344 ACCOUNT OF THE SHOW HELD AT KELSO IX 1880. 



It may be interesting to give a comparative view of the exhi- 

 bition of stock and implements, the premiums oft'ered, and the 

 receipts at each of the shows in the Border district : — 



The followino- observations rec^ardino- the stock are taken from 

 the notes of the Judges : — 



The classes in the Shorthorn breed were well filled, and, taken as a whole, 

 the quality of the exhibits was of a high standard. It is worthy of note that 

 in the aged bull class the four Royal English prize bulls, as well as the reserve 

 number bull, were shown. The bull which was first prize and cup winner 

 at the Eoyal English meeting at Carlisle was placed first. This bull was 

 bred and reared by a tenant farmer on cold clay land 700 feet above sea- 

 level, and it surely ought to be an incentive to his brother farmers to get 

 the best possible stock and attend to them carefully, when one of their 

 number labouring under great disadvantages so far as chmate, soil, and 

 situation are concerned, can gain the Shorthorn Prize of the year at the two 

 great shows in the kingdom. The two-year-old bulls made a large good class. 

 The yearling class was of less merit than the older ones. The first prize 

 bull is younger than others placed after him, but is of great promise. The 

 female classes were good, and the cow class perhaps the highest in merit. 

 The two-year-old heifers, although not numerous, were a level, good lot, 

 while the yearling class contained some animals of great promise. A new 

 feature in the show was the shorthorn family prize, and three splendid lots 

 were placed before the Judges. The first prize family contained a cow with 

 two of her female oftspring, magnificent specimens of the shorthorn breed. 

 It may be remarked that the first prize cow in the ordinary class was own 

 sister to those tvro, to which reference is made, and the three females from 

 one cow and by the same sire, drew the attention of the shorthorn breeders 

 and were quite a feature of the show. The other two families shown were 

 very good, and exhibited in natural breeding state. 



Considering the distance Kelso is from the home of the Polled Angus or 

 Aberdeen cattle, the niunber and quality of the stock were alike good 

 and creditable ; the first prize aged bull was a rare specimen of early 

 maturity. The second was likewise a superior bull. In two-year-old 

 bulls the competition was closer than in tlie aged section, especially 

 between those awarded the first and second prizes, both very good animals, 

 but of very different characteristics. The whole exhibits in this class were 

 good and well brought out. The one-year-old bulls were the weakest 

 section of this breed, both in point of number and excellence. None of the 

 exhibits possessed great merit, but all were very fair specimens of the breed. 

 The cows as a lot were very fair, but not superior. The first prize cow was 

 well brought out, and was a handsome well-fleshed animal. The two-year- 

 old heifers were a good class all over, and particularly the winner of the first 

 prize, a heifer of great promise. The level toj) and quarters of the second 

 prize deserve also special notice. The section for yearling heifers was the 



