SECRETARY'S REPORT. 191 



In an English show one expects to find the Sliortliorns lead- 

 ing in pohit of numbers. It is the fashionable breed. All the 

 science and practical knowledge of the most distinguished 

 breeders have been bestowed upon it, and exhausted in its 

 improvement. It has a history such as no other breed has, 

 and the English have a great regard for pedigree. 



It is not surprising, therefore, that the entries of Shorthorns 

 numbered 250, consisting of 138 bulls and 112 cows, while the 

 Herefords rose to 97, a most splendid lot, and the Devons 

 formed what they call a "juicy red line " of 06. It should be 

 stated that this year, for the first time, the Highland and Agri- 

 cultural Society of Scotland united its forces with the Royal 

 Agricultural Society, and so the Scotch formed a component 

 part of the English show here, and the polled Aberdeen and 

 Aiiffus formed a class of this grand show, as well as the polled 

 Galloways^ the Highlanders, and the Aijrshires. Scotland 

 also sent in the Black-faced and the Cheviot sheep, and the 

 Clydesdale horses. The Highland shepherds wore the plaid 

 and kilt, and tlie Scotch dairymaids in attendance upon some 

 of the herds gave a sort of picturesque effect to the classes 

 from the north. 



This being a sort of international year, the foreign stock also 

 appeared in considerable numbers, and attracted its full share 

 of interest and patronage. It was evident that the compara- 

 tive want of feeding qualities would be likely to tell against 

 them among a people obliged to breed for beef, but they exhib- 

 ited in strongly marked contrast what the English breeder has 

 long ceased to cultivate, milking qualities. The sweet-toned 

 bell of polished metal which every Swiss cow wore, as if in 

 conscious pride, upon her neck, and the beautiful ranz des 

 vaches of the Swiss lierdsmen, with their unique mountain 

 costume, formed a pleasing and attractive feature of this great 

 show. Some of them played the Alpine horn for the enter- 

 tainment of the visitors. 



The show of Shorthorns was more extensive, and, as a whole, 

 by far the finest I had ever seen. That is, there was a larger 

 number of animals of very high excellence than any I had seen 

 together. I think I have, seen as good individual animals in 

 Kentucky as any I saw at the Royal Exhibition. The entries 

 occupied 24 pages of the catalogue. As a whole they gave 



