The Express.
London, England, 1851-12-13 00:00:00

THE SMITHFIELD CATTLE-SHOW.

Yesterday brought to a close one of the most suc-
cessful exhibitions the Smithfield Club has yet had, whether
in regard to the number and quality of the stock shown, the
amount of sales, or the throng of visitors. The crowd was
yesterday at least as great as on Thursday, and the re
ceipts for admission during the four days mud have hand-
somely compensated Mr. Bouloois for the expense he has
incurred in enlarging the show yard and increasing the ac-
commodation. The persons in attendance calculate that on
each of the first two days nat fewer than 50,000 persons
were admitted, and both on Thursday and Friday that num-
ber was nearly doubled. That that increasingly important
branch of the agriculturist's occupation which consists
in the breeding and rearing of cattle is largely benefited by
the annual exhibitions of this and similar societies is evident
from the improved character of the animals brought into
competition on each succeeding occasion. It rarely happens
that the quality of the stock remains stationary for
two years together, and much seldomer is there any
deterioration. In years gone by we saw at these
Christmas gatherings none but huge unwieldy Wrests
fattened up with oil cake and other stimulating food
to a maximum of unwholesome adiposity, at which they
were valuable for little else than the purposes of the soap.
boiler. Now, on the contrary, we have animals which,
though carrying an ample supply of fat to do justice to
the Christmas sacrifice, prove also that the farmers and
graziers who have sent them are turning their attention to
those points which are essential to the maintenance and
improvement of the character of the several breeds. This
remark, as regards the present exhibition, is applicable in
the cattle to the Herefords, the Berens— and in an especial de •
gree to Mr. Deuce's beautiful little cross-bred cow—and to the
sheep in general, but to the Southduwns more particularly.
The Duke of Richmond stated the other day at the dinner
that it was vain for the exhibitors to hope for direct pecu-
niary profit in the prices obtained at the exhibition sales,
but that their reward must be looked for in the additional
value which the award of a prize or a commendation from
the judges conferred upon their stock in their respective
localities, adding—(and the observation leads to the ex-
pectation that we shall have his grace among the
most strenuous advocates fur the removal of the advertise-
ment tax)—that he looked upon the expense in the light of
payment for a duty-free advertisement. To a certain
extent his grace's observation is no doubt well founded,
though we apprehend the cost of preparing stock to com-
pete at these shows will decrease just in proportion as care
is taken in their breeding,improved and economy and cul-
tivation are carried out in the farm. Two circumstances
in connexion with the recent Baker street exhibition struck
us as well worthy of the notice of the farmers of all parts of
the country : the one, that cattle there shown as haviug becu
fed entirely on natural food—that is, roots, grass, straw,
&e.—arrived in as good condition as far as flesh is con-
cerned, and were almost as successful in the competition, as
those which had been supplied abundantly with the more
stimulating diet of oil-cake (though in the ease of one animal,
a cross ox from Aberdeen, a considi.rably greater distance
had been travelled) ; the other, that the animals which
hung most on hand at the sale were those which bore the
greatest superabundance of fat. On the whole, we arc dis-
posed to regard the Smithfield Club show of It it as encou-
raging alike to the farmer and the landlord; for while care-
fully-bred and properly-fel stock commands a ready market
at fair prices, the one aced has e but little fear of being
ruined by foreign competition, or the other that the rent of
his land will be permanently depreciated.