^52 Report oh the Exhibition of Live- Stock at Shreivsbury, 1884. 
rememter the large number of superior animals which have been exported to 
America and elsewhere during the last five years. 
Henry Haywood. 
Adam Lee. 
K. S. Fetherstonhaugh. 
Devons. 
The Devon Classes, very full of merit, presented considerable 
difficulties in the course of judging. In one or two of the 
classes, animals whose Showjard history has been brilliant were 
beginning to feel the effects of wear and tear, and might be 
likened to fruit just over-ripe, or flowers full-blown and on the 
turn towards decay. If the Judges, who possibly have seen 
the animals before, and know them, or even if that is not the 
case, cannot fail to observe that they are evidently seasoned 
Show-goers, give prizes to previous winners, all is considered 
right ; although the Judges who first discovered the merits 
of those animals and gave them their earliest honours were 
perhaps freely abused for their awards ; but if the " plum " of 
a former Show, now dead-ripe, is cast out or taken as second, 
third, or fourth choice, what an outcry is raised against the 
Judges ! * 
In the first Class (72), 6 entries, 2 absent, the competition was 
between the brothers, Mr. Perry's " Benedict " and " Bravo," 
and a couple of half-brothers, " Plum Pudding" and " Sir Wat- 
kin," from the Tregothnan herd. All these were at York ; but 
there " Bravo " and " Sir Watkin," the former first, the latter 
passed over, were in the younger class, while " Plum Pudding," 
reserve number, and " Benedict," commended, were in the same 
class as upon this occasion. " Druid," the sire of " Benedict " 
and " Bravo," was the first-prize bull last year. The elder 
brother is this year selected for the first, the younger for the 
second prize ; " Plum Pudding " has the reserve and a high 
* Tlie Devon Judges at Shrewsbury did not escape the harmless attacks of 
anonymous critics. Comments condemnatory of some of tlieir awards, circulated 
on the Showground, found tlieir way into print. It may bo ray misfortune to 
differ from critics who liold tliemselves competent to pass unmeasured censure 
upon the awards of Judges selected by tlie Royal Agricultural Society of Eng- 
land ; but having watched the decisions with considerable attention, I wish to 
exjircHS my belief that they are intelligible to any one who understands cattle, 
having bred them, and who has made himself acquainted with the Devon type. 
That equally competent Judges might reverse some of the awards, is quite likely ; 
but I would maintain that the reasons of the Judges were obvious enough to 
practical and well-instructed men, and indicated both competency and care on 
tlie part of the Judges, with whom I am not personally acquainted; nor did I 
hold conference with them, or any one of them, privately or ollieially. — AV. H. 
