December 7 , 1882.] JOURNAL OF HORTICULTURE AND COTTAGE GARDENER. 
539 
view to making large manure heaps ; winter pasturage to help out 
the fast-dwindling ricks of fodder, resulting in a wretched low 
condition, for which subsequent months of high summer-feeding 
barely atones. Surely it is much better in every sense to reduce 
the head of stock now well within the scope of our means, and 
to feed sufficiently well to maintain a sleek healthy condition 
throughout winter. Breeders of first-class stock claim to make 
every beast gain £1 in value for each month of its existence ; but 
those of us who have to maintain a dairy cannot do so profitably, 
but we may realise very respectable sums for beasts kept over two 
winters and sold off the grass to the butcher early in the follow¬ 
ing autumn if they are always kept up to a reasonable standard 
of condition. 
That lean stock fared hard very generally last winter there can 
be no doubt, for most of it came to the early fairs in very poor 
plight, and yet what prices were asked and given 1 It was no 
uncommon thing for £14 or £15 to be obtained by dealers for 
lean, very lean, steers of twenty months at the May fairs. Who 
after this can say that the British farmer is wanting in courage ? 
But the prudence of giving so much is certainly questionable. 
It was no longer ago than the preceding autumn that beasts of 
three years old were to be had for a similar amount, and those 
who were so fortunate as to buy then must certainly have had a 
good time this year. Some beasts of that age bought for that 
sum were ripe for the butcher in May, and were then closely 
approaching a dead weight of 100 stone of 8 lbs. They might 
have been killed much sooner, but were brought on slowly for the 
sake of the manure, which from well-fed beasts of that age is the 
very best form of farmyard manure. 
When cattle are turned out upon the grass in spring they eat so 
ravenously that there is considerable risk of the stomach becoming 
overcharged and unable to act. Excessive fermentation then soon 
follows, gases are generated which cannot escape, the stomach 
becomes distended almost to bursting, and the hoove-stricken 
animal will soon die if prompt measures are not taken for its 
relief. Going down to the farm one morning I saw a young 
Kerry cow standing alone at some distance from the other cows, 
and I at once went to it, for however quarrelsome cows may be 
they always keep together if they are well, and when one is seen 
to leave the others and keep aloof it should always be examined. 
The cow in question was not in calf, and yet I found its stomach 
unusually large. It was neither eating nor ruminating, and had 
a heavy dull look. I at once suspected it to be suffering from 
hoove, but as it was my first case I proceeded with caution, and 
some time was lost in watching the development of symptoms 
which soon became clear and unmistakeable. The proper remedies 
were applied and the cow was saved. It was a favourite, and I 
was sorry to condemn it, but knowing the probability of lingering 
debility it was fattened as its milk gradually failed, and eventually 
handed over to the butcher. 
The utter ignorance of the cause of hoove and its remedy that 
exists among men who have had charge of stock for many years 
is really surprising. In the case of the Kerry cow the bailiff 
actually told me that he had seen it upon a bank feeding with its 
face to the wind, which he had no doubt had blown down its 
throat and caused the hoove. Mr. Youatt’s description of its symp¬ 
toms and effects is so clear that I append an extract. “ The 
animal gradually becomes oppressed and distressed. It ceases to 
eat; it does not ruminate ; it scarcely moves ; but it stands with 
its head extended, breathing heavily, and moaning. The whole 
belly is blown up. This is particularly evident at the flanks, and 
most of all at the left flank, for under that the posterior division 
of the rumen lies.” “ The animal cannot long sustain this derange¬ 
ment of important parts. Inflammation is set up, and the circula¬ 
tion becomes seriously and dangerously disturbed by this partial 
obstruction. Affection of the brain comes at last, characterised 
by fulness of the vessels, hardness of the pulse, redness of the con¬ 
junctiva, and protrusion of the eye. The tongue hangs from the 
mouth, and its mouth is filled with spume. The beast stands with 
its back bent, its legs as much as possible under him, and he gra¬ 
dually becomes insensible, immoveable ; he moans, falls, struggles 
with some violence, and, as death approaches, some relaxation of 
the parts ensues, and a quantity of green sour liquid, occasionally 
mixed with more solid food, flows from the mouth and nose.” 
It by no means follows, however, that a hitherto healthy beast 
need die of it; only let it be taken in time, and remember, if the 
animal when first observed is moaning, not a moment is to be 
lost. The gas removed, preferably by a probang ; but if that 
cannot be had, then recourse must be had to a trocar, or even to 
the rough-and-ready old method of stabbing the left flank and 
thrusting in a piece of elder to let out the gas. The acid fluid 
arising from excessive fermentation removed by the stomach 
pump and warm water, and Youatt’s dose of 1 lb. Epsom salts, 
1 oz. caraway powder, and half an ounce of ginger be given, and 
the most violent symptoms will soon disappear and the stomach 
begin to resume its proper functions once more. Of course a 
veterinary surgeon should be called in, but one is not always to 
be had at once, and it is all-important to know what to do. 
Another cattle disease which has given me some trouble, but 
has in no case proved fatal, is Red Water. Hardly a year passes 
without one or more cases of it; but it has always been attacked 
with promptitude, and the beasts recover. —Edward Luckhurst. 
THE SMITHFIELD CLUB SHOW. 
The Exhibition which opened in the Agricultural Hall on Monday 
last is in every way a great success. The number of classes was 
slightly increased, the total value of the prizes in cups, medals, 
and money exceeding £3000 ; and there was a slight increase in 
the number of entries, as last year they w T ere 503, this year 524— 
namely, 251 cattle, 187 sheep, and 86 pigs, while in quality the Show 
must rank as one of the finest if not the best that has ever been held. 
The list of prizes having been published in the daily papers we shall 
only record the winners of the breed cups and champion prize. After 
long and close examination the best steer in the Show was decided 
to be Mr. Lewis Lloyd’s Hereford, and the best heifer Mr. Stratton’s 
grand shorthorn. These prizes are £50 silver cups, to be won once 
only by the same animals. Next came the contest for the 100-guinea 
Champion Plate given by the Agricultural Hall Company, by agree¬ 
ment with the Club, and the Club’s gold medal to the breeder. 
For a long while the chances seemed to be equal between the best 
Hereford, Devon, crossbred, and shorthorn. Then the number was 
apparently reduced to Mr. Stephenson’s handsome iron-grey cross¬ 
bred and Mr. Stratton’s shorthorn. The shorthorn Lilian eventually 
received the coveted decoration (red and green), having won for her 
owner, who is also breeder, a £20 first prize, a £30 silver cup, a £50 
silver cup, the champion plate and gold medal. She weighs 16 cwt. 
3 qrs. 8 lbs. The heaviest beast in the Show, which gains no prize, and 
weighs 23 cwt. 1 qr. 22 tbs., belongs to Mr. T. C. Lucas of Horsham. 
The machinery and implement department is also very extensive, 
both the galleries being closely packed, besides a large number of the 
heavier machines and engines on the ground floor. Such firms as 
Messrs. Clayton & Shurtleworth, Lincoln ; Barrows & Stewart, Ban¬ 
bury ; John Fowler & Co., Leeds; R. Hornsby & Sons, Grantham; 
Ransomes, Head & Jefferies, Ipswich ; and the Reading Ironworks 
Company, contributed a great variety of excellent samples of all the 
most important agricultural machinery. 
The exhibition of roots by the leading seedsmen is not quite so 
large as usual, but the roots generally are distinguished by mode¬ 
rate size and most excellent evenness of form, far preferable to the 
enormous coarse examples that have been sometimes seen there. 
Messrs. Sutton & Sons, Reading, as usual had a fine display well 
arranged, with large photographs of their warehouses suspended .in 
front.° Magnificent examples of the Champion Swedes, Berkshire 
Prize and New Golden Tankard Mangolds were noteworthy amongst 
the varieties represented. Messrs. J. Carter & Co , High Holboi n, 
had a similarly attractive display, comprising large but even Swedes 
and Mangolds, wioh sample boxes of lawn Grasses. Impeiial Prize¬ 
winner, Pomeranian and Mammoth Prize Swedes, White Globe 
Turnips, and Tankard Yellow Globe Mangolds were of unsurpassable 
quality. Messrs. E. Webb & Sons, Stourbridge, had a most tastefully 
displayed stand, and the quality of the exhibits is certainly very high. 
Imperial Swedes, Champion Yellow Globe, Mammoth Long Red, and 
New Kinver Globe Mangolds were amongst others represented in 
the finest possible condition. Other firms, such as Messrs. T. Gibbs 
and Co., Down Street. Piccadilly ; Harrison & Son, Leicester ; Rayn- 
bird, Caldecott & Co., Basingstoke ; John K. King, Coggeshall, Essex ; 
and Alfred Hall & Son, Westbury, Wilts, also staged smaller but 
meritorious collections of roots and seeds. 
At the annual general meeting, held on Tuesday morning, it wag 
announced that the Prince of Wales has consented to be President 
for 1883, and the Earl of Jersey for 1884. Sir W. Gordon-Cummmg 
was elected Yice-President in the room of the late Lord Chesham. 
The Prince of Wales and the Duke of Edinburgh were made Yice- 
Presidents. Sir Brandreth Gibbs, for the fortieth time, after highly 
complimentary speeches, was re-elected Hon. Secretary, and a hearty 
vote of thanks was passed to Mr. Walter, M.P., the retiring President. 
The newly elected members of the Council are Messrs. J. B. Booth, 
H. Gorringe, J. Hornsley, F. N. Jonas, H. Fookes, A. Croskill, 1. 
Brown, and Colonel Luttrell. The report of the Council was read by 
Sir Brandreth Gibbs, and passed unanimously. 
THE POULTRY CLUB. 
MEETING AT BIRMINGHAM. 
A meeting of the Committee of the Poultry Club was he d at 
Bingley Hall, Birmingham, on Monday, November 27th, at 4 P.M. 
