■Agricultural 3Ieeting at Paris of 1 856. 395' 



them chiefly worthy of attention. For the animals, Messrs. 

 Hudson, Milward, and Barrett ; for machinery, Messrs. Amos^ 

 Caldwell, and Huskinson ; for products, Sir A. Macdonald. 



Cattle. 



The collection under one roof, of cattle of so many various 

 breeds, from almost all the countries of Europe, was the most 

 remarkable feature of the show. The question will at once be 

 asked — of all these races are there any wliich surpass the races of 

 these islands, or which afford, a probability of inducinir improve- 

 ment by crossing ? The answer to that question will not increase 

 the interest of this Report, as in both cases it must be in the 

 negative. 



Tlie two races which looked the most suitable for our purposes 

 were the Dutch and the Flemish (Race Hollandaise and Race 

 Flamande). 



Tlie Dutch cows, generally black and white in colour, are large 

 in frame and good milkers, but with an undue proportion of bone 

 and of coarse beef. 



The Flemish, red in colour and with good skins ; not so coarse 

 in the bone as the Dutcli ; in frame large and lengthy. No 

 doubt both these varieties would cross advantageously with Short- 

 horn bulls ; but the proper course would seem to be for the 

 owners of these cows to seek our bulls, rather than for us to seek 

 their cows. 



The specimens of English cattle exhibited were numerous and 

 very good ; the Short-horns occupying the first place, and attract- 

 ing the chief attention of all foreign breeders. Mr. Milward 

 informs me that some dissatisfaction was occasioned by the de- 

 cisions of the jury in this class on two points : — 



1. Bulls were objected to, as too old, at the age of 5 J, though 

 no limit as to age was prescribed in the programme. 



2. Some cows and heifers were excluded from competition on 

 the score of being too fat and as not likely to breed, which, it was 

 thought by the English jurors, should not have been so con- 

 demned. 



The Ayrshire cows were much liked and sought after. One 

 of the great attractions of the sliow, from their novelty as well as 

 from their excellence, were the black jioUed Angus. ihese were 

 more uniformly good than any other class ; of great size, quality, 

 and symn'ietry. An extra gold medal was awarded to Mr. Mac- 

 Combie for having shown so many good animals of this breed. 



Among sheep, the great demand, as in the last year, was for 

 the l{ni>:lisli Soutiidowns, and Mr. Webb maintained his foremost 

 position in this class. 



Some ewes of large size were exhibited from llolstein, each 



