EDITORIAL OBSERVATIONS. 
487 
ludicrous remark from the visitors. Some very superior ani- 
mals were shown among the “sows of a small breed ; 5 but a few 
of them had too great a tendency to accumulate flesh at the 
expense of their reproductive powers. An animal in this class 
was likewise disqualified from over age. The young breeding 
sows, both of the large and small varieties, left nothing to be 
desired in the excellency of their quality. The black and the 
white breeds vied with each other for public favour, w^hich 
seemed to be pretty equally divided between them. 
Horses. — Before commenting on this part of the show, 
we would say a word in commendation of the local committee, 
by whose exertions the finest and best horses for the field 
operations of the Society were brought together that have 
ever been seen. The selection did great credit to their taste 
and judgment, and we should imagine that they had to look 
far and wide to obtain such a number of superior farm horses 
for the working of the various implements which were ex- 
hibited on the trial ground. 
The aged cart-stallions entered for competition were not only 
more numerous but more equal in symmetry, condition, and 
soundness than we have been accustomed to see at former meet- 
ings. There were so many first-rate animals in the class, that 
we can but consider that the exertions of the exhibitors merited 
on the whole a freer distribution of the commendations of the 
judges. This remark is applicable also to the two-year-old 
stallions and the two-year-old fillies, which have been seldom 
equalled and never excelled. With regard to the selection of 
the prizes, it will not escape our professional readers that 
something beyond an eye-pleasing appearance is necessary 
to constitute a fitting animal for such a distinction, a fact 
which will tend to explain the reason why the public so often 
passes a severe criticism on the decision of the judges, and 
more particularly in the horse classes. Making, however, 
every allowance for the difficulties they have had to encounter 
in the selection of th e first prize animal from among so many 
good ones, and remembering also that the question of freedom 
from hereditary disease must be kept in mind by them, we still 
cannot give our unqualified assent to their award. We fear 
