THE FARMER'S MAGAZINE. 



299 



one challenge cup, now we have four. And, lastly, the 

 society has been most prolific, for it has reared no 

 less than thirty-two young societies, which are all in a healthy 

 and thriviug condition. I need not assure you that Ireland is 

 bona fide an agricultural couutry, and that by agriculture alone 

 we must live. We have got a fruitful soil, though we don't 

 cultivate it as we ought. In short, we merely scratch the top 

 of it, and it produces what we call a good crop ; but we don't 

 go into the howels of the earth, as I may say they do in Scot- 

 land, lu Scotland it is the reverse with the soil and with the 

 people, for they have there an ungenial soil, and they have to 

 work with their heads as well as their bauds ; whereas we 

 have, I may say, the first country in the world. In a fhort 

 time, however, I hope that we shall be able, if not to surpass, 

 at least to cope with Scotland. 



Mr. ToRR responded for " The Judge?." He congratu- 

 lated the meeting upon the splendid exhibition which had taken 

 pl»ce. He had been present on other occasions, but on none 



which was more successful. The sheep were good, the cattle 

 excellent, and the implements superior. He considered that 

 the money prizes had conduced much to bring together go 

 many superior implementB. He had himself suggested this 

 after the poor display at Armagh. He could personally speak 

 to the great improvement in Ireland, even in this very neigh- 

 bourhood, through which he had travelled many years since. 

 There was a time when the English had rather a dread of any 

 Irish provisions, but latterly they would prefer being fed by 

 Ireland to any other country, when they could not find enough 

 at home. One still great want in Ireland was that of sheep, 

 lie had often before spoken to this. The more sheep they had 

 the better must the land be cultivated. Mr. Torr concluded 

 with a compliment to Captain Crokcr, of whose services while 

 Secretary to the Society he bad the highest appreciation. 



The meeting became rather stormy after this, although when 

 we left there were several other names and subjects on the 

 toast list. 



CUMBERLAND AND WESTMORELAND AGRICULTURAL SHOW. 



This flourishing society held its annual meeting at 

 Penrith, on Friday last, and with very marked success. 

 In consequence of the opening of the classes to the 

 United Kingdom, some " distinguished strangers " en- 

 tered the lists. Among these was Sir Charles Tem- 

 pest's two-year-old short-horn heifer " Crinoline," who 

 not only won in her class, but received the silver 

 Challenge Cup medal, as the best animal in all the 

 classes. The judges seemed for some time to waver 

 between her and Sir Charles's bull " Emperor 

 Napoleon," who, after receiving high commendations, 

 both at Chester and Northallerton, took a winning tour 

 to this and the Ulverstone show. Both in quality and 

 make, the cannie Cumbrians pronounced him " almost 

 faultless ;" his head is as sweet as a heifer's, but he is 

 thought to be rather light in his hair. "Bloomer," 

 the prize short-horn cow, had an immense frame, 

 but she was anything but level-fed, and " Lizzie," from 

 Captain Spencer's herd, was in many respects her su- 

 perior. This gentleman won the first and second prizes 

 in the Yearling Heifer class, with " Sappho" and 

 " Blink Bonny." The former is the calf out of 

 " Lizzie," which he purchased when it was carried into 

 the sale ring at Willesden, some fifteen hours after its 

 birth, for 50 guineas ; and " Blink Bonny" was bred by 

 Mr. Strafford. " Sappho" has done full justice to such 

 a gallant venture, and is quite a picture, especially in 

 her head, and an equally beautiful handler. The pigs 

 and sheep were good, but not especially choice. The 

 entries of the first-named were very scanty, and Mr. 

 Watson, of Bolton Park, did not show anything. The 

 horses came in much greater force, except for 

 the cart-horse stallion prize, in which Young 

 BIythe, who had just won at Ulverstone, was un- 

 opposed. British Yeoman reigned supreme among the 

 blood stallions, but Royal Ravenhill has never been 

 shown against him since they met at the Royal Agricul- 

 tural. Although he is rising nineteen, the old son 



of Liverpool is scarcely dipped in the back, and was as 

 gay as a kitten. The sight of him in a Cumberland 

 show-yard always elicits not a little enthusiasm ; but 

 both he and Royal Ravenhill were beaten for the two- 

 year-old hunting prize by the stock of Clansman, a son 

 of Barnton. The hunting mares were moderate, and 

 perhaps the germ of the horse show was the prize cart 

 mare from The Knells, near Carlisle. She is lengthy> 

 low on the leg, and, with wondrous quality, so exactly 

 resembles Melbourne in the style of her head, that we 

 might have believed her to be got by him. We could 

 not but regret that she had not been shown at Chester. 



The prime amusement of the afternoon 

 was the contest for the hunter prize, the conditions of 

 which required that every horse should jump twelve 

 hurdles. Five of the lot would have disgraced no hunt- 

 ing stable, but the others were common. At the first 

 attempt, all but one, who was ridden barebacked by a 

 clever little " Dick Christian " of a boy, refused point 

 blank ; but they soon warmed to their work, and gave 

 some two thousand lookers-on a very pleasant half-hour 

 of it. The prize was eventually given to the boy's 

 horse, who was of course the deservedly popular candi- 

 date, and a horse belonging to Mr. Philip Musgrave — 

 the Master of the Eamont Harriers, w-ho founded it- 

 was placed second, and one of Mr. Parker's highly com- 

 mended. 



The plan carried to this length is certainly novel, 

 but one that hunting-men are not likely to follow, for 

 fear of making their horses confirmed refusers. 



The agiicultural implements were purely local, and 

 very useful in their character ; and if we have a com- 

 plaint to make, it is of the very involved and tedious 

 catalogue, which is twice as puzzling as any " Brad- 

 shaw," and the immense length of the toast-list — the 

 latter is becoming a sad nui.sance at too many agricul- 

 tural dinners. 



