1164 
THE FIELD. 
THE EABJVk 
Tub event of the week has been the Sinithfield Club 
Cattle Show. Mere fat has disappeared, and, instead 
of disgusting deformities, which formerly were the 
winners of prizes, we have round, sleek, graceful forms, 
the Duke of Rutland’s four-year-old shorthorn ox 
the production of corn, which is considered the rent crop ; 
but such in the laudable ambition of several noblemen and 
gentlemen connected with agriculture, as also the graziers, 
to combine symmetry, strain, and smallness of bone in the 
nnimal.s which they tliiuk worthy of exhibiting at our annual 
Christmas show, that although the mere experiment of laying 
on fat is one in which the wealthier of them only can indulge 
in, it affords much instruction in proving in how short a time, 
and in what particular food, our best breeds of cattle, sheep, 
taking the gold medal, as the best of any breed exhi- and pigs are brought to the highest perfection for the butcher, 
bite/ It is noted that the S l,.ril,or„, llerefor.l, I ^ 
and Devons maintain their superiority lor fatting, maintain their reputation for their futteuiug propensities. 
The Duke of Richmond obtained the first prize for ' The Duke of Rutland's shorthorn ox, which gained the first 
Southdown sheep, which were models of beauty. The | P”*® pf -p25, and the gold medal, for the best of any breed 
finest pigs in the Show were undoubtedly those of Mr. 
Williams, of Ringrove Farm, near Bridgewater, which 
particularly deserve attention. Prince Albert again 
obtained a prize for the best Devon steer. 
The grain market continues quiet, with a tendency 
downwards. A fall of full 2s. per quarter, on wheat 
has taken place ; but it is not anticipated that it 
will go much lower, at all events, before Christmas, 
because the importations have been less than in any 
exhibited, is certainly a most level, fine specimen, and 
thought by first-rate judges to be one of the best beasts ever 
shown, and, in the words of an admiring rustic, fresh from 
the shires, “all over alike.” Mr. Niblett's Hereford is very 
good ; forwards with a good cylindrical barrel, but certainly 
rather deficient in his hind quarters ; and I prefer Mr. Ford 
Dorsetshire fed Hereford steer, No. 48. The Prince's prize 
oxen are rather small, even for Devons, but are veiy full of 
fine rich meat. The Devons are, as usual, very' fine, and 
the Duke of Richmond, Mr. Rigden, and Lord Walsingham 
run almost a dead heat for the first prize. The Marquis of 
Exeter's Leicesters are remarkably well bred and small 
r i i .* *ii • . p iJAuttr o Deu-Catci a uit* hkmi well ui cu uiiu SIufL 
former year, by upwards of one million quarters of boned . and there are some very fine mixed breeds of Dow 
wheat and nearly eight hundred thousand hundred- ' " 
weights of flour. True, we have intelligence of some 
shipments from America ; but what are these com- 
pared with the resources of which the war has 
deprived us? But the closing of those markets in 
the Black Sea has not only operated directly upon 
our own, but, by cutting off of tlie shipments to the 
and Leicesters, bred by Mr. Redman, of Norfolk; and the 
pigs are also very good — the improved Leicester and Dorset 
breeds carrying off' the principal prizes into the pockets of 
Mr. Williams, Mr. Coates, and Mr. Drew’. Farming pro- 
spects are certainly improving ; expensive machinery is fast 
coming into operation, and corn can now be thrashed for Is. 
per quarter, which formerly cost 2s. Gd. by hand-thrashing. 
Labour is also, owing to the wane of emigration, abundant 
Mediterranean, it has prevented any corn coining to 
us from those countries. Furthermore, it is now 
ascertained that both France and Belgium must be 
importing countries during this winter, for the yield 
of their crops 1ms not equalled the promise. Putting 
all these causes together, the continuance of high 
prices may be calculated upon with confidence, and 
the prosperity of the farmer is secured for many 
months, and probably for many years to come. 
FARMING PROSPECTS. 
THE CATTLE SHOW. 
(Prom a Corrmnniulmt \ 
well 
corn 
culture of the laud, and the amount of stock kej 
means tending to diminish it must decrease our 
fertility, aud this at a time when we are least able t.c . 
and when the prices of food are out of all proportion 
bounteous gifts of Provideuce during the late harvest. The 
value of a crop, as everybody knows, is enhanced by the re- 
turn the different varieties of stock kept on it will make; so 
it is expedient to procure and produce that kind of stock 
which will make the best and quickest return by the con- 
sumption of it ; and the object of the Sinithfield Cattle Show 
Club is to cause that competition for premiums in the dif- 
ferent classes of Devons, Herefords, shorthorns, Scotch or 
Irish breeds, Welsh breeds, aud other pure breeds, or cross 
and we find no decreasing supplies of animal food, or 
diminished skill in feeding ; on the contrary, the Show is not 
disfigured by the extreme obesity of animals, as it was some 
few years ago, and the fine points are more developed than 
they were in days of yore. E. B. A. 
Loudon Farmers’ Club, Dec. Gth, 1854. 
THE LAND. 
Crops and Prices. — The grain markets, after a rally, 
have, during the post week, shown symptoms of decline, 
and we still believe that the present high range of prices 
will not be permaueut. We observe that large quantities of 
oats have already come in, and it cannot be doubted that 
large supplies of wheat will be forthcoming under the in- 
ducements held out by existing rates. In some places we 
H ’,r acreage t !‘ e P ros P ecta of the current year, all is as favourable ns pos- 
e to bear ft ^hat farmers, who have their land in good condition, 
rtion to the ar . e do * u £ :us We R perhaps better, than at any former period 
within the last forty years, is certain, and the effect is to in- 
duce a very active demand for farms. Yet on this point wc 
must raise a warning voice. Prices such as now prevail are 
not likely to he permanent, aud many farmers who are now 
taking laud, without either the requisite durable improve- 
ments by the landlord or security for their own capital if 
employed in such improvements, will, when prices subside, 
be sure to fiud themselves in positions of more or less diffi- 
_ ^ culty. There is nothing in the present accidental and 
or mixed breeds, as well as in the different breeds of sheep I tem l' orm- y ,au £ e of prices to justify any farmer in taking a 
and pigs, in order to ascertain which breed is capable of pro- farm without an ample guarantee for its permanent improve- 
ducing the desired requisites, viz., the greatest weight of good raent eit ! ier hy the landlord, or by the means of the tenant's 
aud well-fatted meat, combining, at the same time, symmetiy owu p a l ,ital under the safeguard of a lease. That such 
strain, and smallness of bone, in the smallest possible com- warnings are necessary we know, from many recent farm 
pass, and at the least possible expense. Prize beasts are very lettm 6 s which have come under our notice, 
difficult to procure and produce, and are mostly confined to ,^| ,e uew market at Copenhagen Fields, near the terminus 
the strains of our eminent breeders, such as the late Earl Bie Great Northern Railway, iu substitution of the Smith- 
Spencer, the late Lord Western, Lord Leicester, Lords Hill . d mar ^ et > approaches completion, aud is, it is reported, 
and Berwick, Lord Portman, Sir Robert Price,’ and others lilc ely to be opened for business next month. The benefits 
who can afford to combine pleasure with profit (if there is to * armers » butchers, and the public from the improved ar- 
any profit attached to a prize beast, which I have heard by rau S emeut un der which fat stock will then be exhibited must 
a good judge, doubted). There are four different breeds 1)0 ft PP arent — Economiat. 
says Mr. Hillyard, a late eminent grazier of Northampton- I - Worcester shire Agricultural 
shire, although there are several cross breeds. The Durhams 
and Hereford* visit our best pastures ; the South Devons 
lor the short and warm pastures on light soils ; aud the 
boots for the wild aftd cold pastures. These four breeds lie 
says, must ever remain pure, because they cannot be benefited 
by crossing with any other bree.l ; but the males of these 
breeds by judicious crossing, would improve other breeds : 
thus, the Durham would improve the Lincoln, and the long- 
legged, light-fleshed Glamorgaus and Monmouths ; and the 
Here fords would improve the Shropshire and Somersetshire 
breeds ; and the South Devons the South Wales black beasts. 
A cross, adds Mr. Hillyard, is the operation of a moment, 
aud it end once attained, the breeder's object is not to re- 
peat it, but to sustain it. Some counties are so famous for 
the hue growth and the particular development of the poiuts 
of annuals, that they rarely do well iu any but these counties ; 
for instance, the old turf lands of the Midland Counties and 
Herefordshire suit cattle better, and fatten them quicker, 
than almost any other; whilst the rich pastures of Dorset 
s ure, boniersetshne Derbyshire, aud Cheshire cause them 
fron .abundant and richer milk. So corn or roots 
from certain distncta, or from certain kinds of alluvial soil, 
jitld more nutritious produce than others, aud go further 
whie£ d d^!:r in « th ? kn ' OWth and fatU03S of thc animal, 
which depends as much on what it feeds on, as the plant or 
root from what it derive, from the soil. A prize beast is 
fattiug all its life; but good fresh beasts, from our best pas- 
tures, take about three or four mouths to fatten, or eveu 
more, and require three bushels of Swedes, or four bushels 
of whites, with the addition of four or five pounds of oilcake, 
oi meal, a-day ; and hay is given between each meal, and an 
ordinary ox will cat one cwt. a-day. There is also the box- 
feeding system on warm food, consisting of ground grain 
boiled parsnips, turnips, &c., well mixed up with one-inch 
cut straw, thoroughly wetted before the meal is thrown i n 
and then divided into three regular meals a-day. Professor 
Johnstone savH : Cattle have in tlu-ir bodies different 
forms of matter, hut particularly flesh and fat ; ulbumon 
supplying in great parts the muscle, .whilst oilcake and meal 
supplies the flesh aud fat." There can be no doubt that covered 
homestul Is are strongly to be recommended, when ever they 
“ trodu .^ ed ."ith advantage, and adapted to the re- 
1 V T^ °f 1 K ‘ fani '’ °J >en at the Bi,le « to admit air by 
Uay, and by shutting them to increase the warmth at night, 
the profits of rearing and feeding stock are not so regular as 
r Society : Award of 
Prizes. — Tho following award of prizes for turnip crops has 
just been made : — 
Hr. Horny old's j/rize for the best crop of Swale Turnips. 
tons. cwt. qrs lbs. 
Mr. Ilumpnge, Severn End 22 13 2 0 per acre 
Air. George McCann, Great Malvern. . 18 12 2 2.3 
Mr. Richard Guildijig, Hanley -castle. . 17 15 2 13 ” 
Mr. Benjamin Hall, ditto 17 9 1 2 ” 
Hr. 1» 'til's Prise for the best tico acres of Suede Tumijxs, manured tcith 
Guano only. 
Mr Harris, of Stoiioy-lane, near Broms- 
.. % t ov ° • •• 10 8 3 20 per aero 
Sir. Richard (.milling, Hanley-castle. . 17 3 0 0 
The judges were Mr. E. B. Guest aud Mr. Joseph Lett, 
both well-known agriculturalists. 
AGRICULTURAL NEWS. 
We regret to announce the serious indisposition of Mr. 
Philip Pusey, the eminent agriculturist, of Pusey, Berks, and 
late M.P. for the county. — Professor Wilson, F.R.S.E. suc- 
ceeds to the Chair of Agriculture in the University of Edin- 
burgh, vacant by the retirement of Professor Low. Mr. 
M ilaou is already well known from the public appointments 
lie has held, one of the most important and successful of 
which was his commission to report on the agricultural depart- 
ment of the New York Exhibition. —The last advices from 
the West Indies mention the discovery of a guano isluud in 
the Leeward group — Aves, or Bird Island, belonging to the 
Dutch Government. The deposit was discovered by an 
American ; two American vessels were taking in cargoes; 
aud it Is said that the Yankees have landed men aud cannon 
to defend their possession against intruders.— On Tuesday 
se nnigbt, six ewes of the Dorsetshire breed, belonging to 
Mr. Cruicksliauk, Cloves, presented their owner with a couple 
of lambs each ; and, what is no less extraordinary, forty 
other ewes of the same stock are expected to lamb I his 
week ' These lumba will therefore be ready for the butcher 
by Christinas.— Wujk now is exceedingly plentiful; indeed, 
farming operations are now somewhat retarded, owing to tho 
scarcity of hands. Women are being employed in the place 
of men aud even disabled men who can do no more than 
women work” are certain of employment.— Stanford 
Mercury.— In Yorkshire they say potatoes generally are a 
zuco healthy crop, not having more than one or two per cwt. 
oi diseased tubers ; carrots very inferior, almost a failure iu 
most cases. Mangold wurzel pretty good, considering tho 
season ; ui some cases upwards of thirty tons per imperial 
acre have been stored. The turnip crops are likely to prove 
far short of nu 'average supply, more especially the Swede 
portion, which are seriously mildewed. — Mr. Sadler's dairy 
manager (North Wilts) objects strongly to cheese tubs of 
wood, because, however carefully they may bo scrubbed 
they cannot be completely freed from portions of the milk 
or whey that have been absorbed by them, and which will 
afterwards ;emit products injurious to milk. Everybody 
knows that milk is peculiarly susceptible of injury froni a 
tainted atmosphere. — Ayriculiural Gazette. 
SPIRIT OF THE AGRICULTURAL MEETINGS. 
[Instead of long and uninteresting lists of prizes and reports of dinners 
we purpose, under this title, to give selections of any thing that is 
done that may be really worth reading.] 
STEAM POWER. 
At the Farinertf Club meeting last week, Mr. Mechi said 
alluding to steam thrashing-machines — A steam horse only 
cost half the price of a real horse, and did double the work 
Mr. Gardner, of that town, who employed a steam-engine 
told him that day that it was of great use and advantage to 
him, aud he only regretted that he did not take his (Mr. 
Mechi's) advice, aud have had it a 6-liorse, instead of a 3 - 
horse power ; and he had no doubt but he would in time 
wish it had been of 12-horse power. He thought they would 
next be requiring fixed engines in the place of portable ones 
and which he recommended as being more economical ami 
capable of being made more generally useful. His fixed 
engine cost £200, and his portable engine £300, and £100 
saved in one article was a great object. It was one of the 
singular illustrations of progression, that when he first put 
up his eugiue — the only one in the county — everybody cried 
shame of him ; but now people could not get engines fust 
enough. He asked what had become of the old horse 
machines? [A voice: “I sold mine for £6."] What were 
their horses doing now ? — either they must have found now 
work for them, or else they were not half worked before. 
He was going down to Leeds next week to see whether they 
were going to put their sewage ou the land. Ho thought 
this was a great question which would force itself ou the 
minds of the people of Englaud. (Hear, hear.) A frieud of 
his, opposite, was discussing the question whether dried 
blood was as good as birds’ dung or guano ; but nobody ever 
asked whether the sewage was good for the land. He begged 
of them to think aud talk about it, and the next thing, they 
would get it. It was no use for any public company to lay 
down pipes and get Acts of Parliament, uuless they agreed to 
use the stuff which was brought them. He believed agricul- 
turists were not yet in a position to say to a company, “We 
"rill take that sewage and value it as capital stuff and pay you 
for it,” aud therefore they could not expect people to be at 
the expense of collecting it. The town of Colchester once 
thought the railway a nuisance, but they had seen their error, 
and he had no doubt but others would acknowledge they 
were wrong in reference to the disposal of the food of cities. 
SMITHFIELD CLUB CATTLE SHOW. 
The Show lias been very line, distinguished more for beauty 
of form and excellence in all parts, than for fat. The visi- 
tors have been as numerous, aud apparently as interested in 
the Show, as ever. 
We come first upon the sleek little Devons, for each breed 
is now shown in its several classes distinct from others, thus 
affording an excellent comparison between individuals of the 
same breed, though uot an opportunity of pitting the various 
breeds against each other. The show of Devons is excellent, 
the Earl of Leicester carrying off the palm. It is impossible 
uot to be struck with the symmetry aud compactness of this 
favourite breed, and their fiueuess of boue. As we pass 
along we become sensible of the increased accommodation 
which Mr. Gibbs has this year obtained for the stock. The 
number at tlie Show is equal to the last, and iu quality it baa 
probably never been surpassed. The shorthorns have now, 
for the third year in succession, gained the gold medal as the 
best of any breed exhibited, tlie Duke of Rutland being this 
year the winner. His Grace's four-year-old ox, No. 69, is 
perhaps the most perfect animal ever shown at Baker-street. 
He has no coarse points about him, no unsightly humps of 
fat, but is, in all respects, the model of a fat ox. Iu this 
class the second prize is gaiued by the Rev. J. Holmes, No. 
1 1, fed by Mr. Elliot, of Hardgrave, stands higher and is 
three inches larger than the first prize ox, though six months 
younger, but he is seven inches less in girth, aud, though a 
flue animal, is not nearly so well finished as the Duke of 
Rutland s ox. It is here that the northern feeders are apt 
to fail. A Sinithfield Club prize-ox muBt be brought out to 
the last point before he can compete successfully. In the 
younger class of this breed, No. 60, bred by the Secretary- 
of-War, takes the first prize, and in class 12, Mr. Townley'a 
cow — a barrel of fat — is worthy of inspection. 
The show of Herefords is, as usual, excellent, Mr. Heath, 
of Ludham-hall, carrying off* the highest prizes. Mr. 
Niblett’s ox (No. 38), which takes the first prize in Class 6, 
is a prime animal, very equal and free from lumps. We 
caunot speak so favourably of No. 49, which exhibits some 
of those unsightly humps of fat for which the show was 
once .too remarkable ; but which, happily, good taste and the 
requirements of the market have now nearly banished. Ou 
that point very little fault can be found with the present 
show. There is a liveliness aud wholesomeness about the 
animals which gives pleasure to the spectator. The three 
favourite breeds — shorthorns, Herefords, and Devons, main- 
tain their reputation as fattiug animals ; but it may be a ques- 
tion whether some other of the old breeds ought not to be more 
patronised. The Sussex steer, No. 109, for instance, shows 
excellent points, and it is difficult to understand upon what 
principle the longhorn next him received the preference 
from the judges. No. 112, another steer of the same breed, 
shown by Messrs. Neanie, is a very good animal, and de- 
servedly gaiued a prize. In early maturity, size, symmetry, 
and fineness of bone, the Sussex appears to us to be quite 
worthy of greater eucouragemeut. No. 99, Mr. Gurney’s 
Galloway Scot, is reckoned a very fine specimen of that 
favourite breed. In crosses, those of the shorthorn and 
Hereford are tlie best. We particularly recommend an 
inspection of No. 118, a very handsome animal, only one 
year and nine months old ; aiid 129, a cross of the short 
horn and Ayrshire. 
The show of sheep, especially South Downs and crosses, is 
remarkably good. The Duke of Richmond gnius the prin- 
cipal honour iu the South Downs ; his Grace's pens, No. 195 
and 222, being the perfection of that breed. In size aud 
bone it strikes us that tlie Duke is year by year increasing. 
Mr. Druco takes the first prize in crosses with his down aud 
Cotswolds, No. 172, which is very fine; but it is extremely 
difficult to say in what respect they excel Mr. Overman’s pen, 
No. 170, of Down and Leicesters, which are awarded tho 
