The Sun.
London, England, 1864-11-21 00:00:00

Smithfield Club Cattle Show, 1864.

On Saturday the Agricultural Hall was visited
by some of the members of the council of the Smith.
field Club, with a view to consult with
the directors as to the arrangements for the accove.
modation of the largely increased number of
animals which the entries of the present year are
expected to produce. Notwithstanding the increased
space which the Agricultural HAll at Islington
affords, it will be ta\ed to its utmost limits to acco
modate comfortably all the specimens of live stock,
unless the practice is dispensed with of letting the
eide sp.ccs under the galleries for the exhibition 01
the heavier description of implements. Last year
about 30 of the cattle classes had to be located in
the minor hall, and this year there are 45 more to
be accommodated. It is understood that Lord Trede.
gar, who is this year president of the club, is about
to ascertain the wishes of the Prince of Wales es to
the day on which his royal highness. and if possible
the princess, may be induced to visit the show, the
prince having this year several entries. The very
largely increased number of entries and amount of
the prizes is naturally expected to induce a much
larger number of people from the country to
visit the show; and in order to facilitate this desire
as much as possible, the railway companies have
advertised excursion trains from all the principal
towns, extending over the cattle show week, at low
fares. The directors of the Agricultural Hall
have taken steps for increasing the comfort of the
shepherds, by providing sleeping accommodation
for them in the upper part of the building, instead
of their being compelled, as formerly, in many in-
stances, to take their night's rest on the straw beside
the animals upon which it is their duty to attend.
Large additional stores have also been constructed
for the storage of the immense amount of forage
and food required by the animals daring the show.
The entries in the Devons, Herefords, and short-
horns aro unusually large, whilst the Duke of Rich-
mond will have a more than ordinary show of
Southdowns, and will, in probability, again bear off
the honours in that class, the formidable competitor
both of the present as well as the late duke, Mr.
Rigden, of Hove, near Brighton. not being an ex-
hibitor this year, by being one of the stewards of
live stock. Lord Walsingham, the late president of
the club, has also entered for the Leicestershire
breeds, and the competition in these classes is ex.
pected to be very keen, some of the most celebrated
breeders of those descriptions of sheep having en.
tered. Mr. John Clay don, the chairman of the
Agricultural Hall Company, has entered soma pens
as well es some single specimens in extra stock of
the celebrated breed of the late Mr. Jonas Webb.
The whole of the animals must be at the hall before
ten o'clock on the evening of Saturday, Deo. 3, and
the adjudication will be so divided that the judges
are expected to make their awards by two o'clock
on Monday, the sth, at which hour the show will
be opened to private view to members of the
club, to the press, and to the public at ss. each
person ; the general or public opening taking
place at eight o'clock on Taesday, the 6th,
and continuing daily till the evening of Friday, the
9th, when it will finally close.