THE FARMER'S MAGAZINE. 



81 



sou's premium apparatus, so well kuowji at the shows of the 

 Highland and Agricultural Society, the Glasgow Society, the 

 Manchester and Liverpool Society, and the Royal Irish Agri- 

 cultural Society. Garrett and Son sect their 4-hor3e portable 

 steam-engiue, and their corn-preparing machines for steam and 

 haud-po*^er; Keenaa (Duhliu) various implements, root- 

 pulpers, chaff-cutters, apparatus for blasting roots, &c., &c. ; 

 Kichraoud, Chandler, and Norton (Liverpool), chaff-cutters, 



corn-crusherE, turnip cutters, pulpers, and haymaking ma- 

 chines ; Noble (Chapelizod) drills, &c. ; Shekleton (Dundalk) 

 land-pressers, turnip-cutters, &c..; Saunders (Dublin) steaming 

 apparatus; Barrett, Exall, and Audrewes portable engines and 

 thrashing raachiues ; Dicksou, Hogg, and Robertson (Dublin) 

 a beautiful and extensive collection of seeds, roots, and mag- 

 nificent conifera!. 



THE NORTHERN COUNTIES FAT-STOCK AND POULTRY SHOW. 



The Northern Counties Fat Stock and Poultry Society, 

 hitherto known as the " South Durham and North Yorkshire," 

 held its eighth annual exhibition in Darlington, on the Wed- 

 nesday, Thursday, and Friday prereediug the Smithfield week. 

 It proved to be, what it was fully expected to be, by far the 

 best show ever held, not only by the society, but in the north 

 of England, for not merely were the eutries more numerous 

 (although a material decrease was exliibited in the number of 

 cattle), Lut they were greatly superior in quality. The fol- 

 lowing is a comparative statement of the number of entries for 

 the latter years of the society : — 



1855. 1856. 1857. 1858. 1859. 1860. 



Cattle 75 73 78 66 81 51 



Sheep 27 16 14 12 21 20 



Pigs 14 21 22 33 32 44 



Poultry.... 403 477 377 480 339 471 



Thus showing, as compared with last year, a falling off of 30 

 iu cattle, and 1 in sheep, and an increase of 12 in pigs, and 

 132 iu poultry. 



The chief attraction of this show, and why we more par- 

 ticularly notice it, is the superior class of shorthorns which 

 it is the means of bringing together. This very excellent and 

 deservedly popular breed, in its early history, was known as 

 the "Tees Water"; latterly the " Durham," or "Shorthorn," 

 Of the dozen different breeds and sorts of beasts iu this 

 country, one third, we are told, are composed of Shorthorns. 

 They are the most widely spread of any other, their popu- 

 larity being confined not only to our own island, but extend- 

 ing also to the four quarters of the globe. Where, then, they 

 are admitted to be indigenous to the soil, as is said to be the 

 case with Darlington and the neighbourhood, or the Vale of 

 the Tees, it is most likely that we shall find the choicest spe- 

 cimens. And be it remembered that iu this district there 

 are many as great admirers of this species of animal as 

 was ever Mr. Collins, to whose anxious devotion and care we 

 owe so much. Last year the Duke of Cleveland exhibited an 

 ox which had it been shown at the Smithfield Club or Bir- 

 mingham would, it was generally asserted, and that by most 

 competent judges, have taken the shine out of those which 

 obtained the chief honours. This year, although perhaps 

 there was not one to equal in bulk that of the Duke of Cleve- 

 land's, there were many noble animals, and, as a whole, their 

 quality was vastly superior to those shown last year. A 

 heifer, the property of Mr. Booth, of Warlaby, near North- 

 allerton, called the "Soldier's Bride," which was declared to 

 be the best animal in the yard, and thereby won the 

 " Founder's Cup ;" a gold challenge vase, valued at 100 

 guineas, given by Mr. Mewburn, jun,, a silver eup, 

 given by the tradesmen and innkeepers of Darlington, 

 and £15, as the best in her class, was only one year eleven 

 months and three days old, and yet she weighed, 

 it was estimated, dead weight, not lesi, perhaps more than 70 

 stones. Such an instance of early maturity, we believe, is 

 not on record. Her symmetry was perfection itself, her 

 back level as a board, and quarters exceedingly good ; so with 

 loins, ribs, and shoulders ; the beast could not be excelled, and 

 her rump had the appearance of two fungi. Her flesh was 

 particularly mellow to the touch, and her coat, white in colour, 

 was almost as fine as silk. A thousand guineas is said to be 

 about her figure. She was the observed of all observers ; it 

 was extremely difficult to get a glimpse of her, the stall being 

 surrounded with spectators during the whole of the exhibition. 

 She won a silver tankard at York the other day, on the occa- 

 «ioB of a fat cattle show being held in that city. Providing 



she be kept for a couple of years more (ant', as she is intended 

 for breeding puipnses, doubtless this will be the case) compe- 

 tent judges hesitate not to say that she will win all before her. 

 We shall expect to find her at Birmingham or Smithfield next 

 year. Mr. Outhwaite, of Bainesae, exhibited a prime heifer, 

 Iler only failing was in her thighs, which were rather light. 

 She was exceedingly tine iu the bone; this, iu our opinion, 

 detracted from her symmetry, for she w. s a heavy, big beast. 

 She was rather aged, but nevtrthcless had attained marvellous 

 maturity. You could comfortably diue off her back, which 

 was extremely level and broad. Her hair was fine and smooth, 

 and she had the appearance of having been careluUy tended. 

 Mr. Gell, of Cirimstou Hill, near York, who the year before 

 last carried away the Founder's Cup, and has been a success- 

 ful exhibitor at most of the shows of the society, had a very 

 fat ox under four years, which won the first prize in his class. 

 His proportions were exceedingly good, and his lines were 

 well defined, but he was hardly firm enough in flesh. Mr. 

 Johnson, of Cleasby, closely followed oa his heels, coming in 

 second with an animal which, although not perfect, his sides 

 being rather slack, possessed a very good shoulder and breast. 

 Mr. Stoweil'a, of Favordale, a great rough beast, was defec- 

 tive in symmetry, but will cut up profitably. Mr. Raiue's (of 

 Snow Hall) was misplaced, having been placed amongst the 

 shorthorns, whereas he was a cross. He was a most power- 

 ful looking animal, and with a little longer keeping will doubt- 

 less make excellent beef. Amongst the shorthorn oxen not 

 exceeding three years old the best \^as that of Mr. John 

 Hamilton, a very level beast, finely proportioned, and possess- 

 ing a rare breast, thigh, and hock. Indeed, he promises to be 

 a " topper." Mr. Kay, of Forcett Valley, deservedly obtained a 

 footing in this class. The quality was good, and as to moat of 

 his parts there could not be an objection raised, although he 

 failed in one or two points. In the shorthorn heifer class, 

 not exceeding four years, Mr. Outhwaite wins the chief 

 laurel with the animal already alluded to, Mr. Booth coming in 

 second with the Queen of the Isles, a heifer well known to 

 breeders generally, she having been successful at most of the 

 principal shows during the last year or two. At Chester, on 

 the occasion of the Royal Agricultural Society's Show there, 

 she beat twenty-five competitors ; and if we mistake not, she 

 was in a very good position at the Great Yorkshire Agricultural 

 Show. Mr. Booth is also successful in the shorthorn heifers, 

 not exceeding three years old, Messrs. Bolckow and Vaughan, 

 the great ironmasters in Cleveland, who of late have evinced 

 a warm interest in the breeding and rearing of cattle, taking 

 the second place, with a one year and two months heifer, most 

 particularly mellow in flesh, and nicely got up. The best 

 cross-bred fat ox, under four years, was that of Messrs. James 

 and William Martin, of Guthrie Castle, Aberdeen ; pretty 

 level certainly, but to our mind requiring a little more flesh 

 upon the shoulder. His symmetry was very good, and he was 

 well up in the ribs. Mr. Thomas, of Hurworth-on-Tees, was 

 second, with an animal undoubtedly good, but a little wanting 

 between the shoulder and ribs. He possessed a pretty breast, 

 and for a cross-breed was particularly fine in the bone. The 

 best ahorthorned cow having produced a living calf was that 

 of Mr. Bamlett, of Heighiugton, which we thought was a 

 long way short of what we have before seen. Mr. Outhwaite 

 was here again successful, taking the second place with a good 

 old cow. Mr. James Bruce of Huntly, Aberdeen, and Mr. 

 James Stewart, of Aberdeen, take the first and second place 

 respectively for cross-bred oxen under three years, beating the 

 Messrs, Martin and other competitors " hollow." Sir Walter 

 C. Trevelyan, Bart.'s heifer, under four years, cross-bred, was 



