exhibited at Kilhurn. 
603 
and best rank, naturally makes one ponder and say, " But 
surely there must be a remedy for this, or a means, at least, of 
diminishing an evil which is on all hands admitted and known 
to exist." That there are difficulties in the way, as there always 
are in carrying out reform, will be freely admitted ; but the 
Council of the Royal Agricultural Society is not composed of 
men accustomed to shirk duty when a crying, and a universally 
acknowledged, evil needs to be dealt with. Let us hope, then, 
that members of Council will, in their wisdom, give the matter 
their careful consideration ; and if they can abate, or even mitigate, 
this system of gross-feeding for show, they will receive, as they 
will deserve, the everlasting gratitude, not only of stock-exhibitors, 
but of all right-thinking men. One word more on this subject 
and I shall have done. I noticed with much satisfaction that at 
Birmingham, in 1876, where, oddly enough, there were the self- 
same Judges of Shorthorns as at Kilburn (thus showing that 
there are few indeed who come up to the requisite standard of 
fitness), Messrs. Drewiy, Mitchell, and Chaloner did themselves 
infinite credit by refusing to place a heifer, " one of the best in 
her class," because she was " very much injured by over- 
feeding." This highly praiseworthy and straightforward line of 
action the same gentlemen might well have followed up at Kil- 
burn, though the fault of too gross feeding was by no means 
confined to Shorthorns. But a matter so important, not to say 
invidious, ought not to be left to the Judges. A small Com- 
mittee of practical men (drawn, if you will, from the Council), 
who would do their duty without fear, favour, or affection, 
should examine the classes before the Judges commence their 
work, and should strike out all entries showing undoubted signs 
of " injury from overfeeding." Once start the plan, and cases 
of objection will soon be exceedingly rare. 
One other difficulty Avhich besets the would-be exhibitor at 
our national or far-off Shows is the enormous rates charged 
by railway companies. If, as is very frequently the case, 
the distance to be travelled is considerable, transit by an or- 
dinary goods-train is too slow ana too jolting, alike for the 
comfort as for the safety of the animal. In such cases the only 
alternative is the horse-box, about the most unsuitable vehicle 
for a bull or a cow that could possibly be constructed. And 
then, what are the rates? A calf, no matter how young, and 
occupying only one division of a horse-box, is charged as for a 
horse and a half ! A larger beast, occupying, as it must do, at 
least two divisions, is charged the same as three horses ! while 
a full-grown bull, or in-calf cow, or other beast, requiring the 
exclusive use of a horse-box, is charged as four horses ! The 
