SECRETARY'S REPORT. 201 



here for getting farm and stylish carriage horses, and some one 

 would do the public a service by importing a few good speci- 

 mens, especially if we could avoid the failings sometimes 

 imputed to these horses of being badly ribbed up, or short in 

 the rib, having lightness of body in proportion to length of 

 legs, or as we say, " too much daylight" under them. A horse 

 of this make will require large supplies of food to keep him in 

 condition when at work, or he will soon run down. But the 

 first prize stallion was remarkably free from these faults, and it 

 would be difficult to find, I think, a better stock-getter for the 

 purposes alluded to. I am not aware that many good specimens 

 of this breed have ever been imported into this country. The 

 best Clydesdales are found in Ayrshire, Lanark, Renfrew, 

 Stirling and Dumbarton. 



Of the sheep it would be difficult to say too much as a whole, 

 though in some classes they were deficient in the numbers 

 shown, and some said, in quality, as compared with some former 

 exhibitions. The number of entries was 641. 



The Cotswolds were admitted to be the most magnificent lot 

 ever shown. They formed one of the leading and most attrac- 

 tive features of the show. There were ninety entries. The 

 first prize ram, the judges said, was " the best they ever saw," 

 and the old sheep generally in the Cotswold classes " were 

 never larger or better as a lot." Many of them showed a 

 sprinkling of gray. One of the second prizes was much tinc- 

 tured with this, which was regarded generally as a defect. 

 They excel most other breeds in a combination of weight of 

 carcass, wool and quality. The prominent points of those at 

 the fair were the broad, straight back, fine neck and shoulders, 

 and great length of quarter. They all had the large foretop 

 on the forehead, which is considered to be a strong character- 

 istic of the Cotswold breed. As an instance of the prices 

 which this popular breed brings in England, it may be men- 

 tioned that in 1861, thirty-five rams sold at an average of over 

 •f 172 each. 



The Leicesters were also numerous, showing no less than 

 sixty-six rams. This is a sheep, as is well known in this coun- 

 try, first brought into notice in 1790, by Mr. Bakewell. At his 

 suggestion the principal breeders formed a mutual admiration 

 club, and resolved, " that strict secrecy be kept by all members ;" 



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