THE FARMER'S MAGAZINE. 



Ill 



However, if the neisliboiii'liood diil not do its pavt liy 

 the entries, it compensated for this in the matter of 

 attendance. More money was taken at the doors than 

 on any previous occasion, and a lesson was thus given 

 with equal profit to all. 



Still the meeting was by no means up to what it has 

 been ; and will bear no comparison with its immediate 

 predecessor. It did not even realize its own promise ; 

 for there were a number of animals nominated that were 

 never sent. Now, nothing spoils tlie look of a show- 

 ground more than such contimial gaps, more especially 

 when coming, as they did here in some classes, four or 

 five together. The railway, we heard, had something 

 to answer for, in refusing toafibrd the usual facilities of 

 transit ; but the Society must do something more to 

 ensure stock that is entered being forwarded. At pre- 

 sent there are no fines to meet such cases, but it is very 

 evident there should be. 



A Suffolk show, of course, mainly depends upon its 

 rows of cart-horses. Both from far and near, people 

 come to see these ; and there were very many good ones 

 to be found at Bury. There Wiss, to begin with, Mr. Bad- 

 ham's famous " Emperor," who did so well at home 

 last year, and who within this week or two carried off 

 the All-England prize at Chelmsford, and another first 

 prize at Norwich. To mark the strength of the entry 

 at Bury, we may add that he was not even noticed here. 

 For the best cart stallion, Mr. Barthropp took the first 

 premium with " Hercules," and Mr. Stearn the second 

 with " Bo.xer." Both of these are well-known 

 winners; but Mr. Badham's horse has beaten them 

 either in his turn. In fact, if we recollect aright, they 

 were at the last Ipswich Meeting. " Hercules" is a 

 very grand horse, of a harder colour than is just the 

 fashion, and with capital flat legs and feet. Standing 

 side by side with " Emperor," he did not, perhaps, 

 strike one so much at the first look or so. The other is, 

 indeed, a very showy, pretty horse, but with a weak 

 place or two before, that would seem to have told more 

 against him here than has been the case elsewhere. 

 However, Mr. Badham has entered him at Chester, and 

 may so correct what some good judges are inclined to 

 consider a mistake, so far at least as his having neither 

 premium nor commendation. 



The aged stallions, running up to ten in the cata- 

 logue, but not all sent, were followed by a smaller, 

 but very good class of three-year-olds, with three prizes 

 and one commendation out of the seven competing. 

 The judges were equally complimentary to the two- 

 year-old colts, many of them wonderfully well grown 

 for their age, but by no means all alike to be com- 

 mended. It was thought, indeed, that those in authority 

 got a little wrong with some of the younger animals, the 

 fillies more particularly, and we never heard more discus- 

 sion over the awards. At thesametimeitmustberemem- 

 bered that the Suffolks have some peculiar beauties that 

 none but a Suffolk man can see. A stranger is consequently 

 likely enough to reverse many a previous judgment, 

 and this was often the case at Bury. Mr. Badham was 

 particularly unfortunate, not only with his horse, but 

 with two or three prize mares. His four-year-old com- 



mended filly had by far the neatest head we ever saw 

 on one of the sort. It was really pretty, and slic was 

 altogether a nice mare, with less lumber and more 

 " go'' about her than is perhaps quite orthodox. Lord 

 Stradbroko, wo hear, took to her vastly, and we can 

 readily back his Lordship's choice. As a lot, however, 

 we rarely remember to have seen so many indifferent 

 mares and fillies — at least in so comparatively short a 

 show. It was clear, from the form of some of these, that 

 the Suffolk may be even kept too much t ) himself; and 

 Sir Itdward Kerrison, at the dinner, talked some heresy 

 about Clydesdale crosses, getting better feet, and so on, 

 that may yet be worthy of attention. A% a draught 

 horse, the Suffolk has many things in his favour — hissizej 

 weight, and temper — but he is often anything but " good 

 all over" ; and there is no doubt that, with one or two 

 very good strains of blood, there is much but middling. 

 The Bury Show went far to prove this. 



These meetings are altogether very " horsey" in their 

 character. With some care and perseverance a good ex- 

 hibition of riding and driving stock has now been es- 

 tablished. But here, again, neither ianumbers nor quality 

 was the entry equal to that of last season. The prize list 

 of this section e.xtends over all sorts of horses — thorough- 

 bred stallions, coach-horses, cobs, hunters, hacks, brood 

 mares, foals, and ponies. Notwithbtanding the vicinity 

 to Newmarket, there were only two thorough-bi'cd 

 horses sent, of which an old favourite, " The Lion," was 

 a long way the best. From the others we may select a 

 very clever Norfolk cob of Mr. Gowing's ; the two prize 

 hacks, both by Robinson, and one. Captain Barlow's 

 horse, a winner at Ipswich ; some stylish good-looking 

 foals by "Revenge," and the two prize ponies. Only 

 a couple of weight-carriers faced the hurJles, which 

 they accomplished in rather a slovenly style. But many 

 a young horse would get nervous in such a crowd as 

 thronged down to see this extraordinary feat — at best 

 but a cocktail business. 



Although the cart-horses are all supposed to be 

 natives, it is not so with the cattle. The home breed 

 have a series of premiums to themselves, " the other " 

 sorts being confined almost entirely to shorthorns. But 

 the Suffolk cow is not at best a show beast, and one or 

 two of the most successful breeders of thcra did not 

 enter here. There were fewer good-looking animals 

 than usual amongst them. However, it is said they go 

 more for use than appearance, and certainly quite hold 

 their rank in their own county. Suffolk is one of the 

 few districts in which the Shorthorn does not flourish. 

 For years now have Messrs. Barthropp and Crisp, who 

 went into the experiment with great spirit, ,had the breed 

 very much to themselves. It will be found they took 

 the majority of the prizes. Mr. Beckett's two-year-old 

 bull is one of a lot purchased of Mr. Barthropp. But 

 we should question whether the latter has many such 

 neighbouring customers. Major Pasker's white bull, 

 the first prize amongst the Shorthorns, has no pedigree, 

 but stands simply as a Durham. That of Mr. Barthropp, 

 on the other hand, which was thought to be of a finer 

 quality, is duly registered. He was the iirst prize bull 

 at Norwich the other day. Mr. Crisp's picked cow, a 



