584 Report on the Exhibition of Live Stock at Wolverhampton. 
as to the want of facilities for passenger traffic was also not 
raised without sufficient cause ; but, unfortunately, the Society 
is utterly helpless when pitted against a combination of power- 
ful railway companies. This subject has on many occasions 
given the Council much anxiety, and every endeavour has been 
exerted to make the best possible terms for exhibitors and the 
general public who may visit our Royal show. I would express 
a hope, however, that our experience at Wolverhampton may 
not be thrown to the winds, but that a further attempt will be 
made to induce the various companies throughout the kingdom 
to grant more liberal terms to exhibitors as well as to the public. 
Without being invidious, I might point to the liberal manner in 
which the North-Eastern Railway Company treats the district 
through which it passes, and in which, I venture to say, there 
are annually held a greater number of agricultural gatherings 
than are to be found in any other part of England. Cannot 
some similar privileges be granted by all the railways in the 
kingdom, and may not the " Royal " share this liberality with 
local and county societies ? Let us hope so ; for when we con- 
sider the enormous risks and expenses in attending a Royal show 
for more than a week, I submit that exhibitors really deserve 
every encouragement and support that can possibly be accorded 
to them. 
With the stock promptly and safely delivered into their respec- 
tive stands on the Saturday evening, the great " Royal week " of 
the year was inaugurated on the following morning by Divine 
Service in the Show-yard, at which the Bishop of Lichfield 
preached a most appropriate sermon to the large congregation of 
herdsmen assembled. This Sunday service, happily commenced 
at the last Newcastle meeting and regularly continued ever 
since, is not the least interesting feature of our proceedings, and 
the large attendance of those for whom it is especially intended 
is sufficient evidence of its being fully appreciated. 
In these days when our flocks and herds are exposed on all 
sides to diseases of a most fatal character, it is satisfactory to 
report that although each animal as it entered the yard under- 
went a searching veterinary examination, yet not a single instance 
of disease was detected ; nor do I ever remember a show where 
the general health of the animals was so satisfactory throughout; 
of course we invariably hear of cases of " colds " and " gripes," 
which are usually the result of an overfeed of wet vetches, &c. ; 
but it is due to the forage department to say that the control 
over the distribution of green food, as directed by the veterinary 
department, exercises a considerable and beneficial influence on 
the health of animals during the show. 
The presence of distinguished foreigners, who bought largely 
