at Bury St. Edmund's. 633 



must then show on equal terms. Hitherto the Inspectors, in 

 their anxiety to avoid the injustice of disqualifying any sheep 

 improperly, have given to all the benefit of any doubt there could 

 be, and in so doing feel that they have passed, as fairly shorn, 

 many about which they were far Irom satisfied. 



Pigs. 



The show of Pigs at Bury was characterised more by uniform 

 excellence than by the appearance of any very remarkable 

 animals — some of the classes, the large white breed and those 

 not qualified for the specified classes were only scantily filled, 

 as were those of all kinds for three young breeding sows ; but the 

 small white breed, boars and sows, were in great force both in 

 numbers and quality, and as a whole perhaps have not been so 

 uniformly good at any previous meeting. The classes for pigs 

 of a small black breed were, as was to be expected in Suffolk, 

 also well filled, and among a lot of very good ones Mr. Sexton 

 stood pre-eminent for both boars and sows. With so much 

 general excellence it is superfluous to say that the winners were 

 good, or to do more than to refer to the prize list for the names 

 of the successful exhibitors. Nor must I enumerate all the 

 animals marked for approval in my catalogue.* 



It is satisfactory to find that the veterinary examination of denti- 

 tion showed only two cases where the age was greater than certified, 

 and one, evidently an unintentional error, where it was less. 



Upon the whole the meeting at Bury was as successful as, in 

 the absence of cattle, could be expected. The exhibition of im- 

 plements was the largest and best ever seen. The horses 

 numerous and good enough to form a most attractive feature. 

 Leicester sheep fully as good as usual. Southdowns such as 

 might be expected when Lord Walsingham, the Duke of Rich- 

 mond, and Rigden compete with comparatively new men, and 

 in some classes are beaten. Cotswolds introduced us to pre- 

 viously unknown competitors, who utterly vanquished the breeders 

 from the native hills of these sheep, and suggested the idea that, 

 unless those men come to the rescue whose names heretofore 

 were conspicuous in the prize list, Norfolk, not Gloucestershire 

 would soon be resorted to by those who are looking for first-rate 

 Cotswolds. Shropshires and Hampshires were distinguished by 

 the evidence afforded of their continued improvement ; and Lin- 

 colns good, but showing how few breeders of them appreciate the 

 wish of the Council to encourage their exhibition. Pigs in most 

 classes good, as they have ever been ; in some, the small blacks 

 especially, much better. All this will tend to satisfy tlie Council 

 that their mission for this year has been accomplished as satis- 



* The judges, at a late date sent a brief report, speaking favourably of the show 

 of pigs in general terms. 



