WESTERN DISTRICT GRAIN AND ROOT SHOW.

Southern Cross, Volume 1, Issue 13, 24 June 1893, Page 9

WESTERN DISTRICT GRAIN AND ROOT SHOW.

The sixteenth annual show of grain, roots, dairy produce, poultry, etc., was held at Biverton on Wednesday. The weather was good and a fairly large number attended the ghow during the afternoon. Although the entries in most cases were small the exhibits generally speaking were exceptionally good. Many seemed to be of opinion that Thornbury would have been a better centre at which to hold the show. The entries might have been larger, but it would have been hard to improve upon the quality of the exhibits. In grain the entry was small, but the quality really good notably the oats shown by Mr Peter McNeil, while the grassseed of Messrs Mclntyre, Calder, Linscott Bros, and Heywood, was all first-class in quality. There were very few entries in wheat and barlay, but the Western District is not so well adapted to the growing of these cereals. In root crops the Western JDistrict can show the capabilities of the soil to advantage. The carrots shown on Wednesday were, as one of the judges remarked, “ regular bruisers,” and more like strong turnips. Some specially good turnips and onions were shown —tha latter being scarcely distinguishable from the imported onion. Among the apples were some that could scarcely have been beaten in Australasia, and one lot of Orepuki with hard and clean skins, showed that the Waiau District is well adapted for growing apples. The entry of hams and bacon was exceptionally large, the principal prizes falling to Messrs Prentice and Lindsay (Invercargill.) The latter gentleman and Mr Playfair (Thornbury) secured first honors for poultry. On the whole the show was pronounced a very good one for the time of year. The judges were Messrs J. A. Mitchell and Cleave for grain, Messrs Storie and Fleming for dairy produce, hams and bacon, and Messrs Keidie (Fairfax) and Affleck for poultry.