612 Eejwrf of tJie Senior Steward of Live-Stock at Nottingham. 
the stallions foaled in 1886 and 1887 amongst the Shires; the 
yearling fillies among the Clydesdales ; and all the younger 
classes amongst the Hunters, notably two-year-old geldings, 
which are mentioned by the Judges as being as good a class of 
two-year-olds as ever appeared in a show ring. This improve- 
ment in the younger class of hunters cannot but be a source of 
great encouragement to those who for many years have been 
endeavouring to improve this class of horse. 
Hackneys and Ponies were much above the average. In the 
harness classes the entries were but few, and confined to " old 
prize takers, with perfect action and very bad to beat." It 
might be worthy of consideration whether the adoption of the 
recommendation of the Judges with reference to prizes in these 
classes might not lead to increased competition and to larger 
entries. 
Among the Cattle the Shorthorns were good, especially the 
winners in the classes for cows. The Hereford exhibits have 
perhaps never been surpassed for merit. The Jersey classes 
were strong in numbers and of unusual excellence, and the Red 
Polled cattle were remarkable for the absence of any moderate 
animals among them. 
Sheep were good all through ; special attention being called 
by the Judges to the excellence of the Oxford Downs, while it 
is satisfactory to notice a clean sheet in the report of the 
Inspectors of Shearing. 
The Breeding Sows of the large white breed are the only 
class of pigs calling for any special mention, while the large 
number of disqualificatious among the younger classes of white 
pigs is worthy of remark. 
In the report on the exhibition of live stock at Preston in 
1 885, attention was drawn to the large number of absentees. 
The regulations as to the time of entry were modified for the 
Norwich Show, and those that have since been held. Instead 
of the entries closing on ]May 1, as in 1885, the date of entry 
was extended to tlie 12th, while post entries at double fees were 
instituted, the final date for which was June 1. 
Bearing this change in mind, it is interesting to observe 
what has taken place since Preston with regard to absentees. 
Since 1885, amongst the horses they have steadily increased, 
until this year they reached as high a figure as 27 per cent, of 
the entries, as against 19 per cent, in 1885 — the average for the 
last three years being 23 per cent. Cattle, which showed in 
1885 21 per cent, of absentees, stand this year at 18 per cent. 
— the average for the last three years being 18 per cent. The 
pheep, which showed in 1885 a percentage of 11 of absentees, 
