106 



THE FARMER'S MAGAZINE, 



now thriving in Essex, a quarter where some time since 

 they would not " have" them. Already there are the es- 

 tablished, carefully bred herds of Mr. Jonas Webb, who 

 has a farm in the county, Mr. Sturgeon of Grays, Mr. 

 Chritty of Roxwell, Mr. Upson of Rivenhall, Mr. 

 Bramston, M.P., Mr. Clayden of Littlebury, Mr. 

 Colvin, Mr. Sam. Jonas, and others. Mr. Webb, in 

 fact, is getting as famous for his Durhams as he is 

 for his Downs, and with the same encouraging re- 

 sults in long prices and tempting offers. As, for in- 

 stance, he has just refused five hundred guineas for his 

 young bull, Sir Charles, the best of the county class ; 

 buf, to the chagrin of many of his friends, not this year 

 the best bull of the show. The judges declared they 

 had a better animal in Mr. Noakes' Prince Alfred, 

 and some of the public went so far in support of this 

 opinion, as to say he was the best bull they 

 ever saw. But Prince Alfred is by no means 

 unknown, particularly in his own county — Kent, where 

 he has taken a number of prizes, including the first at 

 the Ashford meeting last autumn. He was also highly 

 commended at Warwick, where many maintain he 

 should have stood higher. He is now grown into a 

 beast of extraordinary dimensions, commendable alike 

 for his breadth, depth, symmetry, and quality. Indeed, 

 exhibited as he was, very fat, there were those amongst 

 his admirers who affirmed that he might be taken or 

 mistaken for a steer. This, though, is scarcely a com- 

 pliment, despite its truthfulness. We should the rather 

 say that, if anything, Mr. Noakes' bull lacks some of the 

 proper characteristics of a male animal. He has a singu- 

 larly mild look about the head, and not that muscular 

 development of thigh and quarter one expects of an ani- 

 mal in use. Prince Alfred was bred by the Prince 

 Consort from one of Booth's bulls, and is, no doubt, 

 the Jbest Short-horn they have turned out from the 

 Home Farm. Of course ho goes on to Canterbury. Mr. 

 Webb's bull, a little light in the neck, was in other 

 respects quite good enough to warrant all that was ex- 

 pected of him. He was not shown so big or so pampered 

 as his conqueror, but still, on his merits, was beaten 

 fairly enough. _ There is a grandeur about Royalty that 

 Sir Charels will never grow up to. Mr. Sturgeon's 

 second-prize bull, if we recollect right, comes of the 

 same strain of blood as Prince Alfred. Mr. Christy, 

 Mr. Clayden, and Mr. Upson sent some very superior 

 young bulls; and Mr. Webb came again amongst the 

 heifers, with a pair it was hard to choose between, they 

 were both so handsome and so good. Standing side by 

 side, Miss Tanqueray and Michaelmas Daisy were quite 

 the gems of the show, and the admiration excited from 

 short-horn men must have gone far to compensate their 

 owner for any other disappointment. Mr. Webb had 

 to encounter this not only in the special prize for the 

 best bull, but in another open class — for the best ram of 

 any age or breed. Three of the Babraham flock 

 were entered, while Mr. Mumford Sexton sent 

 as many Cotswolds, Mr. Bryan two Oxford 

 Downs, and Mr. Giblin a couple of Cotswolds. 

 There were also two other pure Downs ; and with 

 so many varieties to select from, it must have been 

 rather a trying business to adjust the pros and cons of 

 which was the best of the lot— particularly " under the 

 circumstances." Eventually, the judges declared for an 

 admirable Wold sheep of Mr. Sexton's, while they placed 

 Jonas Webb second and third, with two high com- 

 mendations. It is right to say that none of his trio 

 were thought quite up to the established Babraham 

 excellence. The Prize Li^t must speak to the rest of the 

 sheep show, generally good as. it was ; and the Berkshires 

 and Fisher Kobbs' blacks had the call in a small but 

 choice sample of hogsflesh. There was a poultry show, 

 which afforded some welcome shelter, and another tent 



full of ladies and flowers, only to be inspected at an 

 extra charge of half-a- crown. Then, according to the 

 catalogue, Garrett of Leiston, Humphries of Pershore, 

 Maggs and Hindley from Wincanton, Boby of Bury, 

 Coleman of Chelmsford, Smith and Ashby of Stamford 

 Smyth of Peasenhall, Woods of Stowmarket, Ransomes, 

 of Ipswich. Maynard of Whittlesford, Prentice 

 of Stowmarket, Barnard and Bishop of Norwich, 

 Burrell of Thetford, Goss and Peene, and others 

 were amongst the exhibiters of implements. But 

 the judges could not find suflScient novelty or de- 

 cisive improvement in their wares to warrant the award 

 of the two premiums to be devoted to this kind of 

 encouragement. Coleman, of Chelmsford, was pro- 

 nounced to have got together the best collection, and 

 Goss and Peene, and Woods and Son came next in the 

 order of succession. But if anyone suffered in body and 

 estate on such a day, it must have been the unprotected 

 artificers who " squatted" about the park without any 

 protection from the elements, and destitute alike of en- 

 campment and custom. 



As a happy release, then, people hurried off to buy 

 ready-made boots, and so to dress for the dinner. 

 This took place in the Agricultural Hall, where a party 

 of between two and three hundred assembled under the 

 presidency of Lord Braaybroke, and the direction of 

 Mr. Clayden, who on the ground and in the room 

 was alike active and efficient in the discharge of 

 his duties as a steward. The entertainment went well 

 to thj end, although with nothing to record in a journal 

 not especially devoted to the interests of the county. 

 The landlords and the yeomen seem to be on the best 

 terms with each other, or we might have had a word or 

 two on a delicate question tolerably well understood, al- 

 though not much talked of, in Saffron Walden. Great 

 here is the reverence paid to hares and pheasants, and 

 little the law allowed to a travelling fox. No wonder 

 one or two worthies in high places rather paled at the 

 echo of a halloo which told he was away ! 



PRIZES FOR StOCK. 



HORSES. 



HORSES FOR AGRICULTURAL PURPOSES. 



Judges. — Professor Simonds, Royal Veterinary College, London, 

 J. Thomas, Bletsoe, Beds. 

 Owen Wallis, Overstone Granse, Northampton. 

 The best Stallion having served 20 Mares in the County, 

 First prize, £15, George Slater, Saflfron Walden (Boxer). 

 Second, £S, Jonas Webb, Babraham (Rising Star). 

 Third, £5, James Brown, Felsted (Hero). 



The class generally commended. 

 The best Entire Tivo-year-old Colt, 

 No award — not sufficient merit. 



The best Cart Mare, not under four years old. 

 First prize, £6, John Ward, East Mersea. 

 Second, £i, G. D. Badham, Btilmer (Matchet). 

 The best Mare with Foal at foot. 

 First prize, :eiO, William Thompson, jun.. Thorpe. 

 Second, £b, Geerge Carter, Danbury (Scott). 

 Highly commended.— George Slater, Saffron Walden (Smart). 



The belt Three-year-old Filly. 

 First prize, £5, Lord Braybroolie, Audley End. 

 The best Thtee-yiar-old Gelding. 

 Prize, £6, William Canning, Henham ("Prince). 



The best Tmo-yeor-old Filly. 

 First prize, £5, Jolm Clay den," Littlebury (Queen of Diamond»). 

 Second, ^£8, George Slater, Saffron Walden. 

 Highly commended.— W. P Partridge, Elmstead-halL 



The best Yearliytg Colt or Filly. 

 First prize, £5, G. D. Badliara, Bulmer. 

 Second, £i, G. Cockerell, Eaeton, Dunmow (Honest Tom). 

 Commended.— John Gosling, Booking. 



The best pair of Plough Horses or Mares. 

 Prize, £5, B. B. Colvin, Pishiobury, Sawbridgeworth (Pie-bald). 

 Highly commended.— William Canning, Henham (Smiler 

 and Diamond). 



The best Entire Sorse. 

 Ali-Eng LAND special prize of £25, George Hare, Holbfook, 

 Suffolk (Goliath). 



Highly commended.— Charles Frost, Wherstead, Suffolk (Sir 

 Colin). 

 Commended.— Samuel Clayden, Linton (Royal George). 



