THE FARMER'S MAGAZINE. 



53 



advanced, tho number of visitors rapidly increased, yet, 

 from the enlarged space included in the market's area, 

 there was ample room for close inspection without incon- 

 venience. 



That the show of Beasts was of the highest order of 

 merit will be understood when we observe that fully uine- 

 tenths of them were considerably above average weight, 

 and otherwise in unusually fine condition The increase, 

 be it understood, was not so much in the quantity of fat 

 carried by the collective breeds, as in their general 

 symmetry. As was the case at Baker-street, there 

 were not so many " obese marvels "as in 

 some former years ; but the absence of ex- 

 treme fatness may be noted as one of the great merits 

 of the present show. The fat being laid on evenly and 

 well is the result of well-shaped and well-bred animals 

 being in more general demand on the part of the butchers 

 and consumers. Formerly, by dint of stuffing, fat was 

 often deposited everywhere save in the right places; and 

 the result was that the buyers of both Beasts and Sheep 

 lost considerable sums by the stock when slaughtered. 

 We hail this change in the system with much satisfac- 

 tion, because we are perfectly convinced that our 

 breeders and feeders have at length got into the high 

 road to additional fame. 



From the foregoing observations, it will be seen that 

 the supply of Beasts was one of no ordinary merit, and 

 we may now briefly glance at each of the leading classes, 

 the more fully to determine their positive excellence. 

 These classes we may call Scots, Herefords, Devons, 

 Shorthorns, Sussex, and Welsh. When we consider 

 the great disadvantages, as to climate, under which the 

 Scotch graziers are suffering, compared with those re- 

 siding in the " sunny south," great surprise may well 

 be expressed at the wonderful animals which were 

 shown from the "far North." Whether we carefully 

 consider the high value of their primer, consequently 

 most selling, parts to the butcher, and the superior 

 quality of the inferior joints, it must be admitted that 

 the word " perfection" may be fairly applied to them. 

 Those who witnessed the splendid collection of Scots, 

 the property of Mr. William Mc Combie, of Tillyfour, 

 exhibited by Mr. Daniel Maidwell, will at once under- 

 stand the bearing of these remarks. Not a fault could 

 be found with them ; though, on the other hand, it is to 

 be regretted that they should have been reserved for an 

 open market ; still, they added greatly to the show, and 

 proved to the world what Scotland really can produce. 

 Mr. Mc Combie's ox exhibited in the bazaar was pur- 

 chased by Messrs. Banister and Bedborough, of Wind- 

 sor, to supply the royal table on Christmas-day. 



The collection of Herefords has seldom, if ever, 

 been equalled. Amongst it were very few what may be 

 termed large animals, the supply being almost wholly 

 composed of a size admirably suited for general 

 consumption. As regards the Devons, the excel- 

 lence of their condition was fully equal to the 

 Herefords, and the "men of the West" mustered 

 in full average strength. The Short-horns, too, 

 were of more than average mtrit. There was 

 everything to admire in them, even though the fat was 

 not "plastered" upon them so much as at some former 

 exhibitions. From Sussex there was an increased show 

 of Oxen, all in first-rate order ; but the graziers in that 

 county can do even greater things by a more extended 

 cultivation of the turnip. They have now a wide field 

 opened to their enterprise and industry from a separate 

 class having at length been allotted to them in Baker- 

 street. There were about 300 extraordinarily prime 

 Welsh runts on sale, and which elicited the marked en- 

 comiums of the visitors. 



As regards the Slieep here to-day, wc must admit 

 that the aupply, taken as u whole, fell short of our ex- 



pectations. True there were some very fine and very 

 large animals on offer ; but the bulk of the show svas 

 of a second-rate character. And here is the result of 

 premature forcing, and of what is termed " early matu- 

 rity;" whilst, no doubt, an unfortunate selection of 

 stock for crossing purposes has led to a decreased size 

 and supply. Exceptions, however, should be noticed, 

 and we have no hesitation in referring to choice speci- 

 mens of the Lincolnshire long-woolled breed direct 

 from that county. They were shown by Messrs. 

 Eland, Hancock, Woodward, and Smith, and comprised 

 30 from the flock of Marshall Heanly, Esq, of Croft ; 

 10 from H. Seals, Esq., of Wainfleet Hall ; 29 from 

 J. Byron, Esq., Marblethorpe Hull; 50 from George 

 Saul, Esq., of Wrengle ; 20 from — Bealbry, Esq., of 

 Wigtoft; and 20 from 11. G. Chatterton, Esq., of the 

 latter place. There were also a few splendid Sheep of 

 the same breed, the property of J. Cook, Esq., of Nor- 

 folk. The whole of them possessed that peculiar qua- 

 lity which the county of Lincoln is noted for producing, 

 viz., a larje proportion of meat, compared with size. 

 In this respect the breed must be considered superior 

 to what are termed the New Leicester. From Norfolk, 

 Suffolk, Essex, and Sussex some fine Sheep came to 

 hand. 



The following return shows the numbers of Beasts 

 shown, and the highest and lowest prices obtained for 

 them on the great days in the last seventeen years : — 



Year. Beasts shown. g_ j g* ^ 



18 JO .... 3,528 .... 4 4 to 5 8 



1841 .... 4,509 3 8 „ 5 



1842 4,541 3 4 „ 4 8 



1813 4,510 2 8 „ 4 4 



1844 .... 5,713 .... 4 „ 4 6 



1845 .... 5,326 .... 3 6 „ 4 8 



1846 .... 5,470 .... 4 „ 5 8 



1847 4,282 3 4 „ 4 8 



1848 5,942 3 4 „ 4 8 



1849 .... 5,765 .... 3 4 „ 4 6 



1850 .... 6,341 .... 3 „ 3 10 



1851 .... 6,103 .... 2 8 „ 4 2 



1852 .... 6,271 .... 2 8 „ 4 



1853 .... 7,037 .... 3 2 „ 4 10 



1854 .... 6,181 .... 3 6 „ 5 4 



1855 .... 7,000 .... 3 8 „ 5 2 



1856 .... 6,748 .... 3 4 „ 5 



The total imports of foreign stock into London last 

 week amounted to 1,773 head. In the corresponding 

 week in 1856 we received 1,622; in 1855, 4,752; in 

 1854, 3,999; in 1853, 6,316; in 1852, 4,436; in 

 1851, 4,277 ; and in 1850, 5,124 head. 



IMPORTS INTO LONDON LAST WEEK. 

 FEOM WHENCE. BEASTS. SHEEP. CALVES. PI09. 



Rotterdam 64 52S 106 — 



Hailingen 149 833 18 — 



Schiedam 46 — — — 



Antwerp — — 29 — 



Total 259 1361 153 — 



YKARLY COMPARISON OF WEEKLY IMPORTS. 



BEASTS. SHEEP. CALVEa. PIGS. 



1856 499 919 204 — 



1855 859 3555 238 — 



1854 1130 2593 269 7 



1853 1136 4698 462 20 



1852 235 3782 419 — 



1351.'.' 607 3155 363 152 



We may here observe that great dissatisfaction was 

 expressed, both by the salesmen and graziers, at the 

 large increase in the tolls for stock now levied by the 

 city authorities. The old and present charges we here 

 subjoin : 



