The Dorset County Express and Agricultural Gazette.
Dorchester, Dorset, England, 1859-12-06 00:00:00

agriculture.

BIRMINGHAM CAITLE AND POULTRY

SHOW.

The Birmingham and Midland Counties Eleventh
Annual Exhibition ushers in the feast, and Bingley-
hall, with its ample apace and verge enough for dia.
playing the living wonders—an apartment rather than
a show-yard, with its little dash of tasteful ornamenta-
tion and its blazing creasets for illumination, accommo-
dated the vast gathering of gentility at Monday's " pri-
veto view," without diseompoiture or undue compres-
sion, even to the beauties thronging the colonnades a
the feathered portion of the tillOW.
On Tuesday and Wednesday last in addition to the
great numbers admitted at the shilling fee, from 19,14111
to 111,0110 work people obtained entrance as the r.sult
of supplying to master men for Bd.; oliktt
packets of ticket. at 1: I. ends ; and all the railways
converging to this great cs.o u palmsl in their contri-
leitions of ightseere l,y is..dis of cheap to-ales. a fart
that will be appreciated alien we relict how largely the
success of a Met Ilk.• tirt it iit is st the 'wry of
those who convey and eat, command almost au, mo-
lar of visitors, as sit:Ft.in hits Ware/ink sisirle-at Wis
Loyal Agricultural Si y.—pcirsirtrally a Atrium be-
cam. two r,ilways sistiied the neartion and
sat:raked their own lutes est: by 11,4 ItrOVialilig the usual
speeial mein Intim ; the more I. be regretted hecanse
a Ole liu ips.rtunity it would have heti' for enlight-
ening the metalliferous population of flinuingliam and
the "black country.' as to the perfection of farmyard
machinery, thus c-spa,.siing their sympathies and
Celia nting a closer bond between town and country.
Many noblemen and gentlemen, and members of l'ar.
lialietit. attend.' on the first day. This year there was
an iircrcaw in the number of exhibitors, as well as in
the number of entrit.s, and the clearly arranged cata-
logue this year comprises the nanues of ninny new sup-
porters. as well as of the old friends of the society, there
being 125 exhibitors of animals and routs, and 412 of
poultry and pigeons. The entries in the various classes
of live stuck amount to 1011 of cattle, 44 of sheep, and
$l.l pigs, showing a considerable &cream: as compared
with last year. Rut as very few competitors hare
failed to keep their api.iiitmentn at the present meet-
ing, the cattle classes are in reality as well fillod as
usual.

Iferefords, of course, are always pre-eminently grand
on the occasion. Comparatively at I or near their
native pastures, they are able to more than divide the
chief room of the show with the noble short-horns. The
beautiful IMmius are neat in pri tttt i tttttttt ; there are a
few specimens of l'cutch and Welsh ; the usual elan of
antique hing•horns ; an extra class for curiosities and
meritorious varieties ; and a well-filled division fur
other Fare brm:ils and cross-bred animals.

The.gold medal for the best ox or steer in the yard, •
silver medal to the breeder, the first prize of kld, the
President.% prize of 1:25' and the extra prize of rat are
all won by Mr. Richard Shirley, of Itawcott Munslow,
near Shreasbury, for his Hereford steer. It ice note-
worthy fact that the breeding and feeding of a tenant
farmer. who never exhibiuul here before, should thus
have iiistious,ii the efforts of all the noblemen and gen-
ticinen who are no urn kn,.wn as the crack exhibitors
year after year. No one can challenge the justice of
the judge. decision. and certainly the quality of this
haw and 11.11111sOillU :111111UarS desh was never surpassed.
eil, this is one of the
e%er it. The Ci.l•Sell of Hertfonl steer% and oxen
were ziever an good before. the Marimia of Downshire,
His Royal !Ugliness the Prince Consort, Lord Hither-
ton, the Earl of Aylesford, Lord Bateman, Mr. Naylor,
Mr. Hill, Mr. Swinnerton, allowing remarkably
„L.... 4 Is AA?, lit the Hereford cow class, Laity Emily
Foley'.. se I prize misv is a Splendid specimen of what
the breed should is. hut yields in the feeding to Mr.
Naylor's first prize cow, which, however, has wore of
the tharACSCribtiC excellencies inherrut in a short-
horn.

The gold medal for the best cow or heifer in the yard,
a silver medal to the breeder, the first prise of i'lo and
, an extra prize 1 are awarded to colonel Townley's
: !leder, one id the lisiolsoni“t and hest-formed animals
which have been exhibited for many years.
t'olonel Townley's herd has now attained a perfection
! of form mill valuable characteristics placing it • in rank
ace•nd to • ; and though " Baster Butterfly," the
best hull it haa ever been our privilege to admire, has
' closed his 1,111.10 guinea existence in the col 'es, his blood
and breed are still left to us—as witness the wonderful
, champion heifer at the prt.sent show. Four prizes and
two wiiimendations fell to this bent at the Warwick
meeting ; two years ago, the Colonel's magnificent
cow " Victoria" carried uff the honours at Itingley-hall
and Baker.street ; and this year the white heifer.
" Beauty's Butterlly" astonishes us with a girth six
in,hes greater in compass—that is, no less than nine
feet. Iler form is al t a perfect cylinder, the depth
and expanisi ~,, of cheat and chine are marvellous, her
head handsome in the extreme, her bone rarely fine,
and her Ibish of the inte,t, firm asol beautiful quality.
Ili. Royal flightless must acknowledge himself fairly
heaten in this class; and 3lr. Alslawortli'a and Mr.
ttttt •rton's heifers are particularly good. Th.' short-
horn cows are an excellent class, the oxen and steers
vs ry much fresher and Is Hell then last year. (lure we
must snake room for a iv ii. ral remark.
The main object of these fat stock shows is to foster
the art of fettling . • als with a view to the daughter-
house awl the meat market ; the more practical among
their supporters discountenancing any mere getting-up
of dbow lied f apart from 'MAIMS": pstrposea.
Terre :MC ?WOW thu biluVil ill the pre•a-nt show, but
• rcolly i 11.4.10.1.14 Of careful atteutiuti to the
toilet and shaluty, and smoothing with the shears and
limit trill. Ni tine in it .iiiito admissible for long•wessl
duels to be shorn tom early as 3lareli. Mr. Foliallibe is
great 41111.11$: Lei,a-sterA, and laird Walsitigliain amid the
Lail of lrce c. r among DOWII6.

A lit W feature in the sheep classic., this year is that
the second for sliort•wouls is confined to the
Shropshire. alone. This !deed ha: rapidly risen in fame,
and is displacing all other varieties far and wide. not-
withstanding its allegi .1 special liability to the iliac**,
of fuot-lialt. Originally descended from a hardy moon-
tin sort, which ranged the sheep-walks of the wild part
of Salop. and Mises 'tins an excelleist constitution. they
are not only enabled to thrive upon exposed moorlands',
but On better 'mann* evince an unaurpaming rapidity
of growth. and a t. ndenry to a heavy weight at an early
age. In (range and sy .try they have been so um-
a, to be noted for deep chests, famous legs of
mut mn, with tine dark-brawn heads., while their wool
is of the firmt-elass for its thick rile and length of staple.
The Lai of Aylesford, the Earl of Dartmouth, Mr.
insio Forster, Mr. Smith, and other local breeders are
great with this breed of sheep, and they ittend to urge
the Royal Agricultural Society to nveguire the Shrop-
shire' as a distinct pure breed. .

• roi.c-brett cheep are yearly growing in importance at
these show% ; fur if tlw mautsive I.intioln or Cotswold
gives aim and substance and weight of wool, and the
!hiatus contributes ~tuility of flesh and fleece, it is found
that the most profitable flock for the grazier and butcher
is a first cross, so that the dlidland oximititai fanners
are now raising re mutton per acre, and clipping
lucre wool by keeping pure bre.l ewes of either the
Shnipxhire or smaller bowl' breeds, and using largo
long-wool rams. Mr. Overman and Mr. Wallis show
collie ij,kiiiliml cheep on the present occasion.
The pig always shows himself to advantage at Bir-
mingham ; fur lie is tl.ere something more than • mere
fed tlibig, o Neell in that admirable peculiarity in the
exhibition of " cla.ses for breeding pigs," as well as
fatted specimens. The " lierk,hires" are, perhaps, the
intuit nixgWticent class ever ytt ekllibitra ; and we
doubt not that their value will be applvciated and necog-
nixed still more distinctly by the ltoyal Society in its
future prize alieetx. Mr. Wiley. Mr. Mangles, and Mr.
W an are till great, as usual, in Liie pig classes, and
Mr. Crisp is triumeliont with his fat" improved back
saffolks, ' ono of which, esti/tinted to weigh 43 atones,
twrhaps, the must perfect specimen ever shown in
ILL •by-liall.

Trie'collection of roots is no inconsiderable feature of
the exhibition, enihracing no 16as than 87 entries from
17 different counties, though rather fewer than last
year. Indeed, to win • silver cup or other article of
plate for the best six rt.t4 of mange' wurzel, swedes,
awl carrots, is no wean achievement in lausbendry in
these days of universally-iaced manures from the chyud-
cal nianufactory ; awl too iouch care cannot be bestowed
upon the quality, soinpluess, and healthy properties of
this description of fans produce, now that the difficulty
of pro( uring a full crop 44 turnips that will not rot off
by acres at • time is becoming every year inure and
more disheartening. The roots in competition included
the long awl globe varieties of ',languid wurzei. swedes,
common turnips, cairuts, ox-cabbages, and potatoes. !
This department of the chow is certainly doing much to
draw the farmer's attention to the improvement of sorts,
and hest means of augmenting the bulk of the fallow ,
green crop, au necessary to the large production of meat
and dairy produce, which is to be henceforth the main-
-44.4y of English agriculture.
The roots are certainly not equal to those of last
meeting, the season having been so unfavourable;
indeed, we have seen on former occasions globe man-
golds, in lots of six each, of double the weight now
shown. The heaviest single specimen is • mangold of
391 b. ; the heaviest ux-cabliage is also far inferior to
the t.4lb. one which was exhibited at last show. The
chow of roots, varying extremely in size amid quality,
forum an admirable study for the fanner, particularly
as the details of soil, manure, management, Clue of
sowing, ke., of each lot are printal in the catalogue.
It ic A matt, r of dislosy to some growers that their
entulp, the tuniip thy, has this last scason hopped upon
the young niaugold plant, and announced its ravages
1111 a crap hitherto stippo.4l to be without attraction
for the depredator. Sir IVilliain kleatheote and Mr.
Menyon are the winners of the two silver cups.
Of poultry there mr, 1,'.•.! entries, and of pigeons
214, or altogether, being within three pens of the
itumb,r last 3 ear--a singular circumstance, con.i.lering
the variablenem of the exhibiting constituency, and the
wide distances between localities represented. There nu
liiner exist 4 n poultry 111.411:3 ;lint the taste for .1 us-
to fowls of the most perfect feather or the greatest
cce;..llll, awl other characteristics of excellence besides
size and beauty, is in no wise diminished.

.........
The greats st a Ivane,. however, is ill tie early maturity
of the young birds abown ; that we have chickens of
1559 equal in cise and weight to titer parents. The
developments if increase in uriglit brought out by this
show are really extraordinary. A few years ago, a
Dorking hen of Thu. was a large hint ; this ye ir there
are 10113. bin,. A Dorking rock was formerly mar-
Takom at Jib.; now the cucks weigh 111 b. each, and

the average weight is 2elb. per bird heavier than • few
year. sines. A 121 b. goose wee once • marvel; at the
present show three birds in one pen weigh 741 b., the
gander by himself weighing no less than 3011i.—Z1s.
heavier than the celebrated white gander of the Rev:
John Robinson • few years linos. The average weight
of the geese is 91b. per bird, an improvement of fully
Ilb. upon a few years back. There is a pen of four
Aylesbury ducks, weighing 321 b. Six-pound ducks are
common, whereas 411,. was the average weight formerly.
Even Rouen ducks at this 'how weigh Mb. the four
birds. And Christmas caterers will be glad to learn
that turkeys of 171 b. and 181 b. each see quite common,
while three turkeys in one pen weigh lig AM than 681 b.
Such an advance illcmidome, besides the improvement
and eptitedeto make 114,11. must have added immensely
to our capability of hupplying the poultry-markets. To
chow that • legitimate trade in first-class fowls for
breeding purposes is Mill carried on at high prices, apart
from the mere fancy and factitious dealing created by
the late poultry-keeping mania, take the last two year.'
,:ales in Llinglerhall. In 1657 were sold 201 pens for
CA) 145., an averse of nearly £.4 per pen ' • a Dorking
cock and three hens were sold for £3l 10s. ; • pen of
Nish at 15 guineas, and several pens at 10
welt. Pest year 206 pens were sold for
,P.a_t4Akt4 Pr P•

Cleekkie
I. a pen of gelWpin,aa; iQiieveral pass 10 guinea
each. $o that the bitda in the exhibition are probably'
worth as much as all the fat stock put together.
The exhibtion of pigeons is of high order, the carriers,
pouters,trumpetera, and fantails being specially admired.
Before closing our notice of this excellent show, we
must mention the numerous stalls of seedsmen, florists,
manure manufacturers, kc.' distributed around the ball.
Here are sonic beautiful specimens of roots, seeds,
cereals in the straw, shrubs, wonderful gourds (one of
SLeilb. weight) ; "inverted hyacinths;" the new grass
, holm, aareharateas ; the kohlrabi, with its head like a
' turnip ma the top of a cabbage stalk • fruits, cattle
foods. and manures with names too chemical by half.
AGHICULTUKAL PlIZEl5.—The Royal Agricultural
Society of England has issued a prospectus offering
prizes for 1•00. The prises, which are all in money,
and which vary in amount from 10 to 50 10111110411 S, are
for essays on the following subjects :—On the agriculture
of Berkshire; on the application of manure • on the in-
fluence of prices on farm management; on late improve-
ments in dairy practice ; on the proper cape of straw
on a farm ;on farui capital on seedbed for agricultu-
ral crops • on adulteration of seeds ; and on any other
agricultural subject. The topics are sufficiently varied
to open the competition to all parts of the kingdom.
SMITHFIELD MAKKET.—As the case of Old Smith-
field market has again become the subject of discussion,
especially in city circles, we may as well mention what
has actually taken place. After much solicitation and
a thorough investigation into the uses and abuses of the
site, the Government has intimated to the authorities
of the corporation that they are ready to consent to the
erection of a dead meat market on certain oorditions.
The corporation will be allr wed to erect this market
on the smaller portion of the site, in addition to the
lands already in possession of the corporation and the
small tenements which may be required to complete the
site, provided that the greater portion of the pungent
space he left open for the use of the public. The cor-
poration are to give notice of a Bill, and to furnish •
plan for the sanction of the Ooverninent upon these
conditions, and when the latter are complied with an/
approved, the Bill will be allowed to proceed.
06eerrer.