The Sun.
London, England, 1865-12-04 00:00:00

Birmingham Cattle, Poultry, and Dog
Shows-

Christmas comes as usual; but never before were
the ministers to his pleasure less disposed to make
merry over their oxen and fatlings, honoured with
cups and prizes in the great spectacles of the season.
Smitten with dismay at the sinking of thousands of
animals in swift corruption before the pestilence, at
the mournful precautionary slaughter in many a
desolated foldyard, at vain measures of immunity
from the touch of an inscrutable enemy travelling
with horrible subtlety, it may be on the claw of a
wild bird, the sucker of a tiny insect, or the fatal
finger of the very guardian inspector of herds, our
agriculturists congregate in fear and trembling; and
only after solemn debate do they dare to hold even
an exhibition of cattle sent from healthy yard and
byre and destined to the posthumous glories of the
butcher's holly-decked stall.

The entries of horned stock for the Midland Show
number 16 fewer than last year, while no less than
38 of the animals entered have failed to make their
appearance in Bingley-hall ; and, as a wise precau-
tion, several pens of pigs have been denied admis-
sion on their arrival, because they had travelled in
cattle trucks, and might therefore bring contagion.
Indirectly, too, the plague has lowered the quality
of this year's show ; not only because some superior
beasts are detained at home, but because the usual
course of animals winning prizes here, and then com-
peting on the following week at Islington, has been
interrupted by a timid or prudent regulation of the
Smithfield Club.
About half as many Herefords as there were last
year present nothing like the general quality, though
Mr. Aldworth's first prize steer is unusually good,
with a rare deep frame and fine fore quarter, prime
beef and a good coat, fairly beating Col. Lindsay's
very good beast ; and Mr. Shirley's first and second
very handsome prize steers, the first winning the
extra prize as the best animal of the breed. The
heifers are so poor a lot that the second prize is with-
held, Mr. Pitt's very nicely fed heifer taking, how-
ever a first prize. The pride of this part of the show
is Mr. Baldwin's cow " Spangle the Second," which
takes the first prize in her class, and the gold medal
as the best female in all the cattle classes. Of mag-
nificent proportions with level back, rare meat-
covered ribs, a curly coat, and sweet head of the
true Hereford type, this noted prize-taker stands
unrivalled among the white-faces; and her portrait
figured a month or two ago among the models in the
Farmer's Magazine. Lord Bateman's second-prize
cctw has also great merit, splendid quality of flesh,
and rumps better than those of the medal-winner.
The shorthorns number only about two-thirds as
many as last year. The heifers form an ordinary
class, with one good animal of Mr Aldworth's taking
a second prize, and Mr. Woodward's pretty heifer
taking the first prize. The cows are by no means
grand. Mr. Fletcher's first-prize cow has prime
flesh, and a good barrel and breast end, but an
arched back ; and Mr. Lynn's second-prize cow
Curious Cometbeats her in every point of symmetry
and beauty, though the judges did not like her qua-
lity of flesh and slight disfigurement with fat behind.
Nothing very wonderful appears in the steer class ;
even Mr. Allan Pollock'sfirst-prize white steer being
far from first-rate. We find the gem of the show in
the older class. Here Mr. Rowland Wood's ox wins
the first prize in his class, the extra prize as the best
animal of the breed, a gold medal as the best male
in all the cattle classes, the Earl of Aylesford's
prize as the best shorthorn bred and fed by the ex-
hibitor, the Innkeepers' Plate and Mr. Ottley!s
silver medal as the best animal in the cattle classes,
and the President's Cup as the best animal bred as
well as fed by the exhibitor—a heap of honours of
the pecuniary value of £129 Bs. The first prize at
the Northamptonshire show and the first prize
and silver cup at Huntingdon were previously
won by this shorthorn of the season. But
grand in every point, excepting a slight defi-
ciency in rump ; of immense frame, with great
depth, wonderful fore-quarter, expanding chine, and
ribs outspringing with a capacity not often seen in
the breed, giving a girth of 91t. 6in. ; heavily-
covered ribs, grand flank and rounds, handsome
head, splendid touch, and pliant coat, of a beautiful
roan colour, this noble ox is more than the short-
horn of the season ; it is, probably, the best that has
been exhibited for several years, and it is a pity
that he must not appear as champion next week at
Islington. His pedigree unites Booth and Bate
blood. Mr. Foljambe's second-prize ox is a worthy
competitor, a specially good shorthorn, a little plain
however in front of the shoulder, but level, with, rib
and flank perfect, and grand underneath. 11e is sold
for 100 guineas to a Sheffield butcher.
Only eight Devons are present, the best animals
of the year probably being reserved for Islington.
Mr. Wm. Smith's first-prize ox, which wins also the
extra prize as the best of the breed, has rare quality ;
Mr. Farthing's second-prize ox is large-framed and
heavily-fleshed ; Mr. Frampton and Mr. Smith take
the prizes in the steer class; Mr. Farthing gets the
prize for heifers, and Mr. W. Taylor, Mr. Farthing,
and Mr. Smith take honours with speciallygood cows
Mr. Burbery and Mr. Faulkner show a couple of
moderately good longhorns. In a small class of
polled Scots, the first prize and extra prize for the
best Scots go to the Earl of Crawford and Balcarres'
extremely good beast ; Mr. M'Combie's big ox being
second. The West Highlanders are in considerable
force, Mr. Gray's first-prize ox and Mr. Mowbray's
second-prize ox being admirable specimens of the
shaggy dun-coated breed.
Not one really useful animal appears among the
few Welsh. In a good class of other pure-bred and
cross-bred cattle, the attraction is Mr. M'Combie's
immense polled ox, girthing 9ft. Bin., and weighing
perhaps 200 stone imperial. It is a shorthorn and
Aberdeen cross, and wins first prize., The second
prize goes to Mr. Allan Pollock's steer. Curiosi-
ties in the class are a little Brahmin marked
" dangerous," and Brahmin and Welsh cross, show-
ing in the Oriental hump and Welsh brindled coat,
both exhibited by Mr. Lloyd of Yardley. In the
extra classes are a couple of huge, plain, heavy-
horned South Hams oxen, shown by Mr. Lythall,
and a good cow exhibited by Mr. Charles Speede.
The judges were Messrs. J. E. Jones, Richard Strat-
ton, H. W. Keary, Owen Wallis, and A. Govan.
Of sheep there are 14 fewer entries, than last year.
The Leicesters are scarce, but of excellent character.
Mr. Boast's first-prize wethers win the second prize
offered by the woollen drapers for the best wethers
in certain classes, and also Mr. Bromley's prize for
Herrick
the best pen of long-woolled sheep. Mr.
takes second prize in the class, and Mr. Fol
sheep were highly commended. The best in the
long-wool wether class are Mr. Kearsey's Cotswolds.
In the South Down classes Lord Walsingham has
not been permitted to walk over the course as usual ;
the first prize for shearing wethers (with the woollen
drapers' first prize) was won by Lord Radnor, the
second and third prizes by Lord Walsingham ; the
first prize for older wethers (with the extra prize
for the best Down sheep) goes to Lord Radnor, the
second prize to Lord Walsingham ; and in the ewe
class the first goes to the Duke of Marlborough, the
second to Mr. William Hemming, and two high
commendations to Lord Walsingham. Consider-
able discussion will arise upon these awards. Lord
Radnor's wethers have good backs, great length, very
abundant wool (rather too cleverly trimmed), but
darker faces and more transparent ears than a
south-country breeder approves. Lord Walsing-
ham's wethers have better legs of mutton, a consi-
derably larger girth, au absence of dark hair be-
tween the ears, and truer Sussex-down character.
Probably, too, his Lordship's thud-prize young
wethers are better than his second-prize sheep in
the same class.

There is a grand show of Shropshires. In the
class of pens of five wcthers Mr. Beach's first-P
rize
sheep won the Mayor's cup, and Mr. Henry Smith's
obtained the novel distinction of being " Very"
highly commended. Looking, however, at the
breadth of back, depth, and solidity of these latter
sheep, it is a question whether they should not
have been placed before Mr. Beach's ; as it is, the
judges finally
determined by the aid of a weighing-
machine, the winning animals being a few pounds
heavier than their rivals. In the class of pens of
three young Shropshire wethcrs, Lady Willoughby
de Broke, Mr. Beach, and Mr. Hand got the prizes.