THE FARMER'S MAGAZINE. 



435 



BRIDGNORTH AGRICULTURAL ASSOCIATION, 



The fourth annual meetiii:^ of the above association was held 

 on Thursday, Oct. 8, under the presidency of the Rt. Hon. 

 the Earl of Dartmouth, and the vice-presidency of J. Pritch- 

 ard, Efq., H. Whitmore, Esq. (the two members for the 

 borough), and G. Pritchard, Esq. This Society is progressing 

 steadily. The total amount given in prizes is very large ; 

 there are also three silver cups given as prizes, value lOZ. 10s., 

 one presented by Messrs. Griffin and Morris for the best crop 

 of swede turnips grown from their manure, taken by G. M. 

 Kettle, Esq , of Dallicott-house ; a second, also value lOl. 10s., 

 presented by Messrs. Pitt and Simpson, for the best crop of 

 swedes grown from their manure, taken by Mr. W. II. Davis, 

 of Harrington ; and a third, of the value of 51. lOs., awarded 

 to the exhibitor of the best collection of eight or more pens of 

 poultry, taken by Mr. G. C. Peteis, of Birmingham. In ad- 

 dition to these prizes a sum of 251 was also subscribed to be 

 awarded for extra stock ; this sum being 15/. more than had 

 been awarded for the like purpose on any previous occasion. 



The show of cattle was exceedingly good, but was chiefly 

 confined to specimens of the Hereford breed. There were, 

 however, a few pens of short-horns exhibited by Mr. J. Price, 

 of Featherstone, near Wolverhampton. Amongst these was a 

 fine roan bull, " Musician," aged 6 years, which was highly 

 commended by the judges ; a pair of yearling heifers, " Queen 

 Elizibeth " and ' Vapour," which took the first prize in class 

 6, and which also this year took a second prize at Stafford, be- 

 sides being highly commended at Rugeley ; and two milking 

 cows, " Princess" and " Oak Apple," which we'e highly com- 

 mended. The former was a fine roan beast, and took a 5/. 

 prize at Stafford this year, where she also won a sweepstake of 

 3/. 13s., and the silver meJal. She was highly commended at 

 Rugeley. These were nearly all the short-liorns on the ground ; 

 but many farmers express an opinion that it would be well to 

 form a class for this breed, as they cannot be shown with any 

 hope of successfully competing with the Herefords. The bull 

 exhibited by Mr. Hill, of Couud, that won the first prize, is a 

 splendid specimen of the Hereford, remarkably thick and short- 

 legged; Mr. R. Haynea' beast, which took the second prize, 

 was also a splendid beast. Amongst the yearling steers were 

 a pen of two, exhibited by Mr. T. Inatnne, of Wenlock, very 

 fine animals, age under two years ; and another pen exhibited 

 by Mr. Meire, of Brockton, the beasts being 1 year and 11 

 months old. Mr. Meire was also a successful competitor 

 amongst the twc-year-old heifers, taking the first prize. Mr. 

 George Pritchard, of Astley Abbotts, exhibited a splendid pair 

 of Hereford yearlings, which took the second prize for animals 

 of that description : he also took the first prize for a fine fat 

 cow. There were some fine specimens of grass-fed cows, 

 Mr. J. Meredith, of Underton, being first in the breeding 

 of this kind ; and J. Pritchard, Esq., M.P., of the Hill-farm 

 second. 



The sheep were remarkably good, both in quantity and 

 quality. The competition amongst the Southdown, Shrop- 

 shires, or grey-faced sheep was not very great ; but what were 

 there were good, and Mrs. Darby's pen, from Stanley,' de- 

 servedly took the first prize. Mr. H. Smith, jun., of New- 

 house, Sutton Maddock, appears to be an excellent breeder ; 

 he took the first prize for yearling rams, and both prizes for a 

 pen of five yearling ewes. The last were fine specimens of 



Shropshire ewes, which are getting into well-merited reputa- 

 tion. The Leicesters were nun>erou3, and are perhaps more 

 bred at the present time on account of wool retaining its high 

 price in the market. There were some fine rama; Mr. J_ 

 Beach, of The Hattons, and Mr. T. Smith, of Stableford, being 

 successful exhibitors in this class. G. M. Kettle, Esq., of 

 Dallicott, and J. M. Pocook, Esq., of Chettan, took the prizes 

 for pens of five ewe lambs of every breed. 



There were very few horses. A fine cart stallion, " Regu- 

 lator," exhibited by Mr. E. Bache, took a prize ; and Mr. 

 Bcddoe, of Presthope, Much Wenlock, exhibited a fine cart 

 mare and foal, which took a prize. The prize for the cart filly 

 was taken by the Earl of Dartmouth, for a tine mare got by the 

 " Shropshire Friend." 



The show of pigs was also good ; and those exhibited by the 

 farm labourers were remarked for their fine appearance. J. 

 Pritchard, Esq., M.P., took the prize in this class for an ex- 

 cellent sow with a litter of 12. 



REPORT OF THE JUDGES FOR TURNIPS AND 

 ROOT CROPS. 

 The following is an abstract of a very able and elaborate 

 report, submitted by Mr. Edward Davies and Mr. John 

 Broughall, to the Judges for turnips and root crops : — 



FOR FARMS OVER 200 ACRES. 



Prize of £8 to Mr. Thomas Bache, Green House, for 20 

 acres of swedes and mangolds, planted the first week in May, 

 and manured with 3 cartloads of farmyard and 3^ cwt. of 

 artificial manure, at a cost of Ss. l|d. per cwt. ; 22 a. of 

 swedes, planted the second week in May, manured with 5 cwt. 

 of artificial manure, at a cost of 8s. l^d. per cwt. ; and 3 a. of 

 turnips, planted early in June, manured with 5 cwt. of artificial 

 manure, at a cost of Bs. l|d. per cwt. 



Prize of £4 to Mr. W. H. Davies, of Harrington, for 5 a. of 

 swedes, planted June 6th to June 9th, manured with 8 cwt. of 

 Griffin and Morris's artificial manure, at a cost of Ss. per cwt. ; 

 5 a. of swedes, planted same dates, manured with 5 cwt. o^ 

 Pitt's artificial manure, at a cost of Ss. 9d. per cwt. ; 4 a. of 

 mangolds, planted same date, manured with 4 cwt. of Upper 

 Peruvian guano,] at 12s. per cwt., and I5 cwt. of Bradburn'a 

 artificial manure ; 4 a. of swedes, planted same date, manured 

 with 4^ cwt. of Upper Peruvian guano, at 12s. per cwt.; 29 

 a. of swedes, planted June 10th to 18th, manured with 4j cwt. 

 of Upper Peruvian guano, at 12s. per cwt. ; and 14 a. 2 r. of 

 swedes aud turnips, planted June 20th to 24th, manured with 

 4^ cwt. of Upper Peruvian guano, at 12s. per cwt., and farm 

 yard-manure. 



Prize of £4 to H. C. Taylor, Esq., for 10a. 3r. of swedes, 

 planted last week in May and first week in June, manured 

 with 4J cwt. of Griffin aud Morris's artificial manure, at Ss. 

 per cwt., and 12 one-horse-cart loads of farm-yard manure; 

 la. 2r. turnips, planted second week in June; la. 2r. turnips, 

 planted last week in July, manured with 10 one-horse-cart 

 loads of farm-yard and 4 cwt. of Griffin and Morris's artificial 

 manure, at Ss. per cwt. ; la. Ir. cabbage, planted second week 

 in June, manured with 4}^ cwt. of Griffin and Morris's artifi- 

 cial manure, at 83. per cwt., and 13 loads of farmyard manure ; 

 2a, of mangolds, planted last week in April, manured same as 



