THE LATE SHOW OF FAT STOCK, &o.

Globe, Volume XXIV, Issue 2544, 3 June 1882, Page 3

THE LATE SHOW OF FAT STOCK, &o.

[From the "Weekly Preie,"] The question has frequently been asked of late years how it is that the Canterbury Agricultural and Pastoral Association has abandoned the holding of winter shows of fat stock and farm produce. (The last show of the kind being held, if our memory serves us correctly, as far beck as May 23rd, 1573.) In the first place, wo would remark that those inquiries, which have come from various parts of the country from all classes of farmers, large and small, should be in themselves evidence that winter shows are being missed, and that there exists a field in which such exhibitions, spiritedly and wisely conducted, might accomplish work of a substantial and a beneficial kind. That they have rendered good services to the old country few will deny j and that they should confer the same benefits on ourselves if properly carried ont will be generally admitted. The Show of Thursday last, held by the Canterbury Agricultural and Pastoral Association in their grounds, was disappointing as regards the number of entriee, although no fault could be found with the quality of the great ms j ority of the exhibits. But for such a farming district a* that of Canterbury to present to the public some thirty-five entries of fat cattle, and little more of sheep, speaks little for the enterprise of those who might have been expected to back the efforts of the Association with the view of presenting something creditable to the outside pnblic, more especially the numerous strangers who visited the grounds, for the purpose, doubtless, of judging of our resources from the number and character of the exhibits brought forward. It was a noticeable bat not at all a pleasant feature of the exhibition that none of the large owners of stock contributed in any way to make the show a creditable one. Complaints were rife that the prizes were too small, but this could only have affected the entries in dairy prodace, seeds, and roots, os those offered for stock were quite as large as at the November show. In these days of great and rapidly growing foreign competition, as well as of advanced and costly farming, it is more than ever desirable—we should rather say necessary—that in every article the farmer produces, whether corn, roots, beef, mutton, pork, butter, or poultry, or any other commodity which he can raise profitably, ho must not only strive to reach the highest points of excellence in quality, but likewise endeavour to bring it into the market at the lowest possible cost. It would be idle and perhaps mischievous to ignore the fact, that the position of our own farmers, as well ae those of the old country, is being seriously assailed by the keen competition offered by the Americana in every article produced by tu.-solves. We feel convinced, however, that our farmers will in the end find proficiency in professional knowledge, their surest protector. Wo mnet look to progress in the directions indicated, in cheapening the cost of production and raising the quality of the produce, more than anything else. With sufficient progress in these directions—with such progress as we believe to be quite attainable—there would he no reason to despair of the future of our agriculture. Without such progress all other contrivances might operate in vain. Happily our climate and soil is such as to enable us to carry cut the most improved methods of corn and stock raising. We have gone thus far into general grounds in order to endeavour to show that the spreading of new and improved methods among farmers is at the present moment a matter of unusual importance. Indeed it has never perhaps been more incumbent upon agricultural societies, and all other bodies who can in any way render assistance, to do their utmost in promoting technical or professional education among all classes of farmers. Our numerous agricultural societies have done, and are still doing, good work for the farming interests of the colony. For that wo would wish to give them all credit. We do not think, however, that they have as yet done their utmost. There is room, we think, for rather more activity and sustained diligence than Have hitherto been generally exhibited, Although ih. most energetic efforts of any society in the direction of improvement may be materially thw irted by the apathy of those who might be expected to go hand-in-hand with them; as instanced by the want of support which the praiseworthy efforts of our own local society have mot with in its endeavors to bringtogether such a collection of fat stock, &0., Ac., a* would have done credit to this portion of the colony. The Canterbury Agricultural and Pastoral Assoeialien can look back to a tolerably long and useful career. Wo shall not discuss the question as to whether that career might have been still more useful. While acknowledging most cordially the good the society referred to has already done, and is till ca Trying on, we trust its members will not be discouraged from repeating its efforts to establish regular midwinter shows of fat stock and farm produce. It is moat desirable that the rearing and feeding of farm stock in the colony, should be encouraged by all possible means, for there is little doubt that onr farmers will in future be more dependent upon these sources of profit than they have been in the past. Fat stock shows, if energetically and wisely conducted, and properly supported by those most deeply interested, are calculated to assist most materially in promoting improvement in the rearing and feeding of farm stock. They stimulate farmers in striving after, not only the best kinds of stock, but also the best methods of treatment; and they afford good opportunities for becoming acquainted with the best typ =a of the various classes of farm animals. These remarks apply equally to displays of roots, grain, and butter, &■> , all of which would add to the interest and usefulness of 1 the shoWi