274 
ANNUAL SHOW OF THE ENGLISH AGRICULTURAL SOCIETY. 
Of the Sussex breed, resembling considerably 
the Devons in appearance, there was a very 
excellent show, and many of the cows evidenc¬ 
ed very fine milking qualities. 
Of Ayrshires, Angus, Highland, &c., there 
was a small show, but all were excellent rep¬ 
resentatives of their respective breeds. 
A fine Italian or Roman bull, and cow and 
calf were exhibited by Lord Walsingham, of 
Merton Hall. They had enormous horns, but 
no special qualities to recommend them to the 
notice of breeders. 
One of the most interesting little animals in 
the show was a pure Shetland bull, two years 
and eleven months old, with his long shaggy 
hair, and about the size of a very moderate 
yearling. He showed, however, the character 
of the isles from which he came, and attracted 
as much attention as the great overgrown 
shorthorn to which the second prize was 
awarded. 
In the sheep department, the show of South- 
downs and Leicesters was uncommonly fine and 
remarkably large. The perfection to which the 
breeding of these two leading varieties has 
arrived in this country is truly remarkable. 
Mr. Jonas Webb, who last year failed' of the 
first premium on his ewes, I believe, through 
some means, this year, appeared in all his 
strength, and prepared for the show with such 
sheep as swept all before him, receiving the 
three prizes for shearing rams, and the second 
and third for other rams, first and second prizes 
for ewes; and the persons who received the 
other prizes were breeders from his flock. This 
was a triumph worthy of the most distinguished 
breeder in Great Britain. After an examination 
of nearly two days, in which I have given all 
the attention I could to the Southdowns, I am 
satisfied that in this case, merit has received its 
reward. This whole class contained many 
very fine sheep, and the competition was unu¬ 
sually great. The Leicester sheep were re¬ 
markably fine, and the number very large, and 
the competition unusally severe. A Mr. Sanday, 
of Holme Pierrepont, was the most successful 
in the reception of prizes. Not being professed¬ 
ly much of a judge of this breed of sheep, I 
still, after considerable attention, believe that 
the prizes were not injudiciously awarded. 
There were some very excellent Cotswold sheep 
exhibited. My own impression is, that they 
are quite equal, if not superior, to the Leicester, 
though not so numerous here. 
There were some very choice Cheviots, 
(Mountain sheep,) exhibited. This I consider 
a very excellent breed. Their mutton is fine, 
and a cross with the Southdown produces about 
as fine a lamb for the market as one need 
eat. In hill lands and cold climates, I presume 
they do remarkably well. 
In swine, the show stands out pre-eminent 
There were 166 on exhibition; and large and 
small, there were specimens I have never seen 
excelled, though I have seen as good in the 
United States. Among them all, and there was 
a great variety of breeds, the Berkshires, in my 
judgment, were the best; though they were not 
exhibited in large numbers, and the prizes were 
awarded, generally, to other breeds. In our 
country, I consider they have done great service; 
and after looking carefully at the various breeds 
on exhibition, I am decidedly of the opinion, 
that for a cross with the common hog of our 
country, they are decidedly to be preferred. 
The show of horses was not very superior. 
There were some very good horses in each di¬ 
vision ; but the number of worthless stallions 
and indifferent mares was larger in proportion, 
than at our show at Albany last year, or at 
Rochester, in 1843. The class called hunters 
were the best horses in my opinion, and 1 think 
them the best in this country for practical pur¬ 
poses. 
I was much pleased with the arrangements 
of the show grounds. About 14 acres were en¬ 
closed, and long sheds, with canvass coverings, 
were prepared for the animals, which kept 
them quite sheltered from the weather. 
The progress of this great society is onward, 
and its influence upon the agriculture of Great 
Britain, as that of our own State Society upon 
our agriculture is most manifest. The meeting, 
together of farmers and breeders from every 
part of the kingdom, the show and examination 
of stock and implements all tend to improve 
the farmer and breeder, and no one, I think, can 
doubt that such has been the result of these or¬ 
ganisations. 
The annual dinner, with the usual number of 
set speakers, for no one here speaks upon the 
spur of the moment, takes place this afternoon, 
and I will, instead of writing my account, send 
you proof sheets of the journals, which will 
be issued, it may be, before the dinner closes. 
London , July 1 6th, 1851. B. P. Johnson. 
The preceding letter is from the respected 
secretary of the New-York State Agricultural 
Society, who is one of the commissioners sent 
out by our state government, to represent it at 
the great English Fair held at the Crystal Palace. 
