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editors’ address. 
selects one or two animals from his flock for the experiment of ex- 
cessive fattening. He and his brother farmers are anxious to 
obtain the breed that will be most profitable ; and as the disposition 
to fatten is the test of a good breed, the prizes are offered for 
the animals that are not only the heaviest, but have the fat laid on 
in the best proportions, in order that individuals may be stimulated, 
not only by the money value of the prizes, but by the reputation 
they acquire to display their utmost skill in breeding, aud that the 
whole farming world may profit by their efforts.” 
“ In this country there are several breeds of cattle that are 
favourites with the farmers ; but the three breeds that bear away 
the bell are the short horns (i. e. the Teesdale), the Herefords, and 
the Devons. The late Earl Spencer stood out for short horns ; but 
of late the Herefords seem rather to be in the ascendant. An im- 
mense deal of care and pains have been bestowed by breeders in 
bringing those kinds to the degree of perfection they now possess. 
In no one thing has the skill of the British farmer been more conspi- 
cuous than in his improvement of breeds. The most eminent me- 
dical men have not deemed it beneath them to devote their know- 
ledge to this subject. Mr. Cline, the well-known surgeon, pub- 
lished a volume on the properties of oxen which best adapt them 
for fattening. Another surgeon of great reputation, Mr. Benjamin 
Bell, of Edinburgh, also devoted his attention to this subject.” 
The question of the utility of a Cattle Show, in a national point 
of view, is one of such extensive scope and bearing, that it will 
hardly admit of being anywise satisfactorily settled save by men 
of great experience as graziers and farmers, and who are old 
enough to remember the times when no such shows existed. 
If shows of the kind have hitherto been instrumental in improv- 
ing the breeds of cattle, and sheep, and swine, we see no reason 
why they should cease so to be ; seeing that, however much im- 
proved our breeds may have become, there is yet room enough 
for further improvement. That, simply as an exhibition of fat 
cattle, from its year-after-year sameness, the Show must in time 
lose — if it has not already lost — more or less of its attractiveness, 
is quite certain : people will no more go for many years longer to 
see such a phenomenon as an ox too fat to travel, or a pig too fat 
to stand or to breathe, than they will go to see, more than once or 
