Report on the Exhibition of Live Stock at Cardiff. 397 
a range of upland, the park is sheep-sick, or that there is the 
want of an outlying farm for the flock — a subject which might 
provoke a useful paper for the ' Journal.' The Judges thus 
report on the Southdowns and other Short-wools : — 
The class for Southdown shearlings was well represented, and many good 
animals were exhibited, and one of the largest classes we have found for 
many j'ears. The first and second prizes were real specimens of the South- 
down, of superior character and quality with good wool ; the third prize being 
a very good sheep, but not quite equal in quality and touch. The reserve 
number was a sheep of great size, good in his fore-quarters, but not right 
about his head. The class for rams of any age was as good as we have ever 
seen, and it would be hard to particularize them one hy one, and we had great 
difficulty to come to a decision ; the competition being so close we commended 
the class generally. In the shearling ewes some beautiful pens were shown ; 
the competition being very close, we here also generally commended the class. 
Taking the whole of the Southdowns, we consider we have not seen them so 
good for many years. 
The Hamjishires we have seen represented in larger numbers at many 
I previous shows. The prize shearlings were good specimens of the breed ; the 
i first being of great size and good quality. In the class of any age, the winner 
i was of good quality, and we had no difficulty in awarding him the prize. In 
the shearling ewes, the numbers were short ; the first prize were a splendid 
I pen of ewes, and would have held their own in any company. 
[ In Dorsets the competition was very limited. The prize rams were nice 
j specimens of their breed, and well got up. In the class for shearling ewes 
( we had no difficulty in awarding the prizes. The reserve pen were of au 
1 immense size, but were quite out of condition and had lost their chance. The 
other pens wanted size, but were of a nice quality. On the whole, we consider 
these sheep classes over an average. 
It could not be expected that the Sh^opshires would offer so 
grand a front as they did last year in their own capital ; and, 
indeed, the difference between the two meetings was so marked 
as to give something of a dejected tone to the Judges' Report. 
The want of uniformity was more observable than ever, as it is 
scarcely possible to imagine any two sheep of the same breed 
to be so little alike in growth and character as the first and 
second prize shearlings ; while even the first-prize pen of ewes 
did not match. It is probable that some of the otherwise best 
Shropshires were amongst those put aside by the Inspectors of 
Shearing ; but, beyond this, a new rule of the Staffordshire Agri- 
cultural Society may have directly tended to so moderate an 
entry. By this, any stock, but stallions, exhibited at the show of 
the Royal Agricultural Society shall be ineligible to compete 
at the Staffordshire Meeting. No good, but eventually much 
harm, would promise to follow from such a course to the country 
Society ; as every one knows, there can be no other such an 
advertisement for a really good animal as an appearance at the 
Royal Shows. If, however, the alteration be sound, it should 
necessarily be followed elsewhere, and Herefords exhibited at 
Cardiff be ineligible for the coming Autumn Meeting in Here- 
i 
