7G0 llcpoH of the Steicard of the Jlorse-shoeincj at ll'mclscr. 
The file and the rasp were iu both cases used far too freely, 
tlie nails were often injudiciously placed, and many shoes were 
badly seated and worse forged. 
The only prominent improvement on former years (and it is 
an important one) was the marked disuse of the knife. At last, I 
hope, by some means or other, these contests and the publication 
of our reports have succeeded in reducing the cutting away of the 
frog and the sole of the foot. In one or two cases before us even 
a little more removal of loose horn would have improved what 
was otherwise good work. Yet I would still impress upon the 
large majority of our smiths the necessity of limiting the use of 
the knife, and of wasting less time in filing up the shoes. A 
good black shoe well forged is far superior to a polished one, 
Avhile the use of the rasp may with much advantage be still 
further curtailed and Nature be less interfered with. 
The Judges' report appended gives more details on these 
points, and clearly indicates our unanimity of opinion. 
As to Class 3, the Judges, with the assistance of two 
members of the veterinary staff (Professors Brown and Duguid), 
after very careful consideration, arrived at the following unani- 
mous opinion, with which also, as Steward, I quite agree, viz. : 
" In Class 3 there is not sufficient novelty nor merit in any 
of the exhibits to warrant the Jiidges in awarding a prize in this 
Class, or recommending them for general use, although under 
special circumstances some of them might probably be employed 
with advantage." 
Two out of the seven enti-ies did not put in an appearance, 
one being the nailless shoe. Two or three varieties of the 
Charlier shoe were brought to our notice, and these have no 
doubt some features well worth consideration. The advocates 
of the system will do well in the first instance to induce owners 
of young horses to covimevice shoeing them on this plan and never 
allow the frogs to be interfered with, and possibly much even- 
tual good will result, particularly to our hunters and roadsters. 
In addition to the entries, a very useful portable forge was 
exhibited by Mr. South, of New Bond Street. Perhaps the 
Implement Judges and Stewards might have more appropriately 
remarked upon this, but as an adjunct to my department I may 
just say that it seems a very handy contrivance for a country 
district where shoeing smiths are few and far between, as the 
whole apparatus — forge, bellows, and anvil — is fixed in a light 
pony-cart, and can be easily conveyed from farm to farm, do a 
day's or an hour's work, and be moved on to the next place. 
As observed at the commencement of my report, this is the 
third year in which the Society has interested itself in the 
