The Dorset County Express and Agricultural Gazette.
Dorchester, Dorset, England, 1862-07-01 00:00:00

agriculturt.

THE ROYAL AGRICULTURAL SOCIETY.

On Monday morning the annual show of the Royal
Agrieldtund Societe, which has been looked for with
great interest by all elegem throughout the country,
was opened at Hatteras Park. The arrangement that
there should be a metropolitan show during the year
of. the Great International Exhibition was made last
autumn' Immediately after his Royal flightiest the
Prince Consort, was elected President of the society,
and it was thought that a portion of Regent's Park
would be set apart for the purpose. Circumstances,
however, occurred which led to a change in the films,
and it was eventual y arranged that Bath- se Park
should be the snot on which the show sheuld ea held.
For mine weeks past tents and temporary buildings
have been in course of erection at the south-western
end of the park, which is completely 'severed. and for
several days last egrioultural implements of all aorta
and Him have been brought (min various parts of the
country and deposited there for exhibition. On
Monday morning • the yard," ...it is technically
was thrown open to the members of the society and to
them of the general public who cheat to pay 2s. 61. for
admission. At the time of opening few persons were
present, but the number, mei tit increased, notwith•
standing the dulness of the moruing and an occasional
slight tall of rain. The tents are laid out in lines,
and in a way well calculated to encourage space
and to promote the cohvenienoe of the visitors.—
Entrance to the cattle-yard was for the first time oh-
tallied on Wodneaday, 4 the charge of 17s. 61., in addi•
tion to the half-crown admirsion to the implement de-
partment, and • considerable ;lumber of penona
appeared to have made the sacrifice, though a jndicions
reserve, perhaps, was carefully maintemed by the
°Metals with regard to the number who paid at the
doors. Prince Napoleon, aestoinpinied by the Prince
Carignan and mute, were amongst the earliest arrivals.
Their Imperial and Royal Highnesses reached the yard
about ten o'clock, wham they were received by Lord
Portman, the preaident of the society, and several
menibers of the council ; and atones proemial through
the implement ground to the cattle enclosnre. Their
examination of the different breeds was mindected with
•keen scrutiny, and they were lavish in their adtn'ra
tion, especinlly of the entire !imam, both for bunting
and agricultural purposes; the Durham hells, and the
black.feced sheep generally. Soon after eleven o'clock
their Royal Htglinesees the Prince of Wales and Prince
Arthur' accompanied 'by Major-General Arum and one
or two attendants, arrived in goonele of close carriages.
Their Royal Highnesses Arst directed their atone to the
seal stands of Messrs. T. Gibbs and Co., and Mears.
Peter Lawson and Son. Them* they walked alone the
stalls in the neighbourhood, stopoing for a time to
examine the pedigree wheat of Mr. Hallett. in the pro.
pagetion soul impmvement nf which that gentleman has
reduced to practieal application Mr. Darwiu's theory of
" inlet:thin" with the toast period RVICOesII. They then
entered the cattle y int as the foreign princes were
iinitting it, and the Imperial and Royal parties met,
and exchanged greetings in a very medial manner. The
Heir Apparent was then minim ted through the several
avenues, the steward ttf each deinertmeut pointing out
the cheracteristice of which it was most worthy of atten-
tion. With this view of enabling his Rossi Highness to
examine the horse, at the beet advantage the principal
prise animals were removed from their boxes into the
eentre of the paddock, where they weos led up and
down by their keepers. His Itityal Highness's stay was
limited to about an hour and adialf, and it is to be re.
gretred that his movements were greatly impeded by •
gaping well-dressed crowd, who full-seed hint wherever
he went, and whenever he 'topped hemmed hiin on
every side. He could not have fared worse, indeed, on
• shilling day at the International Exhibition, even
if his •rpearsnee there had been advertised by the
Royal Commissionere beforehand with a single view to
sw. 11th. funds of their treasury.
With regard to the glow of livestock, it maybre stated
✓enerally that, as it wee by far the 1 tenet, so it was the
hest that the society have ever yet hell. In all respect.
the anticipations formed of it have been fully realised;
acid it is equally • credit to the society and to the
English agriculturist. All the classes were wed filled;
or at all events there were fewer exceptions than umnd
to the rule, end these were confined to two n, three of
the lot-al breeds of beasts and sheep. Inferior animals
were frequently to be encountered ; but their presence
: only served to place in (minder relief those magnificent
specimens Dv which the eye and step of the praetical
farmer were arrested as he performed his pilgrimage
throng's the peek. The magnitude of the Fahibition
might be jti isted of by the fact that the prises aitionnted
to t 3790 for English stock • £BOO for foreign, and £6OO
for Scottish; and that upwards of 3600 head of live
stock had competed for them. Its mere striking feature
I was, undoubtedly, the collection a English horses,
which was magnifi ent in every sense. Entire horses
were In meat force, alike hunters: mak-tart, and
, draught; and the brood mares were a "choke lot."
' Suffolk puncher, as they are popularly bet inarrectly
termed, wades iniperbdi.pLy, and the chow must lave
I imparted a fresh stimulus to the breed of this very
useful animal Mr. Riddell's five year and three
mohtlis old chestnut stallion, Colonel, the winner of •
first prise, is an astonishing spesitnen of the sort, end
I its breadth ef chest, neble shoulders, clean Rabe, and
symmetrical form seem to convey this idea of over-
whelming rewer. Amonest the agnaultural homes, tint
' Suffolks. the Duke of Marlborough exhildted a font
' year and two months o/d staion. whieh, though not a
prize enigma, is entitled to admiration for his enormous
, height (17 hands and an twil), his handsome shape, and
silken, glossy skin. "He is ss gentle as a lamb," said
his keeprr, "and a baby may lead bins absent or sleep
, with him I' Neat to the horses punk the Mort-horns,
I which in number awl qualktyxtsadar4ieallask A bull,
, between three and six years old, to which was awarded
a first prise, is a eplentlet brut. With a snow white
coat, de back Is like a hilliard table or • bowling-green ;
the deed.), falls within five or six behest the Remind ;
the barrel is well ribbed, the legs thiletitely turned, the
head exquisitely small, and the eye full of life. Short-
born bull-calves of various ages were in snob shundence
and of such excellence that they sadly puzzled the
judges in the endeavour to settle their rival chime.
I Herefords were numerous and good, bid not above the
average. The prize bull shown by Colonel Hood, from
the farm of the late Print* Comore, is a capitol beaet,
with a remarkably sound tionstilittion, and" en filled up
at the aides with fine meat. A little coardosiss about
the thighs is perhape a defect, and the akin would be
better if thicket and eater. The little bull calf in this
department, between Sand 12 menthe old, velsieh carried
off • first prise, is the model of a Manta% Mr. H.
Costes's geld medal Hereford cow is considered to be
very good, being thick-fleshed, short legged. and whilst
a good milker. There were mine charming things
amongst the Devons in every cleat ; the heifers,
especially, were a nice collection. We donut, however,
see the game roll id improvement generallw item lie shown
by the larger, more kindly, and less fractious breeds.
Various local breeds were also represented, including
some first-rate specimens of the Sussex, the poled
Nurfolk Stiffolk, Aberdeen, Galloway, Highland;
and Ayrshire. Of the several sheep chimes the South
Down Rai bill country sorts continue to nisintaiii their
supereirity. There wan hardly an inferior animal to
be found among the foru.er, and in fact, all the short
wool!, were deserving the highest praise. Aiming long-
weedled sheep, the Leicester* sire 01100 more pulling
ahead • and the Cotewold, Lincoln and Kentish are
alai steadily pmgresting.—The el.ow of pigs was
enormone, and attracted considerable notice. To the
me it,,, however, one of the most interesting portions
of the exhibition was the foreign etosk, comprising
French, Dutch, Flemish, Swiss, and Spanish cattle;
I and the French, Spanieh, Saxony, and other pure
untie° sheep. The collection was well work • vieit
for it. own sake. On Tnureday the entire show of stook
and iinplenients was opened at 5..
We give the list of prize-holders in this and the sur-
rounding district.