The Sun.
London, England, 1854-07-21 00:00:00

ROYAL AGRICULTURAL SOCIETY.

LINCOLN, JULY 20.--The show of stock this year has
probably never, as a whole, been surpassed at the
country meetings of the society, and is quite equal in
character to that of implements. In nearly all the classes
it is beyond an average, and in some it developes re-
sults of the highest importance to the interests of agri-
culture. There are no less than 739 entries of cattle,
horses, sheep, and pigs, with 295 of poultry. Short-
horns are exhibited in surprising numbers and perfection.
Herefords are well represented also, though we have
seen as good displays on former occasions. The Devons
suffer, of course, somewhat from the remoteness of the
district from their proper " calf country," but even in
this class the show cannot be regarded as weak. A finer
display of horses for agricultural purposes was probably
never brought together, and here the Suffulks, as will
be seen by a reference to the prize list, have been fairly
beaten. There are also some excellent roadsters and
hunters. In sheep the Leicesters come out very
strongly, the diminished favour in which the breed is
held being considered. The class of Southdowns is also
well represented, and though Mr. Jonas Webb, the
most successful exhibitor of former years, has sent
none
of his flock to compete, his place is well supplied by Mr.
Lugar, of Bury St. Edmund's, and other breeders. Next
to shorthorns, perhaps the finest feature of the show is
the splendid display of Cotswold sheep ; and here is de-
veloped an important illustration of the benefits to be de-
rived by such exhibitions. At one period, the large framed,
well fleeced, and hardy Cotswold breed were systems..
tically branded by the society as inferior stock, from the
smaller prizes awarded to them, but a vigorous resist-
ance on the part of the breeders, and a threat that they
would take steps to introduce fresh blood into the coun-
cil, induced that body to do them justice. The conse-
quence has been that the Cotswold sheep is introduced
to the notice of the agriculturist in this part of the coun-
try with the same prestige as Leicesters and Southdowns.
He is enabled to compare it with "the improved Lin-
coln," to which, judging by the results of the show yard,
it possesses a manifest superiority ; and, further, he has
an opportunity of considering how far an animal which
thrives so well on the uplands of Glocestershire would
answer on the heaths and wolds of Lincolnshire. No less
than 19 Cotswold farmers exhibit their stock on this oc-
casion, having brought them hither in a special train en-
gaged for the purpose. Such enterprise is highly com-
mendable, and has probably been stimulated by the in-
creasing demand for the breed from abroad. It has found
great favour with the American agriculturists especially
and I am informed that one flockmaster has this year
sold 7 rams and 10 ewes to transatlantic purchasers, at
prices in the aggregate amounting to nearly 1,0001 This
is nearly as good as the results of Mr. Jonas Webb's last
annual letting, at which a yearling ram brought him 102
guineas, while 75 other rains were let at an average of
251. 4s. 3d. Such facts speak for themselves, and though
exceptional in their character, prove what intelligence
and enterprise may still accomplish in agriculture. The
display of improved Lincoln sheep is, from some cause
or other, hardly equal either in numbers or quality
to what had been expected ; and this, with
other circumstances, leads many people to doubt
whether the very unqualified ecorniums pronounced by
Mr. Pusey on Lincolnshire farming are altogether de-
served. The natives fully believe that they are ahead
of all the world in agriculture, and appear to be deterred
by no sense of modest merit from boasting of it. Al-
though the regulations of last year's show for checking
the practice of overfeeding stock for breeding purposes
has been discontinued, and though Mr. Towneley has in
consequence taken heart again to appear as an exhibitor,
it is satisfactory to find that the repeately-expressed
opinion, not only of the public, but of eminent agricul-
turists on the subject continues to be sensibly felt. The
present display exhibits a marked improvement in this
respect, and a careful inspection of the cattle does not
disclose more than three cases in which the animals can
be pronounced decidedly too fat. In pigs and poultry
the general excellence of the show is well sustained.
Dorkings, pre-eminently farmers' poultry, are shown in
great perfection, and game fowl and Aylesbury ducks
are also finely represented. Altogether, the society has
reason to congratulate itself on the high character of
this year's show, favoured as it has been by splendid
weather, and by the praiseworthy exertions of the good
people of Lincoln, who have decorated their old city
most profusely with flags and triumphal arches, and who
in every other way have done their best to give the
multitude of strangers pouring in upon them a kind and
hospitable reception.
The following is the prize-list for stock, as announced
yesterday in the pavilion by Mr. Brandreth Gibbs,
honorary director of the yard :