The Dorset County Express and Agricultural Gazette.
Dorchester, Dorset, England, 1868-07-28 00:00:00

Some people look on the future of Parliamentary legisla-
tion with some alarm ; I cannot say that I am one of
th so who at all despair of our common oonntry —(hoar,
bear). I hope there will be the same desire, as there
really has been ciii ill in the present Parliament, to s...ct
their duty to thecoantry. lam quite sure of this, that
of those who sit in the House of Common',, there
aro none more dmirous of dint.g their duty to their
fellow subjects than my own honoemble C Ileagues and
those who reproseut the boroughs in the county of
Dorset—(hear, hear.) Now let flue congr..tulato you
on the swims* of our exhibition to-day. I was unable
to go to tbo show yard to see the very °zeal tit clack
and sheep there exhinite I. I regret it because I had
' the pl..asure of walk ng roan! the show jard at Leicester
last week with my good fliend Mr. J. A. Smith, and
of looking aKthose laelleut Devon' which have done no
much credit to his judgment and okill sea breeder, and,
I will:say with my friend en my right (the Rev. R. W.
Pears) have reflected so much credit on the county of
Dorset —(applause.) We are all proud of seeing
• brother farmer succeed in the great competition
of all England—(applause)—and wafer' ourselves raised
I little in the scale of agricultural excellence when able
to walk round a chow and soy that those animals, the
winners of first prize% came from our own county—
(hear. hear). Mr. Pears has most kindly and truly said
that I have always taken a warm interest in this society.
It is now many years since I first sat at our annual
festive gathering, with many friends who have now, I
am sorry to say, passed away ; but, as older oleo leave
us. younger wee oomo forwar I. and I believe the
society was never in • more [btu, ishing state than I am
happy to say it is at the present time. I thank you
moat cordially for the honour you have done me and my
brother colleagues in tho House of COMLUOLIL
(applause).
The Chairman propose "the health of the president
of 1867--s (Dr. Biseett Hoe Lira), and the other
donors of cups"—(applatiec).
"flue successful competitors" was next proposed by
the chairman.

Mr. Henry Fookes, of Whitechureh, responded. lie
had tried for seven prize; and it off rded him pleasure
to carry them all off - (applause). The success of the
society, ho thought to be greatly duo to tire gentlemen
WOO g.ve c•ips. and be did not know any part of
England where so much liberality was shown in this
respoot. As to the cattle at the show, they comprised
801110 of the best dairy cows in England. It was not
often they (Quad the Devons beaten by the Herefords.
but this hail been dsne by Mr. Jones's dairy cow", and
he had also been with them to Hereford, and taken the
first prize azainst 12 or 13 competitors. The omen of
Mr. J. A. Scott at the Royal show at Leicester was a
credit to our county. For himself be was perfectly
utisfied to do what he could at home, but he little
•thought when he came to Dorchester that morning
that lie should carry off all the honours he had done.
Ile had attended agricultural meetings now for some-
thing like thirty years. lie did not profeu to keep a
pore Sussex flock, nor did he have Hampshire', but
liked a medium animal. Mr. T. H. Saunders had said
to him, there is one thing you want in your sheep, and
that is to have them a little longer in the ear—(laughter)
—but the ear was • thing which he didn't eat, se he
did not intend to try for it—(hear hear, and laughter)
Ho Will rather pleased to see Mr. Saunder's animals
stand beside bin that day, for he believed that his own
were as near as possible perfection: This was the last
time his name would appear before them ILS an exhibitor
--(cries of "no, no.") -he should gise it op to his son-
in-law (Mr. Roper) but he should take the saute
interest in everything as lie dhl now—(applause).
Mr. T. H. Saunders said that Mr H. Fookes had
beenivery suocessfol in improving his class of sheep. They
were not pure Sussex,but souiething superior to the pure
Sumac' of the present day. He believed the pure:lwo!:
had been brought down to he too small to be proetable
to the tenant lanzer—(hear, hear). Mr. Fookes had
got something more valuable. Ile believed that the
great agricultural societies for the last 30 years had given
prizes to animals of the Same" breed which were too
small and delicate for rent paying—(hear, hear). They
would do very well for gentlemen who only wanted to
breed a small leg of mutton for their own tablet. He
(Mr. Saunders)had endeavoured to iinprove the character
of the sheep he had as much an possible. He hail
alwayallikei to be considered a Ilanipshire breeder of an
improved quality to the old fashioned liampahlre,having
•coarse large hold and a big leg. lie had endeavoured
to get • sheep which should make • large quantity of
good mutton in a short time, but he believed he had
carried his object too for, That day he had got &prize
for his full-mouthed ewes which he did not consider so
good as his two-tooth ewes, which had high commenda-
tion. bet he believed the judges considered them ills.
qualified for the!plize,because the schedule said "Hemp.
shires," and they said his were of too good quality to
be considered Hampshires -(great Laughter and cheering.
a-id cries of "That won't do.") Ida believed that if
they inquired of the judges they would find it to be
the case ; and it was nonsense for a tlockumater to im-
prove Harupshires if j edges disqualified them at shows,
by saying the quality was to! goo I—(laughter). If the
schedule had been drawn oat for "short-woolled sheep,
other than Southdowns," which he cossidered it ought
to have been, he believed the judge!' would tell them
he should have had the pries. Ile had been told by •
gentleman who had had his withers for many years
that he had gone into Hampshire and bought the
largest sheep he could find, when his (Mr. Saunders's)
were put beside them they were not so biz, but they
grew fat in half the time of the true Hampshlres and
made more weight. That was what they wanted in
a rent paying sheep. Next year he hoped the coup
mittoe would say in the schedule " short-woolled sheep,
other than Booties:Iowa" instead of Ilainpshires.
Mr. J. Chick also returned thanks, but very briefly.
The Chairman then gave "The Judges."
, Mr. Dowden, ono of the julges of Southdown and
other sheep, replied. Ile congratulated them on the
splendid show there war of Southdown sheep. He had
had the honour of returning thanks as one of the judges
at the exhibitions of this !society for many years, but
he hal Dever had to BOBIONIt Co Olin) good animals as
on the present occasion—(hear, hear. Ile concurred
with grunions remarks to the effect that the Soutbdowns
of the present daylwere a very great improvement on the
Sussex. They were not the little prick-eared sort of
sheep they used to see 10 or 15 years ago, but were good
useful animals. The short woolled sheep, os Hemp-
shires--for some called them by one same and some by
the other- were else greatly improved. Ile eoncurnil
in Mr. Saunders's remarks as to the disqualification of
what had proved to be his sheep, though he did not
know whose they were at the time. He did not con-
sider they were two good for Hampshires ; lie said
there was quality, and size,and everything that could be
wished except the big bead, and that he did not desire.
He did not see why those sheep, which turned out tab.
Mr. Saunders'o, should be disqualified because they had
a little more "top knot" and snob like about them than
the others—alma, hear./
Mr. Spanner, of Eling, Southampton, oho of the
judges of cattle and homey, also replied. He thought
they were justified in saying they had had an excellent
show, as many of the cattle belonged to royal prise
winners, or were royal prize winners themselves. He
thought it wu &compliment to the society to have such
animals exhibited. Fortunately he was emaciated with
two better judges than himself —(cries of "no, no")—so
far RS regarded cattle, and he did not think their
decisions were far wrong. But the question arose, as it
sometimes did at local shows, as to the interpretation
of the words of the catalogue. A prize was given for
the best dairy cows, and it was somewhat dinicult to
determine on what principle judgmeet should be given.
They agreed to adopt the principle of value, but then
the qualities which made them good for the dairy were to
&large extent hidden, w h ile those making them ultimately
valuable for the butcher were apparent. Ile thogght it
was much to be regretted that the great societies after
93 or 25 years had not turned their attention a little to
the question of utlity,and considered not only what was
most ornamental and valuable for • particular purpose,
but what was the most valuable altogether for the
purpose which the farmer has in view—profit. TUe
question arose to some extent in regard to the show of
horns, for hackney colts, fillies, and geldings all came
Into competition, 2-year olds had to compete with
3-year olds, and there were thorough-breds, seven.
eighths, three-quarters, and half-breds. They had
some difficulty in determining how much the
leaning ought to go in one direction, and how
much 11l another. However, they did their best. In
the judging of horses he thoughtthequestion of valueand
utility ought always to be considered. A horse ought not
to be let down so low that only light men should be
allowed to ride. A thin spare man could walk with
much greater ease than • stout athletic man, and he
commended the breeding of weight carrying horses. Try
as much as one might to do this with the aystern of
racing established in this country, he would find that a
large number of those bred for weight-carrying would be
but " weeds," and, therefore, he thought the tendency
ought to be as much as possible in favour of weight-
carry ing horses. It was a matter of regret that the
prize generously offered by Mr. Brymer for the best
stallion for getting cart horses only brought one
competitor one or two being absent through some
fi inrmty. In this important district cart horre.a ought
to be an valuable .. an/ wb.re, and he thought wore
Ott4olloll to be bestowed oe JOulki• loroorliwg. Hem
respectable raen did not seem to consider it "the thing"
to have stallions, but in the Eastern counties It WWI quite
different. Ile was glad to find that Mr. Brymer's cup
was to be carried forward to the next show, and he
trusted there would be more competition. In conclusion
he reminded them that next year the show of the Bath
and West of England society is to be held at
Southampton, and said he hoped there would be a large
number of exhibitors fromLdoreet.

Mr. L Groves sold he did not believe the prize for a
*art stallion was worth a farthing here, for this was not
a breeding county and never would be.
The Chairman then gave " Tbe health of their ex.
cellent bon. sec.. Mr. G. J. Andrews," recounting his
indefatigable and successful efforts in promoting the
Interests of the society.
Mr. Andrews, in responding, referred at length to the
progrres of the enmity since INO, and argued that a
local show of this character was a great incentive to
the promotion of good agriculture in the district. In
oonelcision he proposed " The health of the Committee."
Monier responded, and, In the worse of his
remark., he expressed his approval of the amendment
enetda..
eete,.l 4_l the
_schedule el Prizes by Mr. T. H.
swi

The Chairman then gave "The Town and Trade
of Dorchester," and Mr. Councillor J. F. Hodges
responded. .

"Our next merry meeting" concluded the list of
toitsta.

At • meeting of the committee in the afternoon, it
...3 agreed to invite the Lord Rivers to be President of
the society for the year ensuing.

MELBURY.

SUN ereoic —ooWedoesday at rooon,abou t 4 o'clock,
a man named James Miles, at Melbury, whilst walking
&Gross Melbury Part, was obaerved Ito tall, and the
poor fellow was taken up and conveyed to his
cottage in Lord Ih:heater's carriage, which happened
to be passing at the time. Dr. Clapoott was called
In, and rendered every pelodlile &existence ; but
the man never spoke after ho had Wen acizod, until be
died, at eight o'clock in the evening.

PORTESI I A M.
DKATII FROM SONOTROKI. —A groom, named Joseph
Temkin', in the service of hfr. Bytuee, of Portisham, was
assisting in the harvest field, when he was suddenly
struck down &boat four o'clock on Wednesday
afternoon. Dr. Parker, of Abbotsbury, was promptly
in attendance and endeavoured to bleed the poor sufferer;
but his efforts were of co avail, and the man succumbed
about eight o'cloah, baying remained in a Mate of uu•
eoneviootoese tbe whole of Ni. Urn..