AGRICULTURAL OBSERVATIONS.

Otago Witness, Issue 2892, 18 August 1909, Page 21

AGRICULTURAL OBSERVATIONS.

MR RITCHIE IN EUROPE.

(Fboic Oub Own Correspondent.) LONDON, June 25.

In coming across from Brindisi Mr J. D. Ritchie was much struck by the intense cultivation pursued in Italy, Switzerland, and France. This was especially noticeable in Italy. Primarily the holdings were devoted to the growing of vines, but other crops were grown among6t ihem, and the smallest available spot waa cultivated. The plains of Lomfcardy and the neighbourhood of Naples were "the most conspicuous examples of this clo e c cultivation. In France the soil did not seem to be so rich and the- cultivation was not of such a high order. Small holdings were the rule throughout all the countries traversed.

So for Mr Ritehio has not been able to see much of the agricultural side of England. On Wednesday, however, he attended the Royal Agricultural Show at Gloucester. The exhibit of agricoltural machinery was particularly good. In stock there was a very numerous entry of cattle. The shorthorns showed a good deal of breeding, but there were e\idently many that had been sent in chiefly for purposes of sale. The Herefords wore also good, but other breeds were not prominent. Mr Ritchie is of opinion tha.t New Zealand could show stock. as good as he saw at Gloucester, though generally not in the same numbers. There were- very 'ew cows in the' milking competition, but eomo were exceptionally good. every breed in England was represented in the sheep classes. Lincolns were the most numerous, and they included som'o fine specimens. Shropsliires and Southdowns were also conspicuously good, but taken as a whole Mr Ritchie was not greatly impressed with the show of cheep. Some of the multitudious breeds were of little value except for the particular district to which they belonged. They wevf» shown in the most elaborate condition, carefully prepared for the occasion, but in many cases they were too fat for efficient stud purposes. The hor=es were chiefly Shires and Suffolk punches, but as tho weather was bad they weie not seen out of their boxes.

Mr H. S. Moss (secretary of the Wan a rapa and East Coast Pastoral and Agncultural Society), who hat> been altcn.Lnjj a number of shows in the Old Country, has been much intoicstcd in the manna* in which building-s arc orccted for the purpose of housing tho t-'ock each year. "It seems,"' he saj"=, " that, at Ayi and the Royal Counties at Reading Jar^e =uins must have been paid for the timber and work" of putting up accommodation. At the la-tt-er show, whi^U is moved every,,

year, I should have thought that a shew ground could be found well equipped with buildings. The Ayr show seemed to be a large one, but apparently local, as the Ayrshire cattle were almost the only breed exhibited and a few black-faced sheep. There was not a large exhibit of shee-p, or a big variety. At most New Zealand shows the grounds are either freehold or shared with a racing club, and the stands and sheds are permanent. But 1 have only visited these two and a small local 6how at Croydon. So much money is spent every year which could go to prizes if th© association built permanent ctands.

Regarding purebred stock, some exhibits here, seem to have been got up to a greater pitch of perfection, but on the whole our stock exhibited at shows like Manawatu, Hawke's Bay, and Wairarapa, in New Zealand, compare most favourably with the exhibits I saw at the Royal Counties show at Reading. The classes at Reading were better filled, and larger than w e get them as a rule, but that is natural, seeing the relative ages of the countries.

I was impressed with the Royal Counties show, and the excellence of most of the stook shown in cattle and sheep. The King's shorthorn champion bull was a very nne animal; also File's champion ram, entl Palmers three-shearling rams (these were first prizes). Lord and Lady Rothsenifcls Jerseys were beautiful animals."