AGRICULTURAL SOCIETIES 233 



land from which it drew its entries, confirmed by the prizes offered 

 for the best field of rye grass. 



Each year it is the last of the shows to be held in the southern 

 part of the county, and is spoken of as " T'lile Royal." 



The number of entries in 1896 was 342, in 1899 the entries fell 

 to 216, and in 1909 they numbered 427, made up from cattle 71, 

 sheep 54, horses 114, pigs 13, butter, eggs, etc., loi, and farms, crops, 

 stocks, and roots 74. 



At the annual meeting of the society in 1909 the treasurer reported 

 a balance of £38 13s. 4d., including a gain of £14 12s. 8d. on the previous 

 year's show. 



The Orton Agricultural Society was founded in i860, and the 

 first show was held on the 20th September that year ; there were 

 two classes for Ponies, and the sheep classes consisted of White-faced, 

 Black-faced, and Herdwicks. At the spring fair, May 3rd, in 1862, 

 the society offered a prize of £1 los. for the best Agricultural stallion 

 and £1 for the best Pony stallion. In 1863 the Herd wick classes 

 were increased to four, but the society ended after the 1865 show — 

 the cattle disease regulations in 1866-67 proving too much for the 

 committee. 



The Shap Agricultural Society. At the first agricultural show, held 

 at Shap on the 3rd September, 1861, there were three classes for Ponies 

 not exceeding 13 hands with 17 entries. The sheep classes were for 

 Leicesters, Lcng-wooled, Black- faced, and Herdwicks. In 1864 the show 

 was held on the " Fair Hill," and hurdle leaping was added as an 

 attraction. The total number of entries in 1895 was 375 ; 1905, 426 ; 

 and over 400 in 1909, in which year the sheep classes were for White- 

 faced and Rough mountain sheep, six classes for each, and half-bred 

 sheep from Black-faced or Herdwick ewes, also in six classes. Fell 

 Ponies have always been a feature of the show — in 1909 there were five 

 classes for Ponies not exceeding 13 hands 2 inches high with 18 entries, 

 including the special prizes offered by the Polo and Riding Pony Society 

 for the best Fell Pony mare in foal or with foal at foot not exceeding 14 

 hands, registered or eligible for the Fell Section of the Stud Book, for 

 which there were five entries, in addition to these prizes in 191 1 the 

 Board of Agriculture offered two premiums for Fell Pony stallions of 

 £5 and £2 los. registered in ur eligible for the Stud Book. The first 



