The Dorset County Express and Agricultural Gazette.
Dorchester, Dorset, England, 1871-07-11 00:00:00

BLANDFORD WOOL FAIR.

This fair we. held on Saturday lut, and aeon former
occialons attracted a large number of agriculturists •ntl
dealers, from all parts of this and the adjoining counties
and also several dealers from the north. The number
of samples was somewhat leu then last year, and very
little business in the wool trade was done till late In the
evening. A good many present were brought together
by the announcement that about 70 South-down rains,
the property of Mr. H. Fookes would be offered for
sale and letting, the well-known excollenee of his flock
being a sufficient guarantee that animals well worthy
of attention would be offered. The company began to
ensemble about 12 o'elock, and ad tore visit to the Crown
Meadow, where the sheep were grszing, sat down at
balf.past one to a first-class dinner at the Crown hotel.
Mr. H. Fookes presided and the vioe-ehairs were filled
by Mr. C. Flower and Mr. J. Tett. Tho large room
and several others were filled.
. . . . .

--
The CHAIRMAN in proposing "The health of the ,
9n. the Prim. •e 4 ••r WalescoO
aeoamily." called attention to the feat that the Prince
had lately, by his steward, Mr. Beak, shown his appre-
ciation of the Southdown breed, by purchasing one
ram for 100 guineas and another for 50 guineas. and
riven 10 guineas each for ewes. If the Prince did not
suoceed in gaining let class prizes, which be (Mr.
Booked ) believed he would, and have a good nook, all
ho could say was, that he ought—(hear, hear.) Toe
not toast given by the Chairmen was "he health of
the Gontlemen who come to buy their wool." Bland.
ford wool fele which bad been started by his old friend,
Mr. John Ford. had become • very important one, and
they succeeded in obtaining at Illandford u good • price
for their wool as was given in any part of England.
Ho trusted that their friends who came as purchasers,
would give them as good price as they could. He was
glad to see so many buyers present, from • distance
end also • several gentlemen who were strangers. He
thought they had cause for satisfaction that the prior
, of both sheep and wool was much better this yoar than
it had been for many years put, and he trusted buyers
of wool would come forward, open their hearts, and
give • good price so that the business might not drag
along till six or seven o'clock in the evening, With
the toast no coupled the names of Mr. Boon end Mr.
Mills; the latter he was very pleased to see actin among
them after his long illness—(applause,)
Mr. BIJOS, who was as usual called for from all puts
of the room, rose and said, —Mr. Chairman, Mr. Vies-
Chairman, and gentlemen,—l thank you for your kind
remamberance of our health. I don't wonder at your
being anxious chant it after the excitement of last
Thursday. We were got up to pretty nearly fever hut
thou, end it would, no doubt, be very pr, judicial to be
let down by • sort of cold shivering fit as we were last
year shortly after this fair. (A Voice: "Keep up your
heart ;don't let your pecker go down"—(loud laughter).
We have to thank the Chairmen for • break in the
monotony of Blandford Wool Fair speeches. He has
added mutton to the programme. It has beau said
that the man who can grow two blades of grass where
one only grew before is • publio benefactor. I look
upon our friend in the same light. He has managed
to oombino size and proof to au extrsordinory degree
In the animals he has shown us toelay, and allow me
to say here that I ought to known • little of these
things, haring been connected more or less nearly all
my life with agriculture, and I may add that I tarn
oat so much fat mutton as any one in my neighbour.
hood, and my experience proves that it is useless to
attempt to fat a gate hurdle, especially so far as profit
is concerned. Now as to their wool, it seems to me
he has hit the mark for quality and weight, and de-
pend on it that the quality of wool is • very important
contideration,for we Invebeengetting in Dorset what we
cell broad in the hair. Then with regard to theseanimals
for crossing purposes. I am now speaking of the western
wee of the county and upper parts of Devon and
Somerset, I am sure you can't be too particular to get
pure blool and good quality even for this, and the
first cost of • good animal to put with • flock can be
bet of little consequence compared to the advantages
obtained therefore. I hope you will buy in no ntg-
gorily spirit; but bid liberally, remembering that our
friend has produced those rams at • very great out of
thought, time, and money, and by doing so you will
help all of us as to time, for we have enough to do
between this and nine o'clock to-night. (The Vim-
Cuairman : Now tell us something about the wool
trade.) Well, as to the wool trade, we began the
season about 21. per lb. higher than last year. and as
you nearly all know we got to 17d, for the best Downs,
and 181. for the best horns lest Thursday at Dorchester,
and 111 most of us came here to bay wool, no doubt
these prices will be given here to-day, but whether or
not these high prioes will be maintained throughout
remains to be proved. As t) the future you would
think me worse than • madmen to advise you to hold
after last year's experience, and you can sell now at •
good &Kure. I shall be prepared to take what oorues
along at market value, and now you have the budget
out, the sooner we get to business the better. I musk
however, detain you to propose my usual toast to
the ladies, and I think I can't do better then hark
back over old ground, and,pluie Mrs. Henry Fookes at
their head. I give you Iles. Henry Fookee's good
health, and the ladies of Doeset"—(loud applause).
Mr. FROM. on rising to respond WAD loudly cheered.
He sincerely thanked Mr. Boon for his kind remarks
with regard to his wife, who would consider it a great
honour to have her health so kindly proposed and
heartily received. He also thanked him for his goad
wishes as to the sale of the sheep, and with ragout to
them, he could assure the oompany that what he had
to show he would defy any man to say but they were
as sound and as honest as any in England. In conse-
quence of the 'bonnets of keep during the winter, •
few of them were not quite DO goof in condition as he
could have wished, but he would not have shown sheep
that day if he were not certain that they were notsaoh
as to be well worthy of notice. He had taken • good
deal of trouble, and spared no expense with his flock,
and of those let last year he had only one oomplaint.
The sheep to be offered by Mr. Baser that day were of
the same form and nearly the same in size • and he
could appeal to Mr. Amoy, who had purohLed his
wool, to confirm him as to the exoellenee of the quality.
[Me. Amoy remarked thst he had never seen • reamer
or better lot of wool] He now asked them to accom-
pany him to the field, where if they •ere quick in
their bidding', Mr. Sneer would soon dispose of them.
Mr. Diliben, steward to H. G. Start, Esq., M.P., said
he imuld not let the company separate without pro-
L'etng the health of their worthy &airman, and he most
tii, hoped that Mr. Fookee might live many
you, to occupy that poet and to exhibit suck splendid
sheep as he had brought forward to-day. Sash quality
.of sheep and in snob condition no man need be ashamed
of but had every reason to be proud.—(hear and

• applause).
Lr. Fooene haring briefly respooded, the oompany
ed to Mae term meadow, where they were
rottired 6d
by many WWI.
Mit &roe ementeneed liii datioe, by Odes abet she
sheep be bad be dee wow of Mirth= quality, el good