POISSY EXHIBITION IN 1857, 417 



resolved to hold at Poissy in 1857 an International 

 Exhibition of fat stock. Prizes were offered for polled 

 cattle in two classes — one for oxen above three years and 

 another for bullocks under that age. In the latter class 

 there were eight oxen, nearly all of the Aberdeen or 

 Angus breed. Four belonged to the late Mr William 

 M'Combie of Tillyfour — one was 33 months old, and 

 weighed (live weight) 17 cwt. and 1 quarter; another, 34 

 months, and weighed 17 cwt.; another, 34 months, and 

 weighed 1 5 cwt. ; and another, age not stated, weighing 

 18 cwt. In this class Mr M'Combie won the first prize 

 — a gold medal and 1500 francs — as well as the third 

 prize — consisting of a bronze medal and 1000 francs; 

 the second prize — a silver medal and 1200 francs — going 

 to Mr James Stewart, Aberdeen, for a 35 months old 

 bullock, weighing 15 cwts. The other exhibitors in the 

 young class were Mr William Heath, Norfolk, and Mr J. 

 Knowles, Aberdeen. In the class for oxen over three years 

 old, there were four entries. Here Mr William M'Combie 

 of Tillyfour showed two splendid oxen — one 5 3 months old, 

 and weighing no less than 25 cwt., and the other 48 months 

 old, and weighing 21 cwt, For these two he obtained 

 the first and second premiums, the first consisting of a 

 gold medal and 1200 francs, and the second of a silver 

 medal and 1000 francs. The third prize — a bronze 

 medal and 900 francs — was awarded to Mr James Stewart 

 for a 49 months polled ox weighing 21 cwt. The other 

 exhibitor in this class was Mr John Balfour of Balbirnie 

 House, Fifeshire, who showed a 48 months ox of the 

 Falkland breed, weighing 18 cwt. Commenting upon 

 the awards at the Poissy exhibition, M. Trehonnais re- 

 marks : " Out of six prizes offered for polled oxen, Mr 

 William M'Combie obtained four : . yiz. two firsts, one 

 second, and one third, amounting 'in money to 4700 

 francs, or £178 sterling, with two gold medals, one silver, 

 and one bronze medal. Never was there in any exhibi- 



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