The Sun.
London, England, 1855-12-12 00:00:00

Forms of Propos 1, Prospectuses, &c., may be obtained at the
Chief Offices, 42 and 43, Poultry, London, between 10 and 4 o'clock.
FRANCIS COBHAM, Registrar.

BIRMINGII9 M. AND MIDLAND COUNTIES.
CATTLE AND POULTRY SHOW.

BIRMINGHAM, Tuesday Evening.—This annual
exhibition of cattle and poultry was opened to-day
to the subscribers. The circumstance of the Smith-
field Show occurring this year in the same week
induced some anxiety for the success of this, its
provincial rival—fears being entertained that the
stock exhibited here might suffer both as to quan-
tity and quality. As respects the last, in particu-
lar, these:anxieties were groundless : the show has
been established eight years, and according to the
estimate formed of it by competent judges there
has never been a finer display of cattle entered for
competition. In all the classes the animals, with-
out exception, are wall fed without being over fed,
their general symmetry and utility of form being
especially remarkable, the opinions of the judges
being that there was not what may be considered
a bad animal in the yard. In point of merit the
Herefords had the undoubted pre-eminence. The
two gold medals were awarded to an Hereford ox
and an Hereford heifer, the former being obtained
by Mr. Heath, of Ludham Hall, Norfolk, who also
carried off the medal last year. Agriculturists
generally pronounced the prize animal to be a very
remarkable specimen ; but the other entries were
also remarkably good, as were those also in the
classes for heifers, steers, and cows. In all the
classes there was much competition, more, perhaps,
than on any former occasion here ; for although the
number of entries was in the aggregate not so great
as in former years, the diminution of animals in
the Hall was not so great in proportion. Last year
disease caused a considerable number of absentees ;
but fortunately. there was no such drawback on this
occasion, anl,.with very few exceptions, all the neat
stock entered was to be found in the Hall. The
classes for short-horns, Welsh, Scots, and Devons,
made a very _considerable appearance' especially
the two latter breeds, in respect of which
some of the animals were accounted very first-
rate specimens, any deficiency of number being
fully compensated for by the first-rate character of
the stock shown. In the classes for Devons his
Royal Highness Prince Albert obtained no less
than four prizes and, without entering into a
more minute analysis of the cattle prize list, we
may state the general opinion that in that respect
this show is a decided advance on any of its pre-
decessors, and that it is much calculated to heighten
the character of this exhibition.

The show of sheep ;,;di.)igswas very good. With
respect to the former the classes of Southdowns
and Shropshires possessed extraordinary excel-
lence ; of this there was but one opinion amongst
practical men ; the classes, too, were better filled
than in some preceding years.

There was the usual immense display of poultry,
which is a great characteristic, and certainly one
of the most attractive features of this exhibition.
The 1,800 pens entered included every variety of
breed. There were poultry fanciers present from
all parts of the kingdom, and a great quantity of
,
birds were sold. - -
A novel feature in this year's show, which pro-
mises to be more attractive-hereafter, was the ex-
hibition of a magnificent display of roots, which,
for the first time here, formed a classification in
the prize list. Some of the mangold wurtzels and
Swedes were very finely grown. Various other
alterations' in the arrangements this year will, we
believe, be found hereafter to advance the exhibi-
tion in usefulness, and to place it on a more per-
manent basis. This show has always been noted
for the excellence of its management, and certainly
Mr. Wright, Mr. Lowe, and the other gentlemen
who are most actively engaged in it, never de-
served more warm cog nendations than this year,
for so far the show is a complete success.
To-day the hall has been crowded from the open-
ing of the doors. We are uninformed of the num-
ber of persons who have been present, but it
amounted to a great many thousands, and in-
cluded a large number of the nobility and gentry,
not only of the district, but from all parts of the
country.

The Tolloiving is the list of prizes :
HEREFORDS.

HEREFORD OXEN OR STEERS.

Class I—First prize, 101., with gold medal, and silver
medal to breeder ; exhibitor, Mr. William Heath, Lud-
ham-hall, Norwich ; breeder, Mr. Thomas Roberts, lying-
ton Bury, Leominster, Herefordshire. Second ditto,
51. ; exhibitor and breeder, the Right Hon. Lord Ha-
therton, Tedesley, Staffordshire.