THE FARMER'S MAGAZINE. 



into the water at the foot of the chamber (a) it is cooled, 

 and may be removed at pleasure. 



By this arrangement all the nuisance met with in 

 charging and dischargin;^ the retorts fixed on the ordin- 

 ary principle, is completely obviated. All escape of gas 

 is also prevented, and a larger product obtained from 

 the fuel, in consequence of the vapours from the last 

 charge which is introduced, having to pass along the mass 

 of incandescent fuel which precedes it, as also through 

 the whole length of the retort. Another item of i-aving 

 arises from the fact that the retort or retorts are always 

 in work. As the small coal of houses, which is too fre- 

 quently wasted, is capable of being used in this appara- 



tus, and as little labour is required in its management, 

 gas can easily be made with it, costing on an average 48. 

 per 1,000 cubic feet. Another feature of the apparatus 

 ii the superior quality of the coke obtained. The coal 

 from which it is obtained beini^ subjected, at its first 

 entrance into the retort, to a considerable degree of com- 

 pression, the coke resulting is of a much denser quality 

 than that obtained from the usual process of gas mak- 

 ing. It is calculated that in a CO light apparatus there 

 will be as much coke produced as will kesp the appara- 

 tus working, and tlie gas produced at the rate of 3s. per 

 1 ,000 cubic feet. 



R. S. B. 



THE SMITHFIELD CLUB FAT CATTLE SHOW. 



CATTLE. 



Although inflated accounts of the increased entries in 

 the cattle classes have been spread abroad, we find the 

 numbers of this and previous Shows are as follows : — 

 1S55. 1856. 1857. 1858. 



Devons 17 21 32 28 



Herefords 20 21 36 26 



Shorthorns 40 42 43 42 



Scotch, Irish, and Welsh 16 13 18 12 



Other pure breeds 3 18 22 26 



Cross-bred 7 12 8 23 



Extra 9 13 17 14 



Total 112 140 176 171 



That is, as compared with last year, we have a decrease 

 of Devons, Herefords, Shorthorns, Scotch, Irish, and 

 Welsh, and Extra stock, the principal deficiency being 

 with the Herefords and Irish. Other pure breeds 

 show an increase, and the Cross-bred are three times as 

 many as they were last year. The Shorthorns keep pretty 

 closely to their usual force. The Show, altogether, is 

 full as usual, without being in excess. Taken as a whole, 

 the cattle classes cannot be ranked higher, if as high, in 

 merit as we have known them, there being too many 

 second-rate and third-rate animals — forming a dispro- 

 portionately large back-ground, setting off" the few mar- 

 vels of excellence which are conspicuous in the Show. 

 One feature, however, is more observable than ever — and 

 this must gratify our humane and economical friends 

 who are opposed to the pampering and bloating of 

 beef into unwholesome fit meat, bad for graziers and 

 butchers, good only for cooks — this is the presence of 

 well-bred, well-fed meat, with an almost complete ab- 

 sence of unsightly lumps of fat on backs and rumps. 

 In a word, it is, in this sense, the "evenest" show we 

 have ever seen. 



Devons. — This haudsorae breed musters in good 

 force ; has sent some good representatives ; but is open 

 to criticism, not being sufficiently select, particularly 

 in the largs class of "steers or oxen." His Royal 

 Highness's prize steer is certainly very handsome, sym- 

 metrical, wit!i flesh well l>iid on, and capital in flank and 

 thigh. The Earl of Leicester'.s second prizs steer is a 

 beautiful animal— a fine Devon in every point. Mr. 

 Farthing's (third prize) has a larger frame, but flesh 



not so good — and quality must always carry the palm. 

 We liked Mr. Overman's and Mr. Fisher II obb^' also 

 uncommonly well. The Prince's ox in Class II. has a 

 good back, is by no means deficient in beauty, but shows 

 rather too strongly the characteristic failing rump of this 

 breed to reach our idea of a model. We like Mr. Over- 

 man's ox (one year older) for his splendid quality of 

 flesh, laid on in the right places ; he is really a good one 

 in any year, and on any occasion. Mr. Farquharaon's 

 seven-year-old ox, bred by Mr. Quartly, is a famous 

 specimen of the sort, great in frame and substance, deep 

 through the chest, broad, and well-proportioned. Mr. 

 Pope's and Mr. Senior's heifers are exceedingly pretty. 

 If you enjoy touching a nicely-fed animal, let your hand 

 rest on the kindly-fleshed cow of Mr. Gibbs, which has 

 justly won the first prize. She is nine years old, and has 

 had six calves. Mr. Coates', Mr. Fouracrcs', and one 

 or two others in this good class, are also meritorious. 



Herefords. — The excellent show of Herefords ap- 

 pear without their king. No amount of merit distributed 

 through the classes being able to compensate for the 

 absence of Mr. Naylor's Birmingham Gold Medal ox, 

 a beast that would of itself fuim a magnificent point 

 of attraction in the yard. But the rules of the Club 

 prevent a re-appearance on this stage. We could 

 not but admire Mr. Heath's splendid steer, only just 

 victorious over Mr. Niblett's ; and Captain Peploe's 

 steer well deserves its commendation. The " Steers or 

 Oxen " is an exceedingly good class, and well filled. 

 Mr. Swinnertonis successful with his famous beast, Mr. 

 Heath's second-prize animal coming closely after ; but 

 with all its excellence, having a weak point where it is 

 so often found — just behind the shoulder-blade. Mr. 

 Aldworth's is a very good beast, Mr. Oakley's deserv- 

 ing its place of honour, and the Prince's well worthy of its 

 " commendation." The Earl of Darnley's steer is very 

 compact and handsome, and with capital quality of 

 meat. Mr. Shaw's fine ox, of great size, has plenty of 

 flesh, but with a tendency to be patchy. Mr. Turner's 

 very pretty Hereford heifer has her class to herself. 

 Among the cows we find a higher degree of fatness ; 

 the class is very small ; but Mr. tliggius' cow, and Mr. 

 Hill's prize cow (second at Birmingham), are of con- 



