447 
Report  on  the  Exhibition  of  Live-Stock  at  York. 
probably  to  be  accounted  for  by  many  breeders  of  Shorthorns 
preferring  to  keep  their  animals  in  breeding  condition  at  home, 
rather  than  run  the  risks  of  long  journeys,  bad  weather,  and 
disease,  while  the  owners  of  the  white  faces  may  not  be  desirous 
of  hiding  their  “light  under  a bushel.”  It  may  not  be  out  of 
place  to  mention  that  during  the  last  few  years,  in  which  I have 
been  a Steward  of  the  Society,  I have  often  heard  the  remark, 
that  better  prizes  are  offered  for  Shorthorns  than  for  other 
breeds ; but  if  we  look  at  the  numbers  entered,  it  will  at  once 
be  seen  that  the  boot  is  on  the  other  leg,  for  the  Shorthorns 
entered  at  York  were  129,  while  of  Herefords,  Devons,  and 
Polled  Angus,  altogether,  we  only  had  112  entries.  Again, 
last  year,  in  the  West  of  England,  there  were  127  Shorthorns 
entered,  as  against  11(3  Elerefords  and  Devons  ! There  was  not 
a class  for  Polled  Angus  at  Reading. 
It  will  not  be  forgotten  that  last  year  many  said,  “ how  the 
Sussex  Cattle  have  improved  of  late  years  !”  I think  this  remark 
might  have  been  endorsed  at  York. 
Sheep  were  again  a good  show,  but  the  premiums,  both  for 
quality  and  quantity,  again,  I understand,  must  be  given  to  the 
Shropshires, — the  Southdowns,  however,  running  them  very 
close. 
In  point  of  numbers,  the  pigs  were  above  the  average : taking 
them  according  to  the  Catalogue,  the  Large  Whites  did  not 
muster  as  strong  as  might  have  been  expected,  considering  that 
the  Show  was  held  in  their  own  country  ! There  were,  how- 
ever, fine  specimens,  and  great  praise  is  due  to  the  breeders  for 
the  improvement  in  quality  and  fineness  of  bone  especially 
apparent  in  some  of  the  sows. 
The  competition  amongst  the  younger  pigs  of  this  breed  was 
considerably  reduced  by  dentition  disqualifications. 
In  the  Middle  Whites  there  were  a number  of  most  useful 
pigs.  This  breed  appears  to  be  growing  in  favour,  as  the 
“ happy  medium  ” between  Small  and  Large  Whites,  and  are  now 
quite  establishing  for  themselves  a distinctive  type.  The  Small 
Whites,  though  fairly  strong,  were  not  a large  gathering  ; one 
well-known  yard  being  unrepresented,  owing  to  the  difficulty 
of  transit  occasioned  by  “ the  foot-and-mouth  regulations.” 
The  Blacks  were  a full  entry,  and  some  good  pigs  were  shown. 
The  Berkshires  were  by  far  the  strongest  part  of  the  Pig 
Classes ; in  point  of  numbers  they  almost  doubled  any  other 
breed,  and  came  from  all  parts  of  the  country.  As  was  to  be 
expected  in  so  large  an  entry,  great  variations  were  found  in 
point  of  merit ; at  the  same  time,  with  a few  exceptions,  they  all 
showed  the  firm  flesh  for  which  this  breed  is  so  noted,  and  were 
also  true  to  types  and  markings.  Under  the  head  of  Other  Breeds 
