rally of a high character, for they commended every class brought before them! A compliment by no means warranted by all they saw, for there were some unmistakably inferior animals, in the aged class, especially, led off as this was by one of the worst-looking bulls that ever took a first prize at a royal show." The prizes in this class were awarded to: 1st. £30 to John Wood, of Stanwick Park, Darlington, Yorkshire, for his "Lord Adolphus" (the bull referred to above by Reporter "Mark Lane"), 3 years and 3 months old, white, sired by Booth's Cardigan (12,556), dam, Lady Annabella, sire of dam Whittington (12,299). I find the following note on the margin of my catalogue, made at the moment of the announcement of the award, as expressive of my views: "Prize awarded to the turnips and vetches, not to the quality of the animal. Award is very much criticised by the bystanders." I also heard one of the officers of the society make the following remark to several gentlemen who were examining the Duke of Devonshire's bull "Lord Oxford," bred by Saml. Thorne, Esq., of Duchess county, N. Y., which stood in the second stall from Wood's "Lord Adolphus"-"This bull is, in my opinion, the best beast in the show, and if I had been the judge I would have given him the first prize, but it would be a very bold thing to do, to give a bull in his condition a prize."

This bull was in good condition for a stock animal, not fat, and far from being lean; he was in the condition that I should deem best to enable a person to judge of the qualities of the animal without a liability of being deceived by having defects overshadowed by an excess of fat. But there was no judge "bold enough to give a prize to an animal in such condition." Second prize, £15, was awarded to James Haughton Langston, M. P. of Sarsden House, Chipping Norton, Oxfordshire, "Lord of the Harem" 16430) roan, 3 years 7 months old, sire Duke of Buckingham (14428) dam, Gulnare, sire of dam Grand Turk (12969). The third prize, £5, was awarded to Wm. Hoskin & Son, of Loggans Mill, Hayle, Cornwall, "Prince Frederick" (16734) roan, 4 years 5 months old, sire Gloster's Grand Duke (12949) dam Champion, sire of dam, Vagabond (9765).

The second class calls for bulls under three and over two years old. In this class was 27 entries. The first prize, £30, was awarded to Wm. Sterling, M. P., for "Forth," 2 years 5 months old, sire Florist (16064) dam Anna Rose, sire of dam, John O'Groat (13090). Second prize, £15, to Henry Ambler, of Yorkshire, for "Gamester," white, 2 years 5 months old, sire, Prince Talleyrand (16765), dam, Griselda, by Masterman (11799). Third prize to Arthur James Bulford, of Haddington, for "Great Seal," red, 2 years 4 months old, sire "Lord Privy Seal" (16444), dam, Jenny Groat, by John O'Groat (13090).

The third class embraces all under two and over one year of age, and has 41 entries, amongst which are many fine animals, and the names of several noted breeders. The honors of the day descended upon Stewart Majoribanks, of Bushy Groves, in a prize of £25, for his "Whipper-in" (19139), roan, 1 year 6 months old, sired by "Cock of the Walk" (15782), dam, Annie, by "Capt. Shaftoe" (6833), (my notes indicate an approval of this award). The second prize, £15, was taken by Lieut. Col. Towneley, of Lancashire, for his "Royal Butterfly 10th," red and white, 1 year 8 months

old, sire Royal Butterfly (16862), dam Parade, by Duke of Gloster (11382), a very good animal.

Third prize, £5, went to Henry Ambler, for his "Windsor Augustus” roan, 1 year and 8 months old. Sire, Windsor (14113), dam, Lady Flora, by Gainford 5th (12913). In this class, the Duke of Devonshire had three very fine youngsters, sired by the 8th and the 9th Dukes of Oxford and 3d Grand Duke out of choice dams, and Mr. Jonas Webb had three of great merit, sired by Sir Charles and Headley Vicars. Capt. Gunter also had a son of Duchess 73d, sired by the Grand Duke of Wetherby in the catalogue and in the 94th stall, but, for some reason with which I am not acquainted, was withdrawn.

The fourth class was composed of calves under twelve and over six months old, filling 42 stalls, and I have never seen 42 finer calves occupy any position. The awards placed the first prize, £15, to the credit of Jonas Webb, of Babraham, Cambridge, for his "First Fruit," 10 months old, sired by Englishman, (-) dam, Welfare by Lord of the North (11743). The second prize, £10, went to Thomas Edward Pawlett, of Breeston, for his "Hopewell," roan, 11 months old, sired by Sheet Anchor (18020) dam May Dew by Hopewell (10332). The third prize, £5, was awarded to Joseph Robinson, of Clifton Pastures, for his "Jericho," roan, 9 months old, sire Haynau (16245), dam, Jenny Cambridge, by 2d Duke of Cambridge (12743). In this class, Thomas Atherton, of Chapel House, Speke, exhibited his "2d Lord Oxford," white, 7 months old, bred by Samuel Thorn, Esq., of Duchess county, N. Y., sire 4th Duke of Thorndale (17757) dam Oxford 13th by 3d Duke of York. This young "Lord" was not a favorite at Battersea; he claimed a birth-place on the wrong side of Mason and Dixon's line, but, under the hammer on that very yard, he would have out-sold either of the prize animals by at least $100.

These bulls were all, with the exception of the two American bulls, in very high condition, and had been "made up" expressly for the show. They were a fine lot of animals, but many of them would have exposed objectionable points had they not been loaded down with fat.

The fifth class represents cows above three years old, of which there are 27; many of them evidently uncomfortable from the mass of fat that has been piled upon their frames, and here Lady Pigot shows her inconsistency, she having complained to the society for allowing "over fatted" animals to compete for prizes in the breeding class, is now more deserving that censure than any other exhibitor, her animals showing plainly that her ladyship fully understands the winning point at an English show. She feeds with a liberal hand. In this class the honor rests upon the brow of a veteran breeder, a compeer of the Collings, the first prize of £20 was awarded to Richard Booth, of Warlaby, Yorkshire, for his "Queen of the Ocean," red and white, 3 years and 7 months old. Sire, Crown Prince (10037), dam, Red Rose, by Harbinger, (10297) This Queen of the Ocean was one of the finest cows I saw in England. Of which the Mark Lane Express in its article on the show at Battersea, says "Still the best female animal in the Short-horn classes, was not to be found here, but in the class of all-aged cows, where Mr. Booth was once more in his old place of first with the Queen of the Ocean." Her dam which I also saw at Mr. Booth's

place was an animal of rare excellence and it is said of her that she has produced more prize winners than any cow in existence. I was informed by Mr. Booth's herdsman that some years ago a gentleman who was in treaty for her signed his blank check and placed it on the table and authorised Mr. Booth to fill it with any sum he pleased as the price of Red Rose. Mr. B. shoved back the check and said that no sum of money could buy her. I saw her at eleven years old, in fine health and condition, with a promise of future usefulness.

Lady Pigot is the winner of the second prize of £10 for her "Pride of Southwick," light roan, 3 years 5 months old; sire, "Mac Turk," (14872); dam, Vanity by Heir at Law (13005). This was a fine animal as she must needs be to stand ahead of "Lady Elizabeth York" with which Mr. Jonas Webb secured the third prize of £5. The sire "Lady Elizabeth York" Thorndale (17123). Mr. Webb was a good feeder and did not mean to lose prizes for the want of fat on his animals.

The sixth class contains the heifers in milk or in calf under three years old, of which there was seventeen, and the first prize of £15 fell to the lot of the Duke of Montrose, of Glasgow, for his "May Morn," white, 2 years and 2 months old; sire, Victor Emanuel (15460); dam, "New Year's Morn," by Baltic (12431).

The second prize of £10 went to John Lane, of Cirencester, Gloucester, for "Maid of Athens," white, 2 years and 4 months old; sire, Sir Richard (15298); dam, Miss Bloomer by Siddington Duke (15263).

The third prize of £5 was awarded to Lord Feversham, of Yorkshire, for "Cecelia," roan, 2 years 7 months; sire, Charming Lad (-); dam, Choice by Highland Duke.

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The seventh class embraces the yearling heifers, and here we find the strength of the slow in the Short-horn line. There was 44 animals in this class, and among the exhibitors we find the names of the most noted breeders. Earl Spencer, of Northampton, has two entries, Rev. John Storer, of the same county, has a "Killerby Rose," Lord Feversham, of Yorkshire, "Barefoot," Richard Booth is represented by "Graceful" and the "Queen of May;" Thos. Atherton, of Lancashire, by "Lady Barrington 6th;" Stewart Majoribanks, of Bushey Grove, is in force with "Winning Witch," "Beauty of Bushey," "Blushing Bride," and "Rose of Bushey;" Hon. and Rev. Thomas Henry, of Barrington, has "Victoria Rose;" Col. Hood, of Windsor Park, had the Royal Herd represented by "Norma" and "Lady Constance;" Earl of Radnor was ready with "Debate" and "Fairy;" Jonas Webb with "Welcome Lass;" Morsey, Fletcher, Crisp and McIntosh had each an entry; Col. Pennant, of Penrhyn Castle was on hand with his "Fire Fly" and "Nonpareil 20th;" Lieut. Col. Townley had three of his "Butterflys" to add beauty to the circle, and Lady Pigot closed the list with "Princess Edward" and "Rosedale." We find the names of thirty contestants for the prizes in this class, and the honors of the ring rests upon the veteran breeder, Richard Booth, in a £15 prize for his "Queen of the May 2," roan, 1 year 5 months old; sire, Windsor (14013); dam, "Queen of the Vale," by Crown Prince (10087).

The second prize, £10, was drawn by Lieut. Col. Townley, for his "Frederick's Faithful" roan 1 year and 11 months old, sire, Frederick

(—), dam Festris 3d, by Valiant (—). The third prize, £5, went to Lord Feversham, for "Barefoot," red 1 year 6 months old, sire Chanticleer (-), dam "Ballad Singer," by 5th Duke of Oxford, (—).

The eighth class closes up the Short horns with heifer calves over six months, and less than one year old, of which there were twenty-three on exhibition, all over 10 months old except five, and several were but a few days under a year old, they had, therefore, more the appearance of year. lings than calves. The first prize in this class, £15, we find to the credit of J. R. Middlebrough, of Yorkshire, for "Lady," roan 11 months and 6 days old, sire "Lord Clyde (—), dam "Royal Daisy," by the Squire (—).

The second prize, £10, went to James Douglas, of Haddingtonshire, for his "Pride of Athelstane," 11 months, 3 weeks and 4 days old, sire "Sir James, the Rose," (15,290), dam, Lady Athelstane, by Hymen, (13,058).

The third and last short-horn prize, £5, was picked up by Joseph Robinson, of Clifton Pastures, Bucks, (who also took the third on bull calves,) for "Claret Cup," roan 9 months old, sired by "Duke Leinster," (17,724), dam, "Lady Selina Spencer," by British Prince, (14,197).

This closes the prize winning at the Royal, among the largest and best lot of Short-horns that I ever saw on exhibition, but the awards were not in all cases such as I should have made, and the criticism they elicited from the Agricultural press, of England, shows the diversity of taste and judg ment among the admirers of Short-horns.

The reporter, of "Short-horn Intelligence," in Bell's Messenger, Nov. 3d, writes as follows on this subject: "It would be well to know whether the prizes awarded at the yearly meetings of the Royal Agricultural Society are to be understood as indicating absolute merit, or merely merit which is comparative.

"Is an animal, for instance, to which the first prize in her class is adjudged, an animal really deserving a mark of such distinction on her own account abstractly, or is the rank conferred upon her just because she deserves it better than any other animal exhibited? Is she an animal of high preten sions and answerable character anywhere, under any circumstances, in any field; or is she only the best of an indifferent lot-an unfair sample? A perusal of the report of the stewards of stock at Battersea, published in the society's journal, has led us to ask these questions."

We are told by one of the judges that, with the exception of Mr. Booth's Queen of the Ocean," "he did not think there was a first class cow," meaning, we presume, cows of preeminent superiority; and the taker of the third prize, Mr. Jonas Webb's "Lady Elizabeth York," is designated "not a good one, and over-fed." The justification of this award, so artlessly impeached, is not even attempted, nor is the award atoned for by any penitential regrets. The cow is simply pronounced "not a good one," though placed only just below Lady Pigot's Pride of Southwick, "who was second easily enough," and, as the Reserve Numbers indicate, just above Mr. Ambler's Wood Rose, a winner of royal honors. We are next startled by the intelligence that Mr. Atherton's Lady Barrington 6th, on whom the compliment of a Reserve Number was bestowed, "would look very dif ferent if she was poor;" and then startled still more by a mysterious announcement that the winner of the first prize in the eighth class, Mr. Mid

dleborough's Lady, "was on a high leg, and looks like making a cow." The second prize calf, Pride of Athelstane, "had nice quality of flesh, as well as two good ends, but was hollow in the loins;" and others in the class are laconically disposed of in these words: "Capital coats, with flesh too coarse for heifer calves, and unnaturally fed." The "three year old bull class formed one of the most interesting classes;" "as a lot, they had fewer rough points, but still there was not one tip-top bull." And again, in class one, there was "certainly nothing very good;" yet in this class was Mr. Wood's Lord Adolphus, the taker of the first prize with his "best head and best fore-quarters," "fore-quarters the type of what they should be in a breeding animal, and worth a shilling per stone more as a carcass than those of any other bull in the lot." Strange, inconsiderate language ! Fore-quarters the type of themselves, and a whole consisting of a part! Perhaps there never was a case in which the judges inside the ring and the judges outside differed so widely in their opinions as in that of Lord Adolphus. The decision which placed this very well-bred bull at the head of the first class, we are told by the compilers of the report, was unanimous, or rather, we apprehend, the deciders were unanimous in their decision; but the unanimity, it must be remembered, was the agreement of only three; whereas we have no hesitation that, if the judges outside the ring had been polled on the subject of the right and title of Lord Adolphus to his pre-eminence, an overwhelming majority would have declared against him." Two months after the Battersea meeting, at the Stanwick sale, Lord Adolphus, the first prize bull, failed to provoke a bid, and had to be withdrawn from the stand.

I have written thus in detail of the Short-horns, knowing the great inte rest that breed of cattle holds in our own country. The want of space will compel me to generalize more with the balance of the catalogue.

The Herefords occupy the next place on the catalogues, and they occupy a deservedly high position at the show. If they possessed equal milking qualities with the Short-horns, they would become a more troublesome rival to that acknowledged superior breed of animals.

There were ninety-seven heads of Herefords on exhibition, divided in classes the same as were the Short-horns; and the general characters of the animals were such as to elicit the admiration of visitors and a kind word from the Murk Lane Express, which says: "The Herefords showed in every. way an advance upon what they lately have done at the royal meetings." The first class bulls over three and under six years of age, contained only eight animals, and the highest honors in a prize of £30 were easily won by Col. Hood, of Cumberland Lodge, Windsor Park, manager of the Royal Farm, for "Maximus" (1650); red and white, 3 years 11 months old, bred at his Royal Highness' the Prince Consorts, Flemish farm, Windsor, sire Brecau (918), dam Superb by Carlile (923).

The Mark Lane Express says in relation to breeding on the Royal farm, "From some cause or other, the Herefords and Devons do far better at Windsor than the Shorthorns, of which the Royal Herd furnished some narrow ragged specimens; whereas, in the other two breeds Col. Hood's name stood in well merited prominence."