Report of the Senior Steward of Live Stock at Newcastle. 503 
profitable adjunct to the operations of the farm. Formerly 
the rearing of a colt or two was a practice carried on upon most 
holdings, and it was only discontinued when the difficulties 
in the way of meeting with a sound thoroughbred stallion, 
whose service could be obtained at a reasonable fee, became 
insuperable. The foreigners for years past have bought up the 
class of sire to which we allude, and the animals which could 
not pass the veterinary examination have been left behind. 
The annual distribution of the grants of money, to which refer- 
ence has been made, will keep many good sires in the country, 
and at the same time place their services within the reach of 
the tenant farmer. If bad horses were never so cheap, it is an 
acknowledged fact that good ones were never so expensive as 
at the present time. Corn-growing is an unprofitable operation ; 
land is going out of cultivation ; breeding cattle and feeding 
cattle are equally a drug in the market ; but horses, no doubt, 
can be reared to advantage under a proper system of manage- 
ment, if the necessary encouragement be only forthcoming. 
To revert to the parade of the ' premium ' horses, it will be 
only necessary to state that they were all looking well, and appa- 
rently none the worse for their season, with the exception of 
" Moss Hawk," which appeared somewhat light and tucked up. 
Where all were admired it would, perhaps, be invidious to 
criticize the merits of each animal, but if there was a special 
favourite with the critics it might have been " Knight Templar," 
whose splendid quality and style, combined with substance, 
action, and good colour, stamp him as a true type of a hunting 
sire. 
Following these came the Shire Stallions, headed by " Harold " 
(3703), a splendid specimen of the breed. The Clydesdales 
were a good lot, and "Macaulay " (5187) again established his 
claim to be considered one of the best horses of the day. Lord 
Londonderry showed a very useful horse in " Castlereagh," which 
was not qualified to compete in the Shire, Clydesdale, or Suffolk 
Classes. 
" Truefit," the winner of the first prize for Thoroughbred 
I Stallions, was much admired, and this horse cannot fail, if 
appearances go for anything, to make a first-class sire. 
In the Weight-carrying Class, "Tiptop" and Ring Row," 
and in the lighter weight, " Orange," " Shamrock," and 
"Pioneer," were all creditable specimens. The classes for 
younger animals were well filled, and included a promising 
yearling colt, "Jubilee," by the good-looking " Mr. Winkle." 
It is gratifying to know that prizes for young animals now 
find a place in the programmes of most of our leading societies. 
' Unquestionably they do much to encourage the breeding of 
