The awards of the Judges in this class were as follows:For the best Bull, calved after 1st January 1837-One Hundred Sovereigns —to Mr Ferguson Simpson, Mains of Pitfour, Aberdeenshire. For the second best ditto-Thirty Sovereigns-to Mr Thomas Howey, Lil-. burn Grange, Northumberland. To the breeder of the best Bull in this class-the Honorary Silver Medal— to the exhibitor, Mr Simpson. Animal next in merit belonged to Mr James Hood, Pathhead, Berwickshire. For the best Bull, calved after 1st January 1840-Twenty Sovereigns-to Mr John Mason Hopper, Newham, Durham. Animal next in merit, belonged to Mr Thomas Simson, Blainslie, Roxburghshire. For the best Cow-Fifteen Sovereigns-to Mr John Booth, Killerby, Yorkshire. For the second best Cow-Ten Sovereigns, to Mr Christopher H. Bainbridge, Lumley Park, Durham. Animal next in merit belonged to Mr John Hunt, Thornington, Northumberland. For the best three Cows-Fifteen Sovereigns-to Mr William Smith, Shidlaw, Northumberland. Animals next in merit, belonged to Mr Atkinson, Ewart. For the best Heifer, calved after 1st January 1839—Ten Sovereigns—to Mr Thomas Crofton, Holywell, Durham. For the second best ditto-Seven Sovereigns-to Mr John Booth, Killerby, Yorkshire. For the third best ditto-Five Sovereigns-to Mr Thomas Ferme, Braidwood, Edinburgh. Animal next in merit, belonged to Mr Robert Jobson, Turvilaws, Northumberland. For the best Heifer, calved after 1st January 1840-Ten Sovereigns-to Mr Thomas Crofton, Holywell, Durham. For the second best ditto-Five Sovereigns-to the said Mr Crofton. Animal next in merit, belonged to Mr William Tod, Elphingston Tower. For the best two Oxen, calved after 1st January 1838-Twelve Sovereigns -to Mr William Smith, Shidlaw, Northumberland. For the second best two ditto-Eight Sovereigns-to Mr William Smith, jun. Burton, Northumberland. Animal next in merit, belonged to Mr Wilson of Cumledge, Berwickshire. For the best two Oxen, calved after 1st January 1839-Twelve Sovereigns -to Mr Wilson of Cumledge. The prize Bull, named the Buchan Hero, though a good animal, was certainly not of that high quality which a premium of L.100 might have tempted a breeder to enter for competition. He was in useful condition, and evidently had not been fed up for the Show; and he was, moreover, of true blood, which was, no doubt, the inducement for Messrs Tempest and Whittaker, in Yorkshire, to give L.200 for him. Many liked the roan bull belonging to Mr Thomas Forrest, Hatton, Cheshire, better; but as he was in too high condition for use, it was no doubt judicious of the Judges to pass him over. We yet remember the disappointment which was occasioned by the high condition of the prize-bull at the Society's Show at Kelso in 1832, rendering him useless. But two bulls were entered which were not exhibited, and both were represented by those who had seen them in England, to be better than any bull on the ground. These were, one named Sir Thomas Fairfax, belonging to the Rev. Mr Higginson, Thormanby, and Mr Wilson, Brawith, both near Thirsk, in Yorkshire; and the other, belonging to Mr Jacques, St Trinian's, near Richmond, Yorkshire. These, it seems, should have been taken to Berwick by one of the Newcastle steamers, which failed to fulfil its agreement. They were sold a short time ago by their owners, at the sales of all their stock, to Sir T, Fairfax for 155. Had they come to Scotland, we have no doubt that their fresh blood would have induced the Scottish breeders to have retained them in the country. But if there was any doubt of the bull, there was none of the cow, which obtained the first prize, belonging to Mr Booth, Killerby, Yorkshire, being in form, handling, points, and quality, the best cow in the kingdom. Indeed, it would be a difficult task to find a single fault in her, and after the trials she has undergone at Liverpool, Northallerton, Hull, of late, and now at Berwick, it is something for a breeder to have to say, that he possesses the best cow in the kingdom. These were the awards of the Judges on the other kinds of cattle. We may just observe that there were of these entered in competition only 5 lots of the polled breeds, comprising 10 head; 4 lots of West Highlanders, containing 8 head; and of any breed 7 lots, containing 23 head. 2. Galaway, Angus, and Aberdeen Polled Breed.-For the best two Oxen, calved after 1st January 1837-Fifteen Sovereigns-to the Earl of Haddington. For the second best two Oxen-Ten Sovereigns-to Mr Miller of Ballumbie, Forfarshire. The animal next in merit belonged to Mr Alexander Craig, Kirkton, Sutherland. 3. West Highland Breed.-For the best two Oxen, calved after 1st January 1837-Fifteen Sovereigns-to Sir John Hall of Dunglass, Bart. For the second best two Oxen-Ten Sovereigns-to Mr Thomas Landers, Fenwick Steads, Northumberland. For the best two Oxen, calved after 1st January 1839, bred by the exhibitor, and never housed-Ten Sovereigns-to Colonel Maclean of Ardgower. 4. Any Breed.-For the best two Oxen, pure or crossed, calved after 1st January 1837-Fifteen Sovereigns-to the Duke of Richmond. The animal next in merit belonged to Mr Thomas Maddison, Wandon, Northumberland. For the best two Oxen, calved after 1st January 1838-Ten Sovereigns-to Mr George Moffat, Doddington, Northumberland. To the owner of the five best Steers, calved after 1st January 1840, which in the opinion of the judges will best remunerate the feeder-Fifteen Sovereigns to the Earl of Haddington. To the owner of the five best Heifers, calved after 1st January 1840, which in the opinion of the judges will best remunerate the feeder-Fifteen Sovereigns to Mr Wilson of Cumledge. 11. SHEEP. 1. Leicester.-The next class of stock exhibited of most importance were sheep, and of these by far the most numerous and valuable were the Leicesters-they constituting one of the staple products of this part of the country. Of this breed there was a great display; there being entered in competition, besides the extra stock, 138 lots, comprising 388 animals. The lots were divided into 88 of tups, 22 of ewes, 22 of gimmers, and 6 of dinmonts. These comprised respectively 88 tups (36 aged and 52 shearling), 110 ewes, 110 gimmers, and 30 dinmonts. Of the 81 head of sheep exhibited among the extra stock, 52 were Leicesters. We believe that considerable difference of opinion exists between English and Scottish breeders regarding the properties of the pure Leicester; and accordingly the opinion expressed by the English gentlemen present of those exhibited was, that they could not be reckoned fine but only useful sheep. We are satisfied, however, that the sort of sheep exhibited is the best adapted to the exigences of our country. They have no want of figure, nor of aptitude to fatten, and they certainly attain to good weights; and combining value with quality of the fleece, there is not a more profitable sort to be found. We dare say finer sheep may be found in England, having finer points, finer wool, and shewing more blood, and such were in great vogue in this country some years ago; but these delicate properties could only be kept from degenerating by breeding too near a-kin, and then the carcasses became small, though abundantly fat, and the fleeces fine, but light and watery. Fine blood and a fine fleece may be maintained intact in the finer climate of England, without having recourse to consanguinity; but in this country we are satisfied that we have the most profitable sheep, with blood quite pure enough for all useful purposes. At least we should regret to see a return to the blue-caps and bare-bellies of former days. It is enough that we can obtain the pure blood of England, when occasion requires, to purify our flocks. We make these remarks with no allusion whatever to the observation made below by the Judges on the purity of the prizetup, but only in reference to the opinion on this point which we heard freely expressed by very competent judges. These were the awards of the Judges in this class : For the best Tup-Forty Sovereigns-to Mr John Simmons, Brockmill, North Durham. For the second best Tup-Fifteen Sovereigns-to said Mr John Simmons. For the third best Tup-Ten Sovereigns-to Mr Andrew Thompson, Highridgehall, Roxburghshire. Animal next in merit, belonged to the Duke of Buccleuch. For the best shearling Tup-Forty Sovereigns-to the Duke of Buccleuch. For the second best shearling Tup-Fifteen Sovereigns-to Mr John Biss Ogden, Harrietfield, Berwickshire. For the third best shearling Tup--Ten Sovereigns-to Mr George Reid, Ballancrieff, East Lothian. Animals next in merit, belonged to Mr John Simmons, Brockmill, and Mr George Brown, Halls, Haddington. For the best pen of five Ewes-Ten Sovereigns-to Mr George Brown, Halls, Haddington. For the second best Ewes-Five Sovereigns-to Mr Andrew Thompson, Highridgehall, Roxburghshire. Animals next in merit, belonged to Mr William Taylor, Presson, Northumberland. For the best pen of five Gimmers-Ten Sovereigns-to Mr George Brown, Halls, Haddington. For the second best Gimmers-Five Sovereigns-to Mr John Simmons, Brockmill, North Durham. Animal next in merit, belonged to Mr Thomas Maddison, Wandon, Northumberland. For the best pen of five Dinmonts--Five Sovereigns--to the Duke of Northumberland. The second in merit, belonged to Mr Thomas Maddison, Wandon. N.B.-In awarding the first premium in this class, the Judges stated it as their opinion, that the best Tup was not a pure bred Leicester, and should the exhibitor fail to prove to the satisfaction of the Directors of the Society, that he is pure, then they award the first premium to the next sheep in the above list. In this case the first premium would still be gained by Mr Simmons, but the Judges were not, of course, aware of the person who owned the second lot. 2. Cheviot. Of this class of sheep there was a considerable number, but not so great as might have been expected in a locality so near the native country of the Cheviots. There were 25 lots, comprising 166 head, entered in competition, and 11 in the extra stock, exclusive of a lot of 10 tup lambs, of a cross betwixt the Leicester tup and the Cheviot ewe. These should have been made wether and not kept as tup lambs. The awards were as follows: For the best three Tups-Twenty Sovereigns-to Mr William Riddell, Cappuck, Roxburghshire. For the second best three Tups-Ten Sovereigns-to Messrs Young and Craig, Bighouse, Sutherlandshire. Animal next in merit, belonged to Mr Thomas Forster, Scrainwood, Northumberland. For the best three shearling Tups-Fifteen Sovereigns-to Messrs Young and Craig, Bighouse, Sutherlandshire. For the second best three shearling Tups—Five Sovereigns-to Mr Thomas Elliot, Hindhope, Roxburghshire. Animal next in merit, belonged to Mr Thomas Forster, Scrainwood, Northumberland. For the best pen of ten Ewes-Ten Sovereigns-to Mr Thomas Elliot, Hindhope, Northumberland. For the second best ten Ewes-Five Sovereigns-to Mr Andrew Anderson and Mr John Grieve, Glendinning, Dumfriesshire. Animal next in merit, belonged to Mr Thomas Forster, Scrainwood. For the second best ten Gimmers-Five Sovereigns-to Messrs Anderson and Grieve, Glendinning, Dumfriesshire. Animal next in merit, belonged to Mr William Aitchison, Menzion, Peeblesshire. For the best ten fat Wethers, lambed in 1838-Five Sovereigns-to Messrs Young and Craig, Bighouse, Sutherland. Animal next in merit belonged to Mr John Bolam, Easington Grange, Northumberland. |