372 Report on the Exhibition of Live Stock at Phjmouth. 



I was sorry to see several notices of disqualification affixed to 

 pens in this department. 



Mr. Squarey, one of the Judges, reports to me as follows : — 



" The animals exhibited were on the -wiiolc of superior qualitj-, and without 

 surpassing, certainly maintained the distinctive excellences of the various 

 breeds, as indicated at former exhibitions of the Socictj'. 



" From the locality of the show it followed that the number of animals 

 exhibited was generally not large. Classes LXXXVIII., XCIIL, and XCIV^ 

 Averc, however, well represented. The absence of competition was specialjj 

 apparent in the local classes. 



" The animals which iiarticularly called for attention were No. 828, CI 

 LXXXVIII. (to which the lirst ]irizc was awarded) ; Xo. 800, Class XCj 

 and No. 807, Class XCIV. The Judges remarked that the characteristio 

 the large and small breeds w'cre in many cases scarcely sufficiently define| 



" Ten pens of animals were disqualified by the veterinary surgeon on ac 

 of their being older than described." 



In concluding my Report 1 think I may fairly congratulate the 

 Society on its Annual Show. Financially', Plymouth stands 

 fourth on the list, and the success of the meeting presents another 

 argument against the centralisation of our Shows, and in favour 

 of their peripatetic character. The men of the West have still a 

 good deal to learn, although the excellence of their stock in several 

 departments took us l)y surprise. There did not appear to be the 

 same hearty interest taken in the Show itself, that was evinced last 

 year at Newcastle. The people who came on the shilling-days 

 made a pleasant holiday, but did not carefully go over the lists of 

 stock exhibited, as the North countrymen did last year ; and we may 

 suppose from the deficiency in the sale of catalogues (the money 

 received at Plymouth l)eing 342/. as against 724/. at Newcastle, 

 and 510/. at Worcester), either that the education of the working 

 classes in the Western is inferior to that in the Northern and West 

 Midland districts, or that the love of agricultural pursuits is not 

 so fully developed. At the same time all the officers of the 

 Society felt deeply grateful for the kindness and hospitality they 

 received from the authorities and inhabitants of the three towns ; 

 and to the Local Committee we feel bound to tender our best 

 thanks for the admirable Show-yard provided, and for the readi- 

 ness with which they met all our suggestions. 



I cannot close my Report and resign my office as Steward of 

 Stock, without an expression of regret that the time has passed 

 so quickly by ; and 1 shall always look back with pleasure to the 

 pleasant weeks at Worcester, Newcastle, and Plymouth, and think 

 gratefully of the friendships made there. 



Ribston Hall, July 29, 1865. i 



