The total number of stock entered in the yara for
competition and distributed over the cattle sheds,
stables, sheep pens, and pigstyes was 1687, which,
singular to say, is just two in excess of those sent to
York on the occasion of the last country exhibition of
the society. These are the highest figures attained
by the society in the last seven years. Of horses
there were 407, cattle 579, sheep 490, and pigs 211,
against 611 horses, 462 cattle, 412 sheep, and 200 pigs
shown at York last year.
Commencing with the cattle classes, the shorthorns,
as usual, stand first in the list • and them was a fine
collection of over a hundred splendid animals, among
which were several winners of prizes at the Bath and
West of England Agricultural Meeting at Maidstone.
In the class of bulls calved in 1878, 1879, or 1880, Mr.
Handley's (Milnthorpe) Hovingham took the first
prize, having been second at Maidstone.; and next in
point .of award came Mr. Foljarobe's Bright Helen,
which was placed third in the same class at Maidstone.
The winner of the first prize for bulls of 1881, Self-
esteem, belonging to Mr. Rowley, of Donca.stor, had
the same plarie of honour in the same class to-day; Mr.
Tregaster, of St. Issy, Cornwall, being second for his
Duke of Cornwall, Mr. D. A. Green, .of Colchester,
and Mr. W. Cromer, Nautwich, were respectively
placed first and second in the class of bulls calved in
1882. In 1883 bulls, there were two entries from
Sandringham, but His Royal Highness did not secure
the judges' approval, and tiny pronounced the best
animal in the class to be the winner of 'the first prize
at Maidstone for bulls of the same age—viz., Royal
Ingram, the property of Mr. Handley, of Milntliorpe,
Westmoreland; Mr. Thenewy, of Tregoose, Cornwall,
, being second with his Starof Cornwall. In the prizes
, offered by the Shorthorn Society for the best bull of
any age with not less than two of his offspring. Mr.
Thompson, of Penrith, stood first, who sent Beau
Benedict and four of his offspring. Mr. St. John
Ackers, of Prinknash -park, Gloucestershire, was
second with his Royal Gloucester and, three of his
produce. In the class of cows in milk .or in calf, Mr.
Brierly, of Rosedale, Tenbury, stood first; Mr. Hut-
' chinson, of Catterick, Yorkshire, second; and Mr. A.
S. Gibson, of Bulwell, Notts, third. Mr. St. John
Ackers showed his Lady Georgina Newcombe, which
was second at Maidstone, but she was unnoticed by
the judges, being in the presence of !her superiors in
point of merit. Mr. Hutchinson also secured both
prizes in the class of cows or heifers calved in 1881.
There were only two other entries in this class. Mr. G.
Ashburner, of Kirkby-in-Furness, carried off the lead-
ing prize in the class of cows and their offspring ; and
Mr. Wakefield, of Kendal, was first in heifers calved in
1882. The Prince of Wales contributed two heifers
to this class, ,but they were passed over by the judges.
The Prince and Her Majesty the Queen also sent
heifers to compete in the list of last year's
heifers, but neither received special notice, the first
prize in the class being given to Mrs. Macintosh, of
Itomford, the second to Sir Henry Allsopp, and the
third to Mr. Toppin, of Shelton, Cumberland. Messrs.
Hosken and Son, of Rule, Cornwall, took first prize
for pair of heifers of 1883. The Hereford cattle
•exceededin number the shorthorns, being 143, and
among -them again were several winners at Maid-
stone. This was to be expected, as the Shropshire
and West Midland Agricultural Society contributed
£6O towards the prizes given for the class of animals
which are much bred in the district. The Earl
of Coventry again appeared in the joint competi-
tions with Mr. Rogers, of Kingston, for the prizes
for bulls of 1878, 1879, or 1880, and being declared
second best with his Fisherman to Mr. Roger's Archi-
'bald ; 'while Lord Bateman scored third with his
Charlton. His lordship, however, was first with his
•Good Boy in the next class (bulls calved 1881), as he
was at the Bath and West of England show last
month; and Mr. j. H. Arkwright was again placed
second in the same class as at Maidstone. Mr.
Judge, of Lemthall, near Ludlow, being third in
the same class for his Prime Rose, which was
entered at Maidstone, where no third prize was
awarded. In the class of bulls calved in 1882, Mr. A.
E. Hughes, of Wintercott, Leominster, took the lead-
ing prize, as he did at Maidstone, with his Washing-
ton; and Mr. A. Rogers, of Kington, came second
with his Albany, which was not shown at Maidstone,
but which displaced Lord Coventry's Consul, not
honoured to-day by the judges. Mr. Bridgwater, of
Fulgarth, was third. In bulls of 1883, Mr. Taylor, as
at Maidstone, again headed the list of twenty animals
with his Maidstone. The executors of the late Mr.
Carwardine, whose animal was not shown at Maid-
stone, was second, and Mr. Judge scored third
with his Leminthall. The second prize-taker at
Maidstone in this class, Mr. Hughes's (Wintercott)
Sergeant Major, was not honoured to-day. The £2O
, offered by a committee of Hereford breeders fcr the
I best pair of bulls of last rear, was gained by Mr. J. H.
Arkwright, of Hampton -Court, Leominster; the exe-
cutors of the late Mr. Carwardine scoring second;
and Mr. Hill, Church Skelton, third. In the class of
cows, in milk or in calf, calved in 1880, Lord Coventry
scored first prize; Mr. J. H. Arkwright second, and
Mr. H. W. Taylor third. For those calved in 1881,
Mr. R. W. Hall, of Ashton, was first with his
Dorothea (as at Maidstone) and second with Theo-
dora. Prizes of £3O, offered by the Hereford Herd
Book Society, and of £l5 offered by the Committee
of Hereford breeders, were respectively taken by Mr.
H. W. Taylor and Mr. IL R. Hall, of Holm Lacey;
third prize offered by the breeders being awarded to
Mr. J. B. Sutley, of Brockhampton. Mr. Hughes, of
Wintercott, who stood first at Maidstone with his
Sunflower in the class of heifers of 1882, was again
successful with the same animal; Mr. Keen, of Caer-
leon, and Mr. W. S. Powell, of Taibach, Glamor-
ganshire, ranking second and third in the
same class. In the class of heifers of 1883
the winners stood exactly as they did at the
Bath and West of England Show last month, viz.,
Mr. Taylor (with Vanity 7th) 1, the Earl of Coventry
(with Plum Jam) 2, and Mr. j. H. Arkwright (with
Pearl sth) 3, she being the reserve animal at Maid-
stone. A fourth prize came to Mr. S. Robinson, of
Kington, for his Princess sth. The prizes offered by
Hereford breeders for four heifers fell to-1, the
executors of the late Mr. Carwardine; and 2, Mr. J.
R, 'Knighton Knight, of Dovrnton Castle, Lincoln;
and those for four heifers of 1883, were awarded
-to Mr. A. P. Turner, The Leon, Pembridge, 1;
Mr. j. Price, Pembridge, 2; and Mr. B. Robinson,
Kington, 3.
_ _ _

• •
The •other cattle classes attracted less attention.
There were about 50 Devons stalled, and the leading
prize winners were: Mr. Perry, of Lewdown, Devon;
Mr. H. Farthing, of Taunton; Mr. Walter, M.P.,
Bearwood (two prizes) ; Mr. A. C. Skinner, Bishop
Lydiard, Somerset, 2; Sir William Williams, of Barn-
staple, 3; Mr. W. Itolles Fryer Poole (three second
prizes) ; and Mr. J. Bowes, Taunton.
Forty animals were shown in the Sussex.classes, the
leading prize winners being Messrs. E. and A. Stan-
ford, of Steyning ; A. Agate, of Horsham; and J.
Godman, Godalramg. In the four classes of "longhorns
fourteen aninnls were shown, and in Welsh sixty.
Lord Harlech was a free exhibitor, but onlysucceeded
in appropriating the first and second places for heifers
of last year; and the Earl of Cawdor took first prize
for a 'bull of last year and for a cow. Mr. W. E.
Oakley, of Tan-y-Bwlch, had three prizes. Major
Platt, of Gorddinog, Bangor, was also successful in
-the Class of cows of 1881, scoring first and second.
Jersey cattle, as usual, showed in goodly numbers, near
• a hundred of these favourites being housed, and of dairy
• cattle there were sixteen.

Notwithstanding the weather was on the whole
favourable, the attendance on Monday showedn falling
off oGthat of York last year, being at three o'clock
.2104, against 2875 at York at the same hour.

On umesday the attendance was not, all things con-
sidered, unsatisfactory, the number which-entered the
yard being about 11,000, as compared with 15,708 at
York last year. The judges, who examined machinery
used for cutting up and elevating the contents of the
silos, announced that none of the machines,entered
came up to their idea of what such machines -should
be, and they therefore withheld the medals, while
,commending the machine exhibited by Messrs. Rich-
mond and Chandler in some of its contrivances.

The annual general meeting of members was 'held
atone o'clock in the largo tent, Sir Brandreth Gibbs,
the outgoing President, taking the chair. The first
business transapted was to announce the result ,of the
competition for the farm• prizes offered by the
society, and this was declared to be very satisfactory
in two or three cases, so much so that the judges re-
commended that the council should allow them to
give an extra prize, which was done. In the First
Class for Dairy or Grazing Farms, the first prize
was taken by Mr. W. Nunnerley, of Whit-
church, and the second by Mr. Bathe, of
Winston, Ellesmere, and of six other farms
competing four were specially commended by the
Judges. The Second Class was for arable farms of
not less than 150 acres, and of the eleven entered, all,
according to the report ,of the Judges, were well
managed, and while awarding the first prize to Mr. F.
Hawkins, of Hereford, and the second to Mr J.
Pearce of Newport, Shropshire, a third was created.
for thefarm of Mr. T. S. Minton, of Montford, Shrop-
shire. Only two entries had been made in the class
for farms under 150 acres, and the last class was for
the servants employed upon the competing farms, and
the names of the different recipients were loudly
cheered. The meeting terminated by the election of
Sir Massey Lopes, M.P. as President for the next year,
which will cover the show to be held at Preston.

•
The judges also gave their decision as to the merits
of the 77 lots of butter and cheese exhibited in three
classes. The cheese was mostly made in Cheshire,
though there were a few entries of Cheddar; but most
of the prizes were won by •the former, which were
shown in very good condition. The fresh butter was
very good.
The distinguishing feature of the Sheep classes was
the Collection of Shropshires, for there were nine
classes with 247 entries; but even apart from Shrop.
shires the sheep seotion was by no means a bad one,
there being 239 entries in twenty-one other classes,
making a grand total of 486 pens. The
long wool breeds were, as usual, placed
flr' j the catalogue: hUt the Igicettm, 419

Cotswolds, and the Li-tic:ohm are going out ot tasaton
very fast, and
.there were only 69 entries altogether
in the nine classes allotted to the three breeds. The
Leicesteri were the best represented of the three,
though into class for shearing ewes the judges did
not think fit to give a prize, an Mr. T. H. Hutchin-
son carried-all before him in the two classes for rams.
The best Cotswold sheep are now always found in the
possession either of Air. Jacobs or Messrs. T. and
S. Gillett, and these two flocks monopolised all
the prizes at Shrewsbury,' and in the class for
Lincoln sheep Mr. J. Pears and Mr. H. Smith
were the principal winner!? he Qxfordshire Downs
were rather stronger there being 41
entries in the three classes, and all the best flocks wore
represented, including those of Mr. T. Treadwell, who ,
won three out of the four prizes in the two classes for
rams; of Mr. Albert- Brassey,:itirecwas first in the
class for shearling rams and ewes; of Mr. Druce, and I
of Lady Camperdown, who has only recently entered
the field as an exhibitor. In the Shropshire classes
the 247 entries comprised the cream of all the best
flocks in the county, the class for shearling rams alone,
which is described by the judges as the best they ever
saw, having over a hundred entries. The three prizes
in it go to Lord Che,sham, Mr. Jos. Beach, and Mr. Man-
sell, all of whom are old exhibitors. The pens of shearling
ewes, which won first and second. prizes, were those
of Mr. Jos. Beach and Lord Chesham. The South-
downs make but a small show; but they were very
good, the county of Norfulk being as usual in the
forefront with the flocks of the Prince of Wales, Lord
Walsinghatn, and Mr. J. J. Colman, M.P„ who took
all three prizes in two of the three classes; while in
the class for two-shear rams Lord Walsingham was
second.to Mr. Chas. Chapman, of Stonehouse, near
Gloucester. In Hampshire Downs, the county of
Wilts has foar prizes out of six. The Hampshire
Downs, however, were not so numerous as the moun-
tain sheep, of which there are forty entries in the
three classes, Lord Poltimore and Mr. E. J. Stanley,
M.P.., winning both prizes in the class for two:shear
rams.

The show has not for many years past had so large
a show of pigs, there- being 210 entries in the 24
classes. There are three main sub-divisions in this
section—the white breed, which is again divided into
three groups; the black breed, and the Berkshire
breed. The last-named of these was much the best
represented at Shrewsbury, having nearly seventy
entries, and some of the best breeders were among
the competitors, such as Mr. Alfred Darby, Mr.
William Corp, and Mr. J. P. King. There were but
seventeen entries of pigs belonging to the small
black breed, and the four first prizes were all won by
the Duke of Hamilton, Mr. J. A. Smith, of Wickham
Market, being second in three of the four classes.
Pigs of the small white breed were much more
numerous, and the four first prizes were divided in
equal proportions between Lord Moreton, M.P., and
the Earl of Radnor, her Majesty being second in one
class with a few from Windsor. _ _

The judges of horses are always longer over their
work than any others.. The judges of agricultural
horses finished first, but Mr. Walter Long, M.P., Mr.
Reginald Chandos Pope, and Colonel Starkio who
undertook the hunters, and Sir George Wombwell,
Mr. Christopher Wilson, and Mr. R. G. Howard, who
undertook the hackneys and roadsters, were much
longer, and it was not until the parade of prize
winners and others took place in the afternoon that
one could form any fair idea of what the show was like.
In the class for thoroughbred stallions Lord Bradford
sent Chippendale, by Rococo—Adversity, who well
deservtd the first prize, the second being awarded to
Attaltut. The Duke of Portland's Bestwood was
placed third. In the class for Hunting Sires Mr.
Greeti Fashion, who ,has won scores of prizes all
over tbe country, hacr_ but a poor opposition to en-
counter. The Shire-bred horses were well represented
by specimens from the studs of Lord Ellesmere,
Colonel Coke, Mr. T. H. Miller, Mr. Walter Gilbey,
and Sir R. Loyd-Lindsay, while the Clydesdales were
a very good lot, the
_Dukes of Portland and Rich-
mond, the Marquis of Londonderry, Lady Ossington,
and the Hon. G. Waldegrave Leslie being among the

Anneessful exhibitors.