46 



I must confess that I shall return to Australia a convert to Shires, although 

 I am inclined to give the preference to the much -improved French 

 Percherons. 



Of horses, there were in addition 130 hunters, not of superlative merit, 

 35 hackneys, 9 ponies, 21 Highland ponies, and 49 Shetland ponies the latter 

 a most attractive exhibit of its kind. 



There were 85 Blackface sheep entries, making 'a very fine exhibit. As a 

 breed they appeared to me much superior to the Herdwicks, to which the 

 men of Cumberland and Westmoreland appear so attached. The 37 Cheviot 

 entries, with their brilliantly white faces, their erect ears and their hare-like 

 heads, made a very good impression. They also have the appearance of 

 exceedingly fine sheep. Border-Leicesters, represented by 103 entries, were 

 perhaps the finest sheep exhibit on the grounds. 



To me the surprise of the show was to find amongst the sheep a special 

 class, labelled simply " Half-bred," including both rams and ewes, and which 

 on examination I came to the conclusion to be crosses between Cheviots 

 and Border-Leicesters. What could such a class possibly be doing in an 

 agricultural show ? They were admittedly fine, upstanding animals, but 

 why offer prizes for half-bred rams ? For what purpose can they possibly 

 be used ? Unfortunately I could come across nobody who could enlighten 

 my ignorance. 



Down sheep were represented by 8 Shropshire entries, very far from first- 

 class ; 10 Oxford entries ; and 20 Suffolk, somewhat better. 



Of pigs, there were 37 Large White and 17 Berkshires of medium quality. 



A VISIT TO IRELAND. 



August 10th to 16th was taken up in a hurried visit to Ireland, during 

 the course of which I collected no agricultural news. If one were to judge 

 from what can be seen from a railway carriage, Ireland has from an agri- 

 cultural point of view, a very neglected appearance, in striking contrast to 

 the well-tilled fields of Scotland and England. Ditches everywhere, over- 

 grown, unkempt hedges dividing up the country into the smallest of fields ; 

 but the geniality, the cordiality of the people high and low, cannot be equalled 

 anywhere. Why wear yourself out in toil when all's well in the best of all 

 possible worlds ? Nowhere have I seen horses better tended, better groomed, 

 than in Ireland. There appears to be no doubt that the Irishman loves 

 his horse ; indeed, as I found later on, Irish horses have acquired quite a 

 reputation on the Continent in general. On several occasions and in various 

 countries I have heard a typically well-bred horse referred to as equal to 

 a thoroughbred Irish horse. 



