Report on the Exhibition of Live Stock at Leicester. 447 
lengthened period. Whilst we have at present no individual 
specimens of animals superior to those exhibited by Mr. Bates and 
others at Oxford in 1889, the number of good animals has 
certainly immensely increased throughout the United Kingdom. 
In those days it was the exception to find a pure-bred bull in the 
farmer's hands; now no intelligent man is without one. It 
should ever be remembered that in breeding we can only assist 
nature, and that our efforts are confined within narrow limits ; so 
that the great object of exhibitions being to increase the numbers 
of superior stock of all kinds throughout the kingdom — when this 
has been done, as it certainly has been — much has been achieved. 
To report progress, we must for one moment refer to our 
implement department. In 1839, drill husbandry was by no 
means general ; mowers, reapers, and steam thrashing machines 
were unknown in practice ; and steam ploughing was considered 
an Utopian idea. Our present state as regards this department 
is evidence that the progress during the last 30 years has 
exceeded that of the two previous centuries. 
The Royal Agricultural Society has contributed in no small 
degree to this extraordinary development. The council may 
have made mistakes, and may not on all occasions have done 
everything that was possible ; but we cannot believe that the 
severe remarks on its actions made at the last General Meetinsr 
will be endorsed by the members generally ; remarks which, it 
is to be hoped, were made in good faith, although under much 
misapprehension. 
The Society has never yet met with the encouragement it 
deserves ; instead of having only 5000 members, we ought to 
have 10,000. The names of many owners of broad acres are 
still absent from our subscription list, and as every Englishman 
is deeply interested in increasing the produce of our soil, there 
is an extensive area over which we are justified in looking for 
support. 
Now that we have a Royal Prince as our President, and are 
going to visit the most important mercantile district in the world, 
let us hope new light will burst forth upon us, and that the 
Royal Agricultural Society of England will occupy a higher 
position than it has ever yet done, and be entirely worthy of the 
fine old country which it is our pride and happiness to call our 
home. 
We are glad to report the continued success of our Sunday 
service in the show-yard. We had an attentive congregation of 
upwards of 500 herdsmen and grooms. The clergyman of the 
parish, taking for his text the 23rd Psalm, preached a very 
impressive and appropriate sermon, which was listened to with 
great interest. We think the attendance of stewards and other 
officials on the occasion has an influence for good. 
