388 On the Exhibition of Live Stock at Chester. 



estin<r " collection " of animals. The first prize was awarded 

 to Mrs. Baker, of Grendon, near Atherstone, for a 2-year old 

 Shropshire sheep — a magnificent animal. The second prize 

 was awarded to Mr. G. Adney, of Harley, for his 4-year old 

 Shropshire Down. Mr. Bryan's 4-year old Oxfordshire Down, 

 and Mr. Humfrey's 4-years old West-country Down, were 

 highly commended. There were also four aged rams com- 

 mended, viz. : — Mr. Brown's Hampshire Down, Mr. Kettle's 

 Shropshire Down, and two of Mr. Humfrey's West-country 

 Downs. Amongst so many conflicting breeds it must have 

 been difficult indeed to decide, both as regards the comparative 

 breeds and the specimens of each. 



Class in. — Shearling Eives: 22 entries. — This was a good class. 

 Mr. Humfrey was awarded the first prize, for his West-country 

 Down ewes ; Mr. Coles, of Wiltshire, the second, for his im- 

 proved Hampshire Downs. Mr. Crane's Shropshire ewes and 

 Mr. Humfrey's were highly commended ; and the Shropshires 

 of Messrs. Crane and Mr. Holland were commended. This 

 competition of " other short-woolled sheep, not being South- 

 downs," requires the consideration of the Council as to whether 

 they can be separated into distinct classes of established breeds. 



Pigs. 



These were shown in good numbers, there being collectively 

 168 pigs in the yard, viz., 69 of the large breed, and 99 of the 

 small breed. The majority of the entries were of the small 

 breed. The large pigs formed a curious spectacle ; their length, 

 height, and unwieldy frames were the wonder of all. Those of 

 the small breed, although excessively fat, were of more ordinary 

 and familiar proportions. 



The entries of white pigs this year preponderated over those 

 of the Berks and Essex blacks. 



The breed of large white pigs has its origin in the north 

 of England : Yorkshire, Lincolnshire, and Lancashire have 

 long been celebrated for them as bacon hogs. This class of 

 animal has been remodelled into better shape by a cross with 

 the small breed. The prize boar in Class I. was an extra- 

 ordinary animal ; he actually weighed at the Chester Show 

 lOr cwt., or 82 stone ; and on inquiry I learned that his dam, 

 the prize sow of the large breed at Carlisle, weighed, when 

 shown there, at the age of 2 years and 1 month, 84 stone. She 

 was sold for 45 guineas. This breed is called the " Lanca- 

 shire improved." When 10 months old they weigh nearly 

 30 stone, and at 2 years old from 50 upwards, or, in the 



