AGRICULTURAL SOCIETIES 231 



In i860 there were thirteen entries for four prizes for ponies not over 

 14 hands high. At the show in 1862 butter prizes were first offered 

 for 10 lb. baskets, when there were seven entries, and five entries for 

 cheese, the value of the prizes in each class being 12/6. For ponies 

 not above 14 hands there were 20 entries. Poultry was shown this 

 year in six classes. In 1864, although there were prizes for mangels, 

 there were no entries, though there were 12 for swedes and three for 

 yellow turnips. The sheep classes in 1884 were improved Leicesters, 

 half-bred of a Fell cross, and Rough Fell other than Scotch, while in 

 1909 they were improved Leicester, Blue-faced suitable for crossing 

 purposes, half-bred of a Fell cross, and Rough Fell ; at the same show 

 there were 13 classes for Shorthorns, including a silver medal for the 

 best male and female ; the horses were divided into road or field, 

 agricultural and Hackneys. There were prizes also for butter, eggs, 

 and dressed poultry. The entries in 1900 were : Cattle, 65 ; sheep, 

 58 ; horses, 71 ; dogs, 6 ; butter, 17 ; eggs, 12 ; honey and bread, 6 ; 

 and green crops, 34 ; a total entry of 269. In 1909 the total reached 

 312. 



The Staveley Agricultural Society held its first show on October 

 8th, 185 1. The classes for sheep included Improved breed. South- 

 down, cross of any breed, Herdwicks, and Fell breed. On May 9th, 

 1S53, the Society instituted the Prize Sheep Shearing Meeting at 

 Windermere for (i) Leicesters and half-bred sheep and (2) Fell-bred 

 sheep, men and boys in each class in the two styles (i) over and over 

 and (2) country fashion. Owing to the extreme coldness of the day 

 the meeting had to be postponed, although large crowds of people 

 had assembled to see the novel competition. The meeting, however, 

 took place on June 20th. In the class for chpping in the " country 

 fashion " there were 18 entries, and the time occupied in clipping 

 three sheep varied from 26 minutes to 69 minutes. In the " round 

 and round " class there were 13 entries, and the time occupied in clip- 

 ping three sheep was from 61 to 107 minutes. The report of the judges 

 was that the clipping done in the " round and round " fashion was 

 much neater and closer than the " country fashion," but the time 

 occupied considerably longer. 



In August of the same year, 1853, the Society changed its name 

 to the Windermere Agricultural Society, which became a migratory 



