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THE FARMER'S MAGAZINE. 



and as tbe adaptation of breeds to districts is now pretty 

 generally known, he is not long in suiting himself. How 

 vast an addition such a change as this, brought about in 

 the public mind mainly by the Smithfield Club, has 

 made to the wealth of the country, cannot be estimated. 

 Some glimmerings of light upon this question we do 

 gain, however, from a comparison of certain local data. 

 In 1732, for instance, the 76,210 head of cattle sold in 

 Smithfield market weighed on the average 3701bs., and 

 the 514,700 sheep 281bs. In 1794 a great improvement 

 occurred, for the 109,064 cattle weighed on the average 

 462lbs., and the 717,990 sheep 351bs. In 1821, when 

 the Duke of Bedford said that the objects of the club 

 were answered, this average was considerably advanced, 

 but the last thirty years have certainly seen a prodigious 

 advance upon the average of '21. The principles of 

 breeding laid down by Bakewell, and practised by the 

 Collins and Booths, have spread far and wide, and 

 been accepted without a demur. Science has assisted 

 the breeder and the feeder — the first to reduce the bone 

 and offal, and increase the meat; the latter to improve the 

 roots, and to combine them in such a way with other 

 alimentary material, as to clothe the rectangular frame 

 with muscle and fat in a firm and regular manner. 

 Whereas we had some six or seven distinguished herds, 

 we now boast about sixty, the owners of which are not 

 only doing all they can to support their own reputation; 

 but are exerting a very sensible influence upon all 

 classes of breeders. From every locality where such a 

 herd resides proceeds a small wave of progress and 

 stimulus, and never will the labourer of the club or the 

 objects of the show be brought to a close until every 

 beast bred in the United Kingdom is a gold medal 

 animal. Such stock as the Durham Ox of a past 

 century, and Colonel Towneley's Beauty and Beauty's 

 Butterfly of our own time, by standing out with such 

 marked distinctiveness, prove better than anything that 

 the breeder's work is far from being done. That the 

 continued exertions of the members, of the club are 

 needed, is proved by the show of this year. It seems 

 in some classes to have fallen back, and as a whole not 

 to be so good as many of former years. There are 

 none of those striking forms which attract and astonish. 

 The disappointment which those may feel who are most 

 interested in this matter, will be materially modified 

 however, when they consider the unparalleled difiiculties 

 that have beset the breeder and the feeder throughout 

 the last two years. The drought of last year and the 

 flooding rains of this may account for much. It will 

 not excuse imperfect forms we know, but it will excuse 

 imperfection in the fattening process. In looking round 

 the yard we must bear in mind the spare pastures and 

 the want of water which characterised the summer of 

 '69, the inclement autumn which followed, the cheerless 

 spring which succeeded upon a long variable winter, the 

 succulent unsunned grass, and sodden lair of the past 

 summer, and then the mouldered hay and unnourishing 

 roots upon which they have been since "got up." 

 Under such circumstances our view may be changed, and 

 we may come to consider it, conditionally, a success* 

 ful gfaow. Suffice it to say, that if it is s good repre- 



sentation of the state of the fat stock market generally, 

 it does not speak hopefully for the profit of the pro* 

 ducer, while it warns the consumer that when the turn 

 of the year is made, he may expect to buy meat much 

 dearer than he does at present. 



Those who wish to know bow the show of this year 

 stands with respect to other years, in point of numbers, 

 will be glad to glance at the following table : 



Commencing our review with the Shorthorn, it will 

 be well to say, that out of the thirty-six animals twenty- 

 three are exhibited by the breeders. The Shorthorn 

 men are, in this case, represented by the Duke of 

 Beaufort, the Earls Spencer, Radnor, Gainsborough, and 

 Howe, and Messrs. Stratton, Lingston M.P., Heneage 

 M.P., and R. W. Baker. In the class for steers above 

 three years old, the last-named gentleman carried off 

 the gold medal, with a handsomely marked roan ox aged 

 three years and eight months. This animal is perhaps 

 most remarkable for his immense depth : in girth he 

 measured 9 feet 4 inches : has been fed with great 

 regularity. The spring of the rib is surprising. If a 

 deficiency existed any wheie, it was in the breast-end ; 

 but he is a "grand" beast to face. Though there 

 are those who revert with preference to Mr. Wort- 

 ley's ox of '57, no one could doubt the justice of the 

 award in this instance, or could help lingering in 

 the neighbourhood of a form so symmetrical. The 

 Duke of Beaufort, the object of the gold medal award 

 at Birmingham, here obtained the first prize in the class 

 for steers not exceeding three years ; the colour, red 

 and white, the girth 8 feet 10 inches, back very 

 level, hips well developed, ribs springing, breast 

 very fine, and touch specially firm. The winner 

 ofthe 3rd prize in the 10th class, bred by Mr. R. Stratton, 

 is an exceedingly good strawberry roan animal, girthing 

 8 f. 11 in. Beside him stands another, from the same 

 herd, and discovering the most marked and curious in- 

 feriority. The proportions of the former are grand, but 

 they are thrown out into such marked relief by contiguity 

 to the latter, that one is obliged to stop and seek an 

 explanation of the difi"erence. The rump, thighs, and 

 twist ofthe prize steer would send many a breeder home 

 to his own yard in despair. A very perfect white steer, 

 2 years 10 months old, from the same herd, received a 

 high commendation. The horns were not to our taste. 

 Mr, Hulbert's, a white steer of great beauty, received 

 the 2ad prise. The 3rd prize in the younger oleii 



