The Sun.
London, England, 1853-12-06 00:00:00

SMITHFIELD CATTLE SHOW FOR 1853.

The annual show of the Smithfield Cattle Club, which
was opened this morning to the public at Baker-street
Bazaar, is equal, if not superior, to many of former
years both as to the extent and quality of the stock
exhibited. The well-deserved ridicule thrown sometime
ago up on those who seemed to think that excellence
consisted in squeezing, as it were, the utmost possible
amount of fat into the systems of the different animals
has had a beneficial effect, and instead of monstrosities
of obesity, we have an exhibition of cattle whose dis-
tinguishing feature is symmetry of form, superiority of
breed, and that kind of build and degree of fatness which
renders them more serviceable to the community. The
entries which are in all upwards of three hundred in
number—of which 29 were pure Devons, 20 pure Here-
fords, 'and 39 pure short horns—exhibit a goodly array
of aristocratic candidates for the gold and silver medals
of the club, there being amongst them H.R.H. Prince
Albert, Dukes of Richmond and Bedford; Marquis of
Exeter, Earls of Leicester, Aylesford, Radnor, Darnley,
Harborough, and Lord Portman, together with a long list
of squires of high degree and gentlemen farmers of well-
known reputation.
As far as we were able to form an opinion from a
hasty view last evening, we are inclined to think that
the judges have acted most impartially in allotting the
prizes, and that their awards will readily be affirmed by
those who are competent to speak on the subject. In-
deed, to the unpractised eye the superiority of the prize
animals, as compared with the rest, must be at once ap-
parent. The short horns have carried off the two gold
medals competed for in the cattle classes. These, it will
be seen, have been obtained by Mr. Richard Stratton,
of Broad Hinton, near Swindon, Wilts, one of the largest
cattle breeders in the kingdom, and who got the two
principal prizes of last year.
His Royal Highness Prince Albert has,_ in the pig
classes, outstripped all his conipetitnrs;- a positiarrlie'
never before achieved. His Royal Highness has ob-
tained the gold medal, with silver medal to breeder, and
the first prize of 101., for his pen, numbered 281—a pen
of three-40 weeks and 5 days, Suffolk bred by the ex-
hibitor, and fed on barley meal and milk, and the ani-
mals certainly appear to justify the position they have
taken. Lord Radnor has not been so fortunate as usual
with his herd of pigs this year, notwithstanding the fact
that the Coleshill breed of this year exhibit the usual
apoplectic appearance.
In the sheep classes, the Duke of Richmond has been
more than usually successful, as be has carried off nearly
all the prizes in the short-woolled, or South Down
Classes, including the gold and silver medals, and the
highest prize in those classes. Mr. G. S. Foljambe, of
Osberton Hall, near Worksop, Notts, is the fortunate
contributor who has obtained the gold medal, and the
prize of 201., for the long-woolled sheep.
In the gallery containing the agricultural implements
the reaping machines are in force, and amongst them will
be seen with interest the original invention of Mr. Bell,
to which the Americans owe the whole principle of their
much-vaunted machine. It is much simpler than any of
its successors, but the whole of the principle is included,
and it is satisfactory to add, that it now enters success-
fully into competition with all corners. Another ma-
chine, called the automaton, will be much looked at for
its curious eccentric motion, but of its practical value
some doubts are entertained, as in a recent experiment
the corn was not delivered as quickly as was deemed
necessary to make the machine a perfect success.
Smith's patent reaping machine also deserves investiga-
tion from its simplicity, its ingenious arrangement, and
the facility with which it is worked.
Amongst the company present at the private show
last evening were Lord Portman, one of the Vice-Presi-
dents of the club ; the Earl of Essex, Lord Walsingham,
the Hon. Col. Wood, the Marquis of Exeter, Sir E.
Landseer, &c., &c. The following is a list of the
prizes :