Agricultural.

Waikato Times, Volume XXIX, Issue 2346, 23 July 1887, Page 2 (Supplement)

Agricultural.

CLY DESDALES IN 1886. Wu learn from the Scottish News that the year 1886 was not surpassed by any that preceded it in respect of the demand for purc-brcd Clydesdale horses. Altogether, something like 800 horses of Scotch breeding wore exported during the year, and of these not fewer than lii-Hiths wore either registered or qualified for registration in the Clydesdale Stud-book. The United States and Canada maintained their position as the most extensive purchasing countries, but the highest prices were paid fur animals exported to South America. Macfariane, 2088, first prize aged horse at the Highland and Agricultural Society’s show at Dumfries, was sold by Mr Andrew Montgomery in December for considerably over £IOOO to a South American buyer, and in July Mr William Montgomery sold Klla, tbo best brood mare of the season, to another buyer from the same part of the world, for a price which has been only once or twice exceeded for a brood mare. The same gentleman in September sold the four-year-old horse Lord Lionel, 2963, to the buyer who afterwards purchased Macfariane for something like £SOO. To a Canadian buyer, Mr William Taylor, Park Mains, Paisley, in July, sold his beautiful three-year-old horse Lord Beresford, 4178, for £37-5; and iu December the Glasgow premium horse Prince of Albyn was sold at the same figure and exported to Australia. The pedigree horse, which was one of the lirst seven at the spring stallion show, thus sold at the same figure as the cross-bred horse which was victorious. These, as far as wo have been able to learn, were the (top prices realised during the year for horses sold for exportation, and are exact quotations, after deducting all luck penny arrangements. Some remarkable prices were offered, and not accepted by owners. Of these, the most notable was £1,600, which was offered by the secretary of the Clydesdale Horse Society on behalf of a foreign buyer, for Flash wood, 3604; and £750 offered at Dumfries by the same gentleman on behalf of a Seotcli nobleman, for tile first prize two-year-old colt of the season, Cairnbroguo Stamp, 4374. Botli these horses wore hired in August last at unprecedented terms to travel in Wigtownshire, and the price offered for Flash wood included the penalty incurred should his engagement not be fulfilled. Tlie most important sales in home circles were those of the first prize two-year-old colt at Kilmarnock and Edinburgh, Macneil, 4566, by Mr William Montgomery to Sir Michael R. Shaw-Stewart, Bart., and Mr Riddell’s sale of King Lawrence, 4475, and several mares to Sir James Duke, Bart, Reports from the United States speaks of a good demand for sound, serviceable horses of tlie better class, and several of the Canadian buyers report a ready sale for the same class of stock. The South American demand gives indications of expansion, and, altogether, the outlook for ISS7 is much brighter than was the outlook at tlie same period of 1886.