THE FARMER'S MAGAZINE. 



195 



ROYAL AGRICULTURAL SOCIETY OF ENGLAND. 

 THE SALISBURY MEETING. 



REPORT ON THE LIVE STOCK. 



The prizes adjudicated this year have amounted to 

 .£590 for cattle, £280 for horses, £500 for sheep, £80 

 for pigs, and £124 for poultry ; in all, no less a sum 

 than £■'1,574. In looking at the tabular statement 

 of numbers heading our notice of each class, it will be 

 seen how large an increase of competition has crowded 

 the Show-yard, and with a hitherto unparalleled collec- 

 tion of first-rate animals. 



The list of prize-meu and the names of the juf^ges 

 having already appeared in our columns, we propose 

 now to offer a very general critique upon the various 

 classes, making especial mention of any animals which 

 are more particularly meritorious or defective. 



THE PROGRESSIVE NUMBERS IN THE CATTLE 

 CLASSES ARE AS FOLLOWS: 



SHORTHORNS. 



This breed, always constituting a strong attraction at 

 the Society's meetings, is represented by a greater num- 

 ber of excellent animals than has been known for many 

 years past. 



Class I. — Bulls calved previously to the 1st 

 OF July, 1855, and not exceeding four years 



OLD. 



The labour of the judges here must have been com- 

 paratively easy, for a great difference, both in quality, 

 form, and size, is observable in this class. Mr. Stirling's 

 first prize bull is very handsome, and of beautiful qua- 

 lity to the touch. He is one of the finest animals we 

 ever saw ; but we would mention as peculiarly good 

 points, his chine and forequarter, his back, hip, and 

 thigh ; he certainly adds greatly to the renown of his 

 breeder, Mr. F. H. Fawkes, of Farnley. Mr. Langston's 

 second prize bull is very kvel, compact, fine in bone, 

 with a beautiful head and kind eye, though his chest 

 perhaps is not so full and wide as in some other animals 

 in the class. Of three other bulls we made the following 

 notes, which will perhaps suffice to warn the exhibitors 

 of their deficiencies, without our publishing names and 

 addresses in full. One was "rather coarse in bone, 

 and not of particularly good hand;" another had "a 

 narrow chine, and breast not sufficiently deep and full ;" 

 third was " small, narrow, shallow, and ill-formed, 

 but very prettily marked." 



Class II. — Bulls calved since the 1st of July, 

 1855, and more than one year old. 



Mr. Fawkes's prize bull is an admirable specimen of 

 what a young Shorthorn should be, handsome and of 

 great size, aud of splendid quality ; his chine and ribs 



being especially well thrown out, and showing great 

 capacity of frame and strong constitution. 



Mr. Brown's second prize is beautifully compact in 

 form and of a fine and kindly-feeding character. Mr. 

 Peel's red and white bull, bred by Mr. Ellison, of Ken- 

 dal, is extraordinarily large in frame. Mr. Douglas, of 

 Drem, shows a beautiful, symmetrical animal. Mr. 

 Fisher Hobbs has an exceedingly good bull in this class, 

 of very great, size, well made up for its age, level, with 

 a deep frame, and fine head. Lieut. -Col. Towneley's 

 bulls are also very admirable, particularly his 1 year and 

 6 months old roan, which has a remarkable forequarter, 

 and is altogether very superior. Nevertheless, we agree 

 with the judges in their decision. Mr. Clough's bull, 

 bred by Mr. Fawkes, is very large, but not wide enough 

 in proportion. Mr. Wetherell's white bull is remark- 

 ably good — in the opinion of many, equal to that which 

 took the second prize ; his roan is also good, but not 

 quite easy enough to the hand. Mr. Stratton's is an 

 example of the impossibility of a beast competing suc- 

 cessfully unless tolerablj fat. Another bull in this class 

 struck us as being plain and of somewhat too coarse a 

 quality. 



Class. III. — Bull Calves above 6 and under 

 12 MONTHS old. 

 This, taken altogether, is not a very superior class ; 

 although the prize calf of Mr. Marjoribanks, 8 months 

 and 5 days old, is very pretty indeed, of splendid 

 quality, and having a wonderfully good coat. Mr. 

 Booth's second prize calf, 10 months old, is also ex- 

 ceedingly beautiful. Mr. Douglas's calves are also well- 

 formed, and capitally developed for their age. 



Class IV. — Cows In-milk or In-calf. 



This is always a grand class, and this year contains 

 some magnificent specimens of the immense-framed, 

 wide-hipped, broad-breasted, handsome shorthorn cows. 

 Col. Towneley takes both prizes. The first was for the 

 wonderful animal which gained the prize at Chelmsford 

 in the two-year-old class : we cannot now dwell upon 

 all her merits, but must allude to her extraordinarily 

 large proportions, her great breadth, her wonderful 

 chine, chest, and forequarter, her hip, flank, and beau- 

 tiful flesh. 



The second prize cow is almost equally great and 

 good, and extremely handsome ; and notwithstanding 

 her excellent condition for winning a prize, she has had 

 two calves, and is now in-calf again. Mr. Wetherell, of 

 Darlington, shows a very beautiful cow, bred by Mr. 

 Harrison, that well merits the high commendation she 

 has obtained. Mr. Booth has another wonderfully fine 

 and well-made cow ; and Mr. Stratton's two cows are 

 remarkably good, large, level, broad, and roomy. 



Class V. — Heifers In-milk or In-calf, not 



EXCEEDINf! THREE YEARS OLD. 



This class is very good indeed. Mr. Douglas takes 

 the prize for a heifer of considerable size, and possessing 

 some good points ; but her forequarter and her thighs are 

 not at all what they ought to be : we certainly prefer Mr. 

 Booth's second prize heifer, and suppose the judges have 

 been captivated by the extra amount of flesh laid on by 

 the other. Mr. Booth's handsome heifer obtained the 

 first prize at Ch-lmsfoul as a yearling Mr Sttattou's 



