TALKS ON THE SHOWGROUND.

Dominion, Volume 1, Issue 126, 20 February 1908, Page 4

TALKS ON THE SHOWGROUND.

' THE FAKINC OF SHEEP. ; , ' TENDER POINTS TOUCHED. Surprise was expressed by many sheepmen at what appeared to bo the divergent lines of judging - adopted by the Romuoy judges, Messrs. F. Hutchinson' and, J. H. Absolom. It was held that in some cases prizes had been awarded to animals showing rather a fine staple, and in others to sheep with rather coarse- growths.. Then again ; it was noted'that somo rather expensive importations which had taken prizes at the English shows had-been passed by altogether, while again others of tho, samo breed had received honours. In tho eiroumstances the opinion was expressed that as tho imported sheop wero all of one-type, tliey should have either been 'all awarded prizes or none. It was admitted that thoy wero-tl^o.-bast shown, sheep on the ground; ' _ A Dominion representative interviewed tho judges on tho subject. "Von' can state," said Mr, Absolom, ; "that we like to see sheep as they are. Wo do. not beliove in those animals. which are manifestly got-up for show, with excessive' trimming and too much high - feeding. Farmers should know' what thoy are getting. At the Hawko'sßay Show, we ourselves entered a well-conditioned pen of five sheep. Wn did it simply to hold our own with others who wo knew wero doing the same thing.' Later wo turned'those animals out on the hills, and now you would not pick them out of a mob of culls. In the present instance wo have noticed the excessive trimming and condition, and we have decided against it. Another thing: We have tried the .English-blood Romnevs, and wo. have found that we can; breed hotter in NewZealand. There is also no doubt that tho imported sheep ■ is : moro'given to kemp than, those in New Zealand. In Hawke's Bay it' has bscn suggested; that sheep should not ho shown in a "faked" condition; but tho Association there has • evaded tho matter by leaving, it to: the discretion of. tliO; judges. Wo are. against the business, and . \Vo are going to do our best to atop it. "You ask what typo do wn prefer in Roinnoys? Well, here it .is. Our lino is a strong ■ head, with a .black nosq; no furry wool; bone: but not aggressively got-up, and not overfed; In conclusion we may ctuto that wo have to-day received Humorous con-gnitulation-s. on the stand wliitlr wd :lmvo : taken' on this subject.",

Two of the beat known judges of Romne.vs in the Island, who do not- ivisli to disolo'so tlicir names, point out that trimming is not confined to tho imported sheep. The only difference was that the importations wliwi trimmed showed,.tho hand of tho master, while others bred in tho Dominion had been trimmed badly by amateurs. Yet they had .caught the judges' cj.eE. "AVa aho aro

against trimming," said theso gentlemen, " bufc if it is allowed, tho awards should go to tho ones who make tho best business of it. There ;ire sheep here which have not •been shorn for perhaps two seasons. I'lio farmer is certain to find out tho loss ivlien ho shears for the second time. How often do .we find that a stud ram shears twoutylive pounds when first bought by tho farmer, and next season tho clip has dropped to nine pounds?" IT Y/ON THE CHAMPIONSHIP. An Australian farmer, formerly of New Zoaland, who was lit the showground to-day, said that althoughlthey had tho trimmers m Australia they had not reached tho, stago. of development that has been attained in Now Zealand. "I remember," ho said, "a peculiar thing that occurred at Blenheim somo years ago. A farmer took a Lincoln sheep ancl trimmed and fed it to mako it look like a Leicester. When tho Blenheim show cams round ho ontered it- as.an English Leicester, and it won tho championship."

DAIRY PRODUCE. CHEESE AND BUTTER. "It was a most difficult matter to judge tho choose," said Mr. I). Dickie. " Twico I wont brer the whole'lot, and then 1 was in doubt. It is tho most uniform chceso exhibit that I havo over judged. It is usual that in eases liko this, cheese has various \flavours, but the'present is an exception; all tho flavours wore uniformly good. They are clean, and in- tho' main possess thojnice, nutty, mild aroma which is ono of tho" characteristics of fine quality cheese. _ The' mako showed plenty of closeness, with tho fine silky texture and transparency. Tho points awarded show the perfection of tho exhibits. , Thero was oiio exhibit showing mould, which . should . havto been taken : off. Colour was good, as also was the salting.. Referring to the butter, ill boxes for export, Mr. Dickie said tho scoring was high, showing that great caro had boon taken in tho handling of tho milk, and tho manufacture. Thero was hardly any comment necessary.' Mention might bo mado of the fact that tho Rangitikoi Co-operative Dairy Company lost tho third prizo ill butter for local consumption through packing ~the end'of tho box with paper. Butter-makers should sco that tho box fits the butter, and that thoro should never bo any 'packing. . .Speaking on tho farmers' table butter exhibits, the judgo remarked on tho genoral 'cleanliness of tho products. He would suggoat, however, that.tho farmers might generally follow tho methods adopted by tho factory makers, and show tho pats in parchment instead of cloths. Tho fact that tho butter shown in cloth beat the 1 parchment' articlo had nothing to do with tho subject. An improvement might also bo effected on lines of a more mild and uniform flavour. In somo case 3 tho cream had been retained too long ■beforo churning, and the churning had boon of too long duration, iwith .tho result that somo of tho casein had been Retained in tlio •manufactured articlo, introducing a moisturo. ' The elFect was that the buttor quickly deteriorated in quality., More 'caro might bo_ exorcised in tho salting. Some of tho exhibits showed streakiness, snowing that the salt had not been .'evenly distributed. Exhibitors might also mako a point of showing their butter in pound pats; instead of in lumps of soven or eight pounds.

THE PONY CLASSES. Regarding the pony classes,, tho judge, Mr. E. D. O'Rorko, spoke most favourably of tho wholo of tho sections. Those between II and 12 hands woro especially good. Master C. F_. Vallanco's Jill was a beautiful pciny, showing splendid manners, whilo Mr. W. D. Watson's fopsy was l beautifully ridden. The ponies between 13 hands,: and 33.2 were also a strong class. Master Willie Dalrymplo's pony was a smart : activo animal with an excellont mouth. Asked his opinion on ! the girl riders, Mr. O'Rorko said they all rode nicely. Miss Zona Vallanco, tho winner in tho 12-15 year-old class,; had a very easy seat and capital hands. Miss Loraino Kebbell, in tho under, 12 'years class, had wonderful hands for her ago,'; and a nice balanco. Sho should: maI:o. a;.spr(jnrlid horsewoman. Tho,wholo of tho. boys rpde well. : ' THEDnfIUCHTS. - " The threp 'prizo horsos ih' tlio. draught stallion class, -and tho champion filly and tho mare in foal, woro.about.as good as could bo seen anywhere," said : tho judgo, Mr. John Boag, of Canterbury, " but' tlio rank and filowero below zero. Tho Wairarapa peoplo should make it a rulo to liavo nothing but tho best and breed up. AVhat. appears to be wanted is weight and fair quality. 'If you run ,your horses too much to. sizo, tlioir joints are liable to become too straight, while by going in for too much quality sizo deteriorates, as lias been the caso' in Scotland. That is about all I can . toll. you. .Toll your farmers to tako'nothing but tho best and ■breed,up." ■ , LIGHT HORSES. '■ "I rim sorry that there wero not more thoroughbred stallions, brood mares, And young stock shown," said the judgo (Mr. -E. D. O'Rorko, "as by doing so TlTo"public would have-had ail opportunity, of'ascertain--ing .how. she animals woro .coming on, and what breeders woro doing. Mr. F. Price's 15st. hack, 'Tommy- Atkins, was tho very horso, and'it was quito a' treat-to rido him. Some of t'lio shoulders pi tho might liavo been hotter. The manners'of some of the jumpers could be greatly improved upon, and I feel sure that ii' .moro caro wore taken in breaking animals in, tho ownors would bo amply repaid for their trouble. In the jumping events, tho fences woro absolutely fair and well placed, - and tho riding was good. , Miss Zona .-.Vallanco, who was iirst in tho reform dress, lady riders,: was ..tho 'best natural horsewoman i liavo seen for a long time. She, has splendid hands, and an extremely easv, scat. In fact, sho is' an extraordinary horsewoman. Miss Beotham's Pennant, and.Mr. W." M'Kenzio's' Mahomet aro two firat-class ladios' haoks with good manners." Mr. O'ltorko said ho was very plcasod with the kindness , and courtesy of the officials. . ; Asked his opinion on tho regulations regarding jumping, Mr. O'Rorlra said ho did not believo'm a horse being allowed practically to pull up. It was not dono at Dublin or any other of ,/tho large British shows, and A. and,P. Associations in tho Dominion would bo doing a service if they drafted out uniform rules for-, theso competitions. Mr. O'Rorko thought tho varying regulations regarding jumping wero bad for tho horsos. At tho present time, ho said, 'New Zealand could sell five hundred hunters to British sportsmen if the country could supply the right class of animals, hut in tho circumstances, he himself would not fee! disposed to make many recommendations. Still tho fact that there was this demand showed how A. and.P.- Associations might give a-fillip to breeders by adopting uniform rules. •

FAT SHEEP. Somo .exception was- taken by somo local breeders to tho decisions of thu judges, .U'essrs. Welch'. and Andrews, in tho f.-irmors' sheep classes. It should-be noted that Mr, Welch is a Wairarapa:ma'n,..wliilo Mr. Andrews comes. from tlio 'South' Island. Still, both woro unanimous in; tlipir awards,, and that .after , each' had mads a separate ; inspection: Mr. Welch said he was quite satisfied that tho awards were correct. The ten ewes class, over 21 months.' was strong, but somo were rather" uneven, while ill :tho fivo owes, over 21 months, the unplaced animals were somewhat '.uneven, 'and lacking in constitution. The two-tooths were a good class, but some of the animals'were badly matched. Tho special classes of long-woolled ewes were very stront;. Tho unplaced animals were, however, deficient; 111 size, aiid-.'their wool lacked 'quality to. some- extent.THE l-EIOESTERGi The English Leieest'ers. which.included Mr. W. Perry's vnlntcblo studs, and also these of Mr: 8. R. Lancaster, wore considered by-Mr. 13. Grant, judge, to be equal to anything ever seen on the showgrounds,... /file- Border Leieesters did - not show, up' so- well. ' They wero not well woolled,'-although the carcase's were all .right,-.' and 'there seemod a disposition on tho part of breeders to go in too muuhfor sine at- the expense, of ileeep. Constitution, remarked tho judge,, was a very good tiling, - but- breeders must ulsinlool; to tliu importanco of woo)

SOUTH DOWNS. South Downs, said tho judge, Mr. H. Paimott, wero a very strong exhibit, and wero in the main good constitutionod sheep with hardly an apparent weakness excopt unevenness, and somo of tiio sheep wero rather large. However, ■ said tho judge. Manawatu ami nairarapa breeders seem to liavo arrived within measurable) disfcanco of perfection in theso mutton-producing animals. A pleasing fact in connection with tho exhibits was the appearauco of a now breedor in tho person of Mr. A. J. Stonewigg, of Te Itongifcumau. Mr. fctonowigg is a young New Zealander, who purchased Mr. J. Stuckey's famous farm. Ho is making a speciality of South Downs, and his success in several of the classes against notable,breeders as Messrs. E. Short and S. 11. Lancaster ha 3 been commented upon with approval by many breeders. BHROPBHIRES. Mr. Paimott, who also judged tlio Shropshire.?, (lot altogether pleased with the exhibits. There wero sumo very good ones, ho said, but others were sadly deficient in constitution. They wero looso and weak in tho neck, and tho wool might liavo been better. Something in tho way of regenerationmay bo attempted by uso of Mr. Seth Smith 5 rums, and brcedei'3 should tako notico that if tho breed got down tho consequences might bo serious to many frocks. THE RYELANBS. ~ r -P a r mct ' i was especially pleased with tho exhibit of Ryelands, although it was a' small one. In Canterbury thoro had been somo'importations .of this breed lately. They seemed a good utility sheep, especially in 'th'o tat lamb line. They wero hardy, and should nncl tho nairarapa good country for them. HEREFORDS. Mr. W. Cunninghame, the Hereford ,ind"o, said that although tho 'quality might Tjo there, the stock in this section wero" rather low nv condition, due, no doubt, to tile bad season. ROMNEYS. ;

Regarding Messrs.-Hutchinson's and Abso-' loms opinion that they thought that better Koinnev Marsh sheep could be bred in England than in the Dominion, Mr. ;A. Matthews, a well-known Fentborston Romney breeder, stated that the opinions of 'thoso gent onion were rather sweeping. There, was no doubt that the Now Zealand : Romnev had rat-hor finer wool than, thoso bred in England, but .they did not possess the same constitutions. "I. found this to be so soma years ; ago,"- sai'd Mr. Matthews, "wlion I. found that _niy flock was going backward and was in bone. I immediately spent -L' Uu in importing some English Romney rams and owes, with tho, result that the constitution, and character' of tlio flock was very soon aftered for ; the better." - \ Mr. Matthews instanced 'another i case where » Acw Zoaland breeder lost sixteen hundred hoggets in one year through weakness of constitution.: He 'immediately 'made a. largo purchase of imported rams, and tlm sheep. showed great improvement,. and two years ago the clip brought Is. 3d. a lb. in the London market. ! , J. PICS. The, judge, Mr. il. Charmley, ,of Woodvillo, -that Mr. S. B. Lancaster's Jiorksniro champion boar, aged sis months' promised well. It- had good length- and dc-pth of chest, and. fine ,sl|ouldors. Tho champion sow, in the same class, owned by Mr. T. P. Lett, was a very'fine sow, typical and fuli of quality. The class altogether'was verv strong. • : 4 . '■*" The' wholo pig eshibife, said Mr. Charmloy,. was not up to that of other shows," but it. was to be remembered that , this was. a bad time for these animals. They'did not show well, especially with reference to the hair. Some wero bred on - right : lines,'; but tlioy appeared to bo rather full in tlio shoulder, m fact. There was not -enough moat in them. The Borkshires were an exception, the champion sow being ono of tho finest animals which the judge had ever seen on a show ground. "He- reallv': deserves a photograph,", said Mr. ; Charmiey. - Yorkshires, with tho exception of tho boars, .were the weakest of the classes. There were-only three• fair! sows in the'section. 'Tamwortlis were fair, but the so^vs-lacked size. In conclusion, Mr. Charmiey considered that to improve tho breed farmers should choose longer pig's, something like,'tlio champion Berkshire sow, and, with, the services of the right boar, the defect-in-the .size would soon be remedied. ' ' THE DROUCHT. Speaking to a Dominion representative on the drought, Mr. G. Dingwall, of Rakaia, said that in his district the situation was most alarming. Tho water races had dried up, and farmers wero beins; forced to cart their water in tanks for miles. Mr.' S. W' Lii.xford, of Palmers ton North, expressed the opinion that if the dry weather continued for much .longer.in.his.:district there would bo troublo in providing enough milk ;uid butter for local consumption i