822 



THE AGRICULTURAL JOURNAL. 



Jersey records we shall find, as in some 

 remarkable instances in Lord Rothschild's 

 herds, that Jerseys milk wonderfuUj' up 

 to a great age, and that in consequence of 

 the system of keeping them in the herd, 

 it is possible to breed a number of animals 

 from the very best cattle, and so to form 

 a strain. The profit on the sale of a cow 

 while still young may amount to £3 or 

 £4 as compared with her value later in 

 life, sometimes more ; but what is that 



when spread over eight or ten years? If 

 the Jersey, as she does when she is a good 

 animal, leaves a liberal profit behind ber 

 every year of her life, the breeder can 

 well afford to neglect a small sum, if any, 

 which she realises when her life's w^rk 

 is concluded, and this more espec ally 

 when a herd is always under selection, 

 and when the best animals are retained 

 for breeding as well as for butter-making 

 purposes. 



increasing tite Attractions of Sitows 



IV in recognised by many, says the Live 

 Stock Journal, that larger attendances 

 of the general public are desirable at 

 agricultural shows in order to meet the 

 increased expenditure which the growth 

 of these exhibitions has necessitated. 

 Ihere is a feeling also that the former 

 atractions are not now sufficient to draw 

 all the visitors not directly associated 

 with agriculture who used to attend the 

 meetings, because competition has be- 

 come keener, and other bodies who cater 

 for the public have displayed greater en- 

 terprise in providing what is wanted. The 

 agricultural shows are, to a certain ex- 

 tent, the modern substitutes for the an- 

 cient fairs, which have been in many 

 places also superseded by auction marts. 

 The old fairs had several days which 

 were devoted to business, and one was 

 given up to pleasure. This latter ele- 

 ment, it is thought, has not received 

 sulHcient attention from the managers 

 of all our shows. 



The object of an agricultural show is 

 the thoroughly practical one of improv- 

 ing the live stock and agriculture of the 

 country. It would be a regrettable cir- 

 cumstance if this fact were ever to be 

 overlooked in the slightest degree. Con- 

 sequently no one would suggest any cur- 

 tfiilmcnt or modificaticm of the cxi,'>ting 

 full classes for all varieties of breeding 

 stock. Addition rntlu-r than superses- 

 sion ought to be the })olicy in increasing 

 the attractions of shows to the pul)lic. 



The horse department is that which is 

 mo.-t likely to provide attractions for 



the gate-money public. The sections 

 for breeding animals should be main- 

 tained as at present, or extended where 

 desirable, and if the example of the Shire 

 Horse fSociety in giving prizes tobreedtis 

 were loUowed, it would add to the in- 

 terests of farmers. The group classes 

 also give a new and useful feature. 



Prominent amongst the recognised at- 

 tractions of many shows are the jumping 

 competitions, which with their regulation 

 single hurdle, gate, double hurdle, 

 wall and water, have become well-known 

 institutions. The greatest credit is due 

 to the originator of the bending compe- 

 titions for polo ponies, which have de- 

 servedly become popular since they were 

 first instituted. Occasionally, too, pub- 

 lic interest is stimulated by a driving 

 competition, but for this a large area of 

 ground is required to do it well, such as 

 the big ring of the K.A.S.E. It goes 

 without further saying that in sport-lov- 

 ing England such competitions ought to 

 be keenly contested. 



Among other suggestions a correspon- 

 dent says that bare-backed riding com- 

 petitions would be likely attractions, even 

 though they might be characterised by 

 some critics as circus performances, 

 though why a man's ability as a bare- 

 backed rider should be derided whilst his 

 seat in the saddle is applauded, no one 

 who has witnessed the ride of the cavalr^'- 

 men from the Canterbury Depot at the 

 Military Tournament is likely to under- 

 stand. I'ursuit races, embodying mount- 

 ing and dismounting, saddling and un- 



