The Sun.
London, England, 1863-12-08 00:00:00

r day always a striking improvement upon the winner
of several years ago. Now, it may not be true that
our nearly perfected breeds are restorations of arche-
types which existed in Paradise; we cannot infer
that Adam's noblest oxen were short-horns, that
luscious Highland beef was chosen fur his own eat-
ing, while Eve, in pastoral innocence, milked an
Alderney; neither can we conclude that the rarest
mutton and veal in that age of blissful perfection
appeared in the form, say, of an Oxford Down. But
from the slight apparent improvability in our best
specimens it is evident that future achievements
must consist in raising the general character of our
stock rather than in heightening individual excel-
lencies. Every beast of the herd and each sheep of
the flock must approach the [highest standard of
early maturity, of propensity to devalope the best
parts, and proportion of profit for the food consumed.
A still more difficult task will then remain—namely,
the preserving of robustness of constitution and im-
munity from disease in animals forced and pam-
pered in unnatural conditions for the supply of an
importunate market.
Coming now to the sheep, we find that the Lei-
cesters are by no means numerous, although Lord
Berners, Col. Lowther, and Mr. Foljambe show pens
of unusual character and quality. Never before in
the history of the club have the Cotswolds cut so
sorry a figure as on the present occasion; only two
entries are made in the appointed class, and from
these the prizes are very properly withheld. Mr.
Porter partially saves the credit of the breed with a
most noble and beautiful broad-back ewe in the class
of Extra Stock. Mr. Cranfield, Mr. Marshall, and
Mr. Codling exhibit some pretty good Lincolns ;
and the Ramsey Marsh sheep exhibit signs of con-
siderablelordwasin
improvement.igh
am is again conqueror among the
South Downs, carrying off the silver cup for the
I best Down sheep. Those three shearlings weigh
49st. 121 b. (imperial) live weight ; while the prize
pen ;est year weighed 46st. slb. With about equal
quality the Merton sheep combine greater sub-
stance. Lord Walsingham is also first in the class
of sheep under 2001 b. in weight, second in the class
of old sheep, and wins the silver medal in the Extra
Stock Class of Ewes. Both the Duke of Richmond's
second prize sheep and the Earl of Radnor's third'
prize sheep in the two young wether classes show
very good breeding and high character of their re-
spective flocks ; the Goodwood first prize older
wethers are especially fine and well covered with
mutton. Mr. Rigden, of olden renown, is not a
competitor, owing to his official position in the
club this year.

Among the Hampshire and Wiltshire Downs,
ncted for their large proportion of lean meat, Mr.
Canning's magnificent prize pen is by far the most
meritorious. Some excellent sheep in this class
might have been very well passed over, instead of
honoured by the judges, if clipping animals into
shape is to be discountenanced.
The Shropshires are particularly good, but here
some of the Birmingham decisions have been com-
pletely reversed. Mr. Henry Smith's splendid first
prize shearlings, with rare backs and legs of mutton,
were only commended at Birmingham; while Lord
Wenlock's second prize sheep were first at Birming-
ham ; and again, neither Mr. Thorley's first prize
old wethers nor the Earl of Aylesford's second
prize sheep were even commended at Bingley-hall,
while Mr. Foster's and Mr. Holland's are not
noticed at all at Islington. The Shropshires also
win the day in the Extra-stock class.
The new Oxford breed is in small force, but the
specimens are very fine, carrying great weights of
good mutton and wool.

Among the cross-breeds, so valued in a show of
animals for the butcher, Mr. John Overman's Lei-
cester-and-Down and several pens of Cotswold-and-
Down are the most meritorious. In some cases the
sheep are most unfairly trimmed, the fleece mani-
festing an extraordinary power of accommodating
the length of staple to undue prominences and de•
pressions in the contour of the carcases clothed.
It appears very desirable that the shepherds, and
indeed the herdsmen in general, whose animals win
prizes should share with their masters in the
..moluments and honours of the day. It is stated
that Lord Walsingham, conscious of his dependence
upon the faithful care and skill of his shepherd, has
handed to him a very handsome check, and the
Smithfield Club might perhaps adopt with benefit
the French custom of rewarding servant and exhi-
bitor together—say with a bronze medal and a sove-
reign to the actual feeder of each prize anima,.
The show of pigs is not more extraordinary than
usual. Gen. Hood's three white pigs, bred at the
Royal Shaw-farm, which take the gold medal against
ail corners, are certainly extraordinary for syme.
try in their fatness ; Mr. Morland and Sir Thomas
Lennard's whites and Mr. De la Rue's blacks are of
very great merit, and Mr. Stearn, Mr. Druce, the
Countess of Chesterfield, Mr. Crisp, and other cele-
brated breeders exhibit pigs fairly representing the
wonderful precocity and perfection which have bees
attained of late years.

Of the great collection of machinery, roots, seeds,
specimens, and so on, we must speak in another
paper•

Those progressist members of our agricultural
societies who are fond of battling with grievances
and anomalies would do well to agitate fora uniform
reckoning of the age of the animals. Cattle ought
to compete with cattle on something like an equa-
lity of age—the measure of their respective opportu-
nities for feeding; but all sorts of difficulties and
disadvantages arise from different societies adopting
different natal dates in arranging the several classes.
The calving day of the Highland Society is the Ist of
January; of the Bath and West of England Society,
the Ist of June; of the Royal Agricultural Society,
the Ist July; of the Birmingham and Midland Coun-
ties Society, the Ist of September; of the Smithfield
Club, the Ist of December. To place all breeds on an
equal footing is impossible, because the great breed-
ing season or one may either follow or precede that
of another; but all might compete upon the same
terms if the several societies adopted one fixed date
—say the Ist of January, as in the Herd Books and
in the Racing Calendar. In these days of adjust-
ment of perplexing weights and measures to an im-
perial standard the rectification proposed can hardly
be delayed much longer.
Another point also asks attention. We have ob-
tained the boon of a five-shilling first day—no,
only half a day, for the doors were jealously
guarded until " after two o'clock," when the judges
had " finished their awards." Unless the Smith-
field Club has too much dignity to follow after pro-
vincial societies, we may in the course of a iew:years
actually witness public judging here as we now
enjoy it everywhere else. Does some peculiar at-
mosphere render perception of good points more
difficult at Islington than at Birmingham ; or are
judges more corruptible, or metropolitan visitors
and the fourth estate gentlemen of signs and types
more meddling and obnoxious here than elsewhere ?
Pidreistdon at two o'clock instead of eight at night
in
ncieteyrtkinly an improvement ; but if early pub-
-0
reporters, at
any would serve the interests of the show,
rate, might be allowed an entrance,
a catalog
gentlemen m',
o Country pt:
ando a list of the judges at the time those
commence their inspection.
will have plenty of business
on their hands drutie .an
Kell' A
ngthe week besides visiting the
At Mr. Coleman's Farmers'
CAlgurbicleuelttuurraellest
night .
, at the Smithfield Club meet-
ing and Farmers'
Club dinner to-day; and to-morrow
at the meeting of the Itoyal
Agricultural_t Society,
6m Cultivation
the SmithfiepludbClilcumb
edeitninnaerinthset.
Hall, and
Company's
at th,, James's
Society of Arts—
'cultural interest
loses no time iti
agri strengthening
and 3lr. Morton's lecture
t' 0 •
and enlightening itself on the "amen of its great
annual rendezvous.
some of the •
The following are 8-- principal e 1 prizes
awarded :

CATTLE.
DEVON BREED.
CLASS I,—DEVON STEERS, NOT EXCEEDING 3 YEARS
OLD—First prize of £3O, to Mr. Bol'ert Wortley, of Sutie
hall, Aylsham, Norfolk—second prize of £2O, to the Earl of
Leicester, of Holkhara, Wells, Norfolk—and third prize of
£lO, to Mr John Overman, of Burnham, Sutton, Norfolk,
CLASS 2.— DEVON STEERS OR OXEN, AI3OVE 3 YEARS
OLD—First prize of £3O, to Mr. Wm. Heath, of Ludham-
hall, Norwich—second prize of £2O, to Afajor-General the
Hon. A. N, Hood, of Cumberland-lodge, Windsor—and
third prize of £lO, to the Earl of Leicester, of Nolkham,
Wells, Norfolk,

Class 3.— DEVON HEIFEItS, XOT EXCEEDING 4 YEARS