242 
Beport upon the Sp'ing Show of 
schools, and all the suri'oundings of au old and rich property, all 
being administered to with superior intelligence and devotion 
by all the employes from the lowest to the highest. 
The Judges had ample evidence on which to base the award 
of the Fii'st Prize, and will not soon forget the farming they 
saw here, nor the farm manager's attention and readiness to 
show and to explain any matter in question. They thank all 
the competitors for their unfailing kindness and courtesj", and 
for the honourable action and spirit they manifested towards 
each other in the competition, and believe that the emulation 
evinced will not only benefit the winners of the prizes, but those 
who tried to win but did not. All deserved success if they 
did not all attain it in this form, and their example cannot but 
remain a power and a stimulant to their neighbours. 
XII. — Beport upon the Spring Shovj of Thoroughbred Stallions 
at Nottingham. By G. S. Lowe, The Hermitage, Potters' 
Bar. 
The repeated refusals on the part of English Grovernments to 
give any real encouragement to the cause of horse-breeding 
may be accounted for by three reasons. First, from a general 
view that means will always meet extremes ; secondly, from an 
unwillingness to create a department somewhat difficult to 
control ; and thirdly, because there is a belief that to legislate 
at all upon horses has a tendency to interfere with individual 
interests and private enterprise. 
The rapid march of events may undeceive Englishmen in 
the future with regard to the first undefinable reason, wliicli is 
applied in like manner to all military and naval requirements. 
The modern historian has not been too lavish in liis praise of the 
general organisation that marked our expedition to the Crimea 
in ] 854-55. There were many defects at that tiuie, when the 
pressure of emergency tested the most vital points of our 
systems. 
The German-Franco campaign of 1870 taught a great many 
important lessons, and, chief amongst all, it showed the rapidity 
of war. Two great nations were in outwardly friendly relations 
in May, but before summer had changed into autumn the dogs of 
war had been let loose, several battles fought, an empire upset, and 
a victorious army was marching on the capital of the defeated. 
Such an extraordinary collapse, practically decided in a few 
weeks, had a great effect on armaments throughout Europe, 
and the political friction ever since has been caused by the 
