The Express.
London, England, 1853-08-09 00:00:00

SHOW OF THE ROYAL NORTHERN AGRI-

CULTURAL ASSOCIATION.

This great annual display of stock and implements
I was held on Wednesday, on the Link., Aberdeen, under,
on the whole, rather favourable auspices. Under the ad-
mirable arrangements of the cow mittee and the active
vigilance of Mr. Duthie, the secretary of the assaciation,
the greatest order prevailed. The number of stock
brought forward was fully egret to the average of for-
mer years, but there was rather a deterioration of
quality. Still • fair number of animals stood promi-
nently out, and drew marked attention from the nume-
rous spectators. The rather unfavourable character of
the present as a grazing season, over a large portion of
those districts from which the association draws its sup-
ply of stock, was indicated less perhaps by a delta in
condition than by a certain dryness of pile, not so
observable in more genial seasons. This appeared most in
the bullock stock, which, though embracing several admi-
rable animals, was hardly, on the whole, up to the average
mark of former years. When, however, one looks at the
state of the grazing fields in many parts of the country,
his wonder will be, not that the stock should appear some-
what less plump and sweet than in more propitious years,
but that the deterioration should not be more conspicuous.
It speaks volumes for the spirit and energy of our breeuera
and stock-fatteners' that they should have been able to
muster such a display in such • season, when in many
localities grass has been so scarce in quantity and of suet'
interior nuurishiug quality.
Amongst the more noticeable animals is the yard were
the first prize bull of the black pulled breed, belonitmg
to Sir James Carnegie, Bart., which gained the first
premium at Forfar last seek, and also the first, as a
two•year-old, at the Highland Society's show last year
at Perth. A cross ox. five years old, shown among the
extra stock, the property of Messrs. J. sad J. Martin, was
greatly admired for his symmetry and the equable laying
on of fat. His forepart, behind the shoulder, was about
the best developed of any animal we have seen. A two-
year.old atot of the black polled breed, belonging to Mr.
?d.Conxbie, Easter Skene, was an object of much notice.
As an evidence of the early maturity, as well a, weight,
that may be attained in the breed, we may mention that,
we understand, Mr. fd'Combie lately refused 301. fur
him, _ _

Amongst the horses, the first prize brood mare, tif longing
to Mr. Le dingbatn, Wateredgemuir, was much esteemed
for her compact build and geaertl symmetry ; she is per-
haps, if anything, undersize. The stallion belonging to
Mr. Wilson, Brangan, which gained the hrA prize, iu the
class of three-year-old entire horses, was also a very good
animal. Three draught mares shown as extra stock, one of
the property of the Earl of Aberdeen, attracted a good deal
of attention.

The allow of shorthorns was, perhaps, about the average
of former years • one or two of the hulls showed superior
breeding, but the cows generally manifested that tendency
to patchiness, which COLSIIIlltell the weak point of the
breed. The west highlanders mustered very poor, both in
the breeding and the fat stock. There were some half-
dozen Heretori!e, but certainly not of a character to attract

lueh attention towards tha't breed, however valuable it

may be in the southern part of the island. There was a
great show of cross cows—greeter in fact than we should
wish to see. The quality of many of them was superior.
The sheep were not numerous, but generally good, in all
the three pure breeds. The pigs were as usual, mountains
of fat, and seemed one of the moat popular parts of the show.
The poultry was about up vi the average of former
shows. Two chief objects of attraction were Mr. Blaikie's
three Cochin-China birds, which obtained the first prize.
There were two very beautiful small chuckles in the extra
class No. 1, but which received no prize. The Aylesbury
ducklings were very fair. The dairy produce di pertinent
was unusually meagre, but some of the specimens of butter
had a very fine appearance.
The implement department was as nearly as possible nil,
the whole display consisting of two ',loughs, a clod-crusher,
three mangles, and plunge churn driven by a lover.
We fear the assiciation have not been giving sufficient en-
couragement in this very important department of their
show.

THE DlNStit.
At five o'clock, after the awards had been made, a largo
party of g.mtlemen sat down to dinner in the hall of the
itoyal Rotel. Sir James 1). Elphiustone in the chair,
supported on the right b) the Lord Provost, M. lasserand,
the French agricultural commissioner ; Mr. Gordon, of

Parkhill ; Rev7Mr. M`Combie, of Tillyfour, &e. ; and on
the left, Mr. Mcchi, of Tiptrem hall Farm, Essex ; Mr. Duff,
of Corsindae ; Capt. Leslie, Old Aberdeen, &c. Mr. Grant,
jun.. of Mollmusk ; Mr. Irvine, jun., of Drum ; and Mr.
Walker, Mouutbletton, croupiers. Among the company we
observed A. Gordon, Esq., Culter llouse ; Captain Shep-
herd, Kirkville, Skeoe ; Capt. Nair, Straloch ; Mr. Grant,
Druminor; Major Erskine, of Pitodrie ; Captaiu Leslie,
Warthill; Mr. Todd, Maryculter ; Mr. Watson, Keiller ;
Mr. Euxton, Farnell; Messrs. Morgan, Guerrier,

Duckworth, and Dicliton, cattle Zleeineo, London ; Mr.

Ouerrier, corn factor, London ; Mr. Swa'n, cattle 'sales-
man, from Edinburgh ; Me,tirs. Burn, Mitchil, and
Anderson, from Newcastle. Rev. Mr. M'CLmbie said

grace ; and the Rev. hirTeiank, itatcscXetTarnerl
The CHAIRMAN, in proposing " The Royal Northern
Agricultural Society, and continued prosperity to it,"
coupled with Mr. Harvey, of Tdlyreig, said that the so-
ciety had existed for a considerable time, and it had given
a great stimulus to agricultural improvement, as was
evident from the character of the stock which had been

exhibited in the show-yard that day, which was equal
to any that had been exhibited at any former time.
Re was much pleased with the appearance of the show-
' yard that day, with the exception of the agricultural
implement department. He had observed but one plough,
whilst at the show of the Royal Agricultural Society o:
England, lately held at Gloucester, and which he had at-
tended, there was no less than ten acres set apart for agri-
cultural implements. Mr. Idecbi, whew he had now the
pleasure of introducing to the meeting, would tell them
I about farming in England, and he had no doubt but that
they might learn something from him, as there was not a
county from which they might not learn something. And
in regard to improvements, we had not many prejudices to
get over, as anew light had broken in upon as. The more
ha saw of agriculture, he was convinced so much the more
that more could be done. About fifty years since they did
not send their cattle to London by sea, but drove them over
the hills ; and even nineteen years ago they did Lot use
guano, neither had they commenced furrow draining.
But matters were very different now, and with their rail-
ways they would accomplish greater improvements.
Mr. DUFF said a more pleas►nt duty had seldom fallen
to his lot than that of proposing the health of Mr. Mechi.
Ho referred, in a facetious way, to a visit he had recently
paid to Tiptree-hall. There he bad seen 150 pigs, 12
cattle, and 350 sheep on a farm of 70 acres' extent ; and he
saw tares as high as the table before him. He would not
tell more of what he had seen, but proposed that they
should go there and see for themselves. His toast was,
" The Strangers and Mr. blechi."
Drank with enthusiasm. . .

Mr. Macut, who was received with enthusiastic cheer-
ing, said he was bat lately a stranger amongst them,
but he was not so now. He had left London with prat
pleasure at the invitation of their most excellent secre-
tary—(cheep)—and in pining over 600 miles of COUR-
try, he had watched with intense care the cultivation of
the soil, and could me that, after passing Newcastle, the
mitigation was far superior to what it was for the, first
160 miles of his journey; of course he only spoke of what
be saw, and with nothing had he been more gratified than
the extended application of steam Dower. For the latter
part of his journey he had come through a Filly country,
but be thought it would not be very long till these poor
hills, by enterprise and capital, would ba made to pay as
well as the finer valley beside them. W e were now only
beginning to farm. In 60 years the popu'istion had doubled ;
and 60 years ago their forefathers thou zbt they did not farm
so badly. But looking forward enemy half century, when
the population might be trebled, or even quadrupled, how
was that population to be. fed if the farmer did not grow
more ? It was only e.iy a large application of capital, they
could do so. IP., was glad to see their city friends there
and thought e!oey would not get on well till they married
eiteteulthin to manufactures and commerce. If he had
made • little spare money by his business in town he hoped
he was not to be found fault with for applying it to the im-
Kovement of the soil. (Cheers.) In the city, perhaps,
they had the " best end of the stick ;" no doubt they wero
tied to the desk and the counter in order to make money,
but they all laved to get away to the country, and he
thought this was a wise arrangement. In saying that the
country was not so profitable es the town, he was not to be
understood as saying that his own farming was unprofitable,
for it was not so now. One thing that struck him to-day,
and which he had long felt to be of very great importance,
was that they should make arrangements for getting back
from the city all the beef, mutton, butter, eggs, &c., they
sent to it when they had done with them. They might
think him a little visionary or farsighted, but be thought
ere another century passed our best means of reproduc-
tion would not be allowed to ran to waste, or sent down
our rivers. Three sheep to an acre was thought to give no
bad manuring, but Aberdeen could give three people to
each of 30,000 acres, or nearly so, besides al.; the dogs, cat',
and other animals that mien be amoncst them. The reason.
why they had not done anything in this, be believed, was,
because they had not thouge:, stint it. Ile did not say
that it would be judicious '.n their city friends to put the
means in operation 6', supplying them with the city
manure,unlese the rev men made up their minds to have it ;
if they did so,
l'...air friends would have it sent to them
before they cou'A ..7 lack Robinsoa. (Laughter.) lie
had applied solid manure in a liquified state him-
self with greet benefit, and he might appeal to
his friend, ldx. Duff, as to its effects on very poor soil.
Mr. Mechi :ben expressed his intention of not occupying
the time of the meeting long, as they were to have
• a talk on the morrow about what makes seri-
' el'.':turc profitable, which, he hoped, would produce some-
I thing better than mere talk ; he knew something of the
i sore places of agriculture, and he might appeal to several
, of the gentlemen present if he did not know something,
elec., of where to apply the plaster. In this city they had
easy means of applying the sewage, and if they would apply
it liberally to those barren hills, be could tell them they
• would grow the finest passes without the trouble of sow-
ing. Mr. Mechi concluded by referring to the system pur-
sued by Mr. Kennedy at Myremill, and expressed his grati-
fication with the appearance of the stock in the show yaid ;
and as they wished to have a plentiful supply of fine beef
and dairy previsions, they would get a better idea of the
powers of those manures, as they were not going to stop in
their career of improvements. (Great cheering.)
After several other toasts, the meeting separated.—Norgh
British Daily Mail.