Chapter XXIV. 



Shows and Showing. 



THE first goat show ever held in England took place 

 in connection with the Newton Abbot meeting of the Devon 

 County Agricultural Association on i9th May, 1875. 

 The prizes were given by the Baroness Burdett-Coutts, 

 who was staying in the neighbourhood at the time, and 

 at whose instigation the classes were formed. These were 

 divided into short-haired, long-haired, medium-haired, and 

 hornless goats, with a class for kids under six months old. 

 In the summer of the same year an important show of 

 goats took place at the Crystal Palace, when as many as 

 1 08 entries were made, the prize list amounting to ,72. 

 In October, 1876, the year which saw the inauguration 

 of Dairy Shows at Islington, goats formed part of the 

 exhibits, and have continued doing so annually without 

 interruption to the present time. Being held in a per- 

 manent building, and at a time of year when goats are 

 not generally in full milk, these classes are largely 

 patronised by the principal breeders, so that nowhere is 

 there such a fine collection to be seen as at these 

 gatherings. He-goats, however, whether adults or kids, 

 are not admitted here on account of their objectionable 

 odour, for, although for many years male kids up to nine 

 months of age were allowed to be entered, one precocious 

 youngster even at that age, it was found, would taint 



