The Sun.
London, England, 1858-08-30 00:00:00

DURHAM COUNTY AGRICULTURAL

SOCIETY'S SHOW.

The seventeenth annual meeting of this flouritihlog
society was held at Sunderland on Thursday under most
favourable circumstances. The weather was all that could
be desired. The show yard was crowded throughout the
day. Amongst the company was a large sprinkling of
ladies, whose attention was equally divided between agri-
culture and horticulture, the Sunderland HorticulturtaX
Society having taken advantage of the day to hold their
show, which took place in the same field.
The show was not so good as at the two last exhibitions at.
Stockton or Durham, but in point of quality it was not to b'a
surpassed. The Challenge Cup, value 100 guineas, "for
the best short-horned breeding animal of either sex, to be-
come the property of the person who shall win it thrice, was
wan by Mr. Booth of Warlaby, with his two-year-old heifer,
Queen of May," was again awarded to him for his
four-year-old cow " Nectarine Blossom," a splendid animal,
which obtained the first prize at the recent meeting of the
Royal Agricultural Society at Chester, and also at the
Yorkshire show at Northallerton. The only other animals
which the judges deemed worthy to compete for this prize
were " Queen Mab," a four years' heifer in calf, and a one
year old heifer named " Queen of the Isles," both belonging
to Mr. Booth. Considerable difficulty was experienced as
to whether the prize ought to be given to " Queen Mab"
or " Nectarine Blossom," and Mr. W. Wetherell was called
in as a referee, and the prize was ultimately awarded to the
latter, although a strong feeling was entertained by many
that the judges in discarding " Queen of the Isles" had ex-
cluded the best animal in the yard—and one of the finest
shorthorns in England. " Queen Mab" obtained the second
prize for shorthorns at Nor thal lerton, and " Queen of the Isles"
was first in her class at the same show ; in addition to which
she received the special prize of 120 as the best animal im
the yard. She also gained the first prize at the last show•
of the Royal Agricultural Society. The prize in class 1,
for the best bull of any age, was won by " Statesman," a
splendid animal, the property of Mr. Wm. Wetherell, of
Aldbrougb. In this class also the judges experienced con-
siderable difficulty in deciding as to the best animal, the
competition was so good. " Statesman" won the first
prize " for the best bull in England" at Grantham, on the
26th July, and was second at Northallerton. He is but
two years and nine months old, and the bull which beat
him-at Northallerton was double his age. In class 3, for
the best cow in calf or in milk, the prize was awarded to
" Nectarine Blossom." In this class Mr. Wetherell competed
with his heifer, "Moss Rose," which gained the second
prize at the recent Yorkshire show, was second at York
last year, and gained the first prize at Middlesbro' and
Barnardcastle. In class 4, for the best heifer in calf, Mr.
Wetherell's " Ayrshire Rose," beat Mr. Booth's " Queen
Mab," which was awarded the second prize; and for the
best bull calf, under 12 months old, the prize was given to
Mr. Booth's " Sir James," a fine animal, which was shown
fur the first time. The whole of these animals were consi-
dered perfect in all the parts which constitute a first-class
shorthorn ; in fact, Mr. Booth is sufficiently famed as
a breeder to deter parties from competing against him.
And we might here refer to a suggestion we have heard as
to the alteration of the time of holding the show, and so in-
creasing the competition. Coming, as the Durham show
now does, after the Royal, the Northumberland, and York-
shire shows, the fact is that the successful animals at these
and other exhibitions are entered at it (the prizes being
equal to any other show), and the beaten animals, as a mat-
ter of course, have no inducement to come to a contest
where the result is almost certain to be against them. We
throw out the suggestion for what it is worth, having
heard it more than once expressed by parties experienced in
these matters.
The show of horses was good, both in respect to num-
bers and quality. In class 22, for the best cart mare, the
prize was awarded to a mare, 14 years old, belonging to
John Bowes and partners, Marley-bill ; the animal
which gained a similar prize at the Hexham show. In the
same class was shown a celebrated old mare, " Jolly,"
aged 22, belonging to Mr. Atkinson, of Peepy, which
for many years has carried off the prizes at all the
shows in the north at which she has competed. Ad-
vancing age begins to tell upon her, and she was beaten by
Messrs. Bowes' mare for the first time, at Hexham, a few
weeks ago. It is to be regretted that she was allowed to
compete again after coming off victorious in so many con-
tests, it affords, however, another illustration of the fable of
the pitcher and the well. The prize for the best three-year-
old colt or filly was given to a filly by Emperor, the property
of Mr. Coulson, of Burnigill, the secretary a the society,
beating an excellent filly shown by Mr. N. Clarke, which
has competed six times and won four premiums. A little
Shetland pony, the property of Sir Hedworth
was shown as extra stock, and received the commendation
of the judges. We ought not to omit mention that Mr. H.
Marshall, of this city, exhibited a fine Alderney bull as extra
stock.
The pigs and sheep were not numerous, but the quality
of both was good. The show of poultry was likewise small,
and much inferior to what we have seen at previous exhibi-
ons of this society.--Durham County Chronicle.