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MEETING OF THE ROYAL AGRICULTURAL…

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MEETING OF THE ROYAL AGRICUL- TURAL SOCIETY OF IRELAND. The annual meeting of this society took place las week at Clonmel. There was a small attendance on the 5s. day, but the 2s. 6d. day was a decided success, and the Thursday and Friday being 18. and 6d. days the building was crowded with visitors. The Hereford breed of cattle, which, though very scantily distributed in Ireland, has existed in some few localities for a great many years, thriving remarkably well and laying on its rare quality of flesh with great rapidity, contributed only five animals to the show, though a considerably larger number were entered. "Sir Cupis Ball," the first prize bull of Mr. P. J. Kearney, of Clonmellon, is extremely handsome, with deep fore-quarter, good rump and rounds, grand head, and the yellow horns that delight a breeder's eye. Mr. Kearney's first prize cow Sultana," which had just dropped her calf, kept her condition well, and another very good cow, Ashton Maid," was exhibited by Mr. R. W. Reynell, of Killucan. But the gem of this part of the show was Mr. Kearney's heifer Winnifred IV. of beautiful form, splendid quality, and with the sweetest head. Her sire was the first prize tn0 L.a", meeting of the English Society. In the classes of Other Breeds there was a fair specimen of the polled Angus bull and a few moderately good Angus cows, shown by Mr. Owen, of Blesinton, Wioklow. Of 25 entries of Ayrshires, only ten made their appearance; owing, it was said, to a Scotch steam vessel having failed to keep her appointment. The bull of General Gough, of Clonmcl, waa not admired by the judges, though he had been thought a great deal of at home; his cows were more meritorious, but easily beaten by an extremely good specimen of the breed ex- hibited by Lord J. W. Butler, of Drumcondra Castle. However, General Gough got a first prize) and a com- mendation for his good Ayrshire heifers. The Ayr- shire, valuable for dairying, is not at the same time a good butchers' breed; yielding in this point to the Devons, which, unfortunately, were badly represented here. A very ordinary Devon bull of Mr. Boyles, of Rockcorry, Monaghan, took the prize; and the win- ning cows and heifers of the same exhibitor were very inferior to the show Devons usually,seen in England. No West Highland cattle were shown at Clonmel; but the breed has been advantageously introduced into Donegal, while many other exposed and lofty districts of the country require such a hardy sort. There was a good show of the pretty little Kerry breed, the best being the cow and heifer of Captain "Bayley, of Fal- laght, Dublin, and the beautiful young heifers, "the Mountain Lass" and "Heath Blossom," of Mr. Barry Drew, of Lismore, Waterford. The merit of this ne- glected breed is in its fine milking properties, in union with a tendency to fatten and die well; and it is de- serving of all the encouragement the society can be- stow upon it. Interesting and important classes of dairy cows were furnished by bona fide tenant-farmers of Ireland not paying more than .£100 a year of rent," and again by "bona fide tenant-farmers, whose poor-law valuation exceeds £100 per annum." The horse show was very disappointing, for in spite of good prizes of £ 25, > £ 15, £ 10, and £ 5 each in the several classes, with pieces of silver plate worth fifty sovereigns each, first-class horses were not J tempted into the society's rings, thq fact being that the sister isle has another grievance, her best bred emigrate for money, and she cannot compete with wealthy England in the purchase of superior sires. The consequence is that the fine bloods common to the country some years ago are now scarcely to be found. In the class of weight-carrying, thorough-bred stallions, the Croker Challenge Cup went to Mr. M'Craith's bay, "Forager," a good horse, that has done wonders in steeple-chasing, but inferior in his quarters, and in light, elastic action, to' Mr. Dalton's chestnut, "Knave of Hearts," which has, unfortunately, one eye blind. Some critics were of opinion that Mr. Ree's Birdlime," a clever stallion by Irish Birdcatcber, ought to have been placed but, as it is, Forager is first only among a moderate lot. Nothing very wonderful was seen among the hunters, though Mr. Kellett's gelding, bay with black legs, has considerable merit. The brood mares were a weak point in the show, while the redeeming feature was the well- filled class of three-year-olds for purposes other than agricultural," Mr. M'Craith's chestnut colt by Zouave" has the first prize-here, after winning the chief honour at Tipperary local show last year. Among the agricultural horses, Mr. Patrick Mooney's Suffolk, "Young Welshman," was first at the Dublin Society's spring show, though he competed unsucces- .fully last year. at Sligo; Mr. Msifatt's Clydesdale, "Prince Charlie," was considered not to be of the right build and style, though he did take first prize at the Wexford show at Enniscorthy. Nor was much praise given to Mr. Mill's Clydesdale, British Prince," which took the prize in the class of younger stallions. Mr. Cotton's Clydesdale mare, from Scot. land, had more of the breed about her; and Mr, Mooney's prize filly by "Lord Clyde is well worthy of the distinction she gains. The sheep made a grand show, particularly the 72 pens of Leicesters. The Challenge Cup in the class was won by Mr. W. Owen, of Biesinton, Wioklow, i whose noted flock of pure-bred Leicesters contributed specimens quite equal in symmetry, quality, fleece, and character to the first-class sheep we are accus- ] ] tomed to tec in English show-yards. Mr. W. Fenneil, j < of Cahw. and Mr. Meade, of Ballinhassig, also beat Ii < M$< M- tr»$who ,s.snt a strong lot p £ LeieeeWsall tha' K way from Lincolnshire; Mr. Morris, however, gained a second prize in the shearling ram class. The Leicester ewes of Mr. Hewetson, of Waterford, were magnificent in every respect, having none of the straight-stapled wool and disproportionate offal observ- able in many of the pens. Among other longwools," Mr. Beale Browne, of Andoversford, Gloucestershire, was the great prize-taker, beaten, however, in the shearing ram class by Mr. W.JHutchinson Carroll, of Nenagh. These Cotswolds were exceedinglyfgood; but Mr. Page's long-wools with Leicester character had also considerable merit; and many pens showed that Irish sheep have been much transformed and improved of late years by the infusion of good blood. The Southdowns were a really poor lot, only four pens being shown, and these all from one English breeder. The short-wools, on the other hand, came up with a character that surprised everybody, and Mr. Hamilton, of Clonee, hitherto the chief winner in Shropshire downs, was beaten out and out by a new exhibitor, Mrs. Smith Barry, of Carrigtwohill, Cork. The prize ram, which took also the Challenge Cup, and a medal, was not a whit inferior to any sheep of the breed exhibited in England, and Mrs. Barry's older ram, half-brother to the Newcastle prize Shropshire, was pronounced by the judges to be the gem of the show. Certain of the shearling rams were of so mean a type that a good lesson must be conveyed by the mere juxtaposition of Shropshire, so widely different in shape, fleece, and character. The breed is evidently calculated to play an extensive part in the many suitable flock districts of Ireland. The pigs made a grand show, the great strength lying with the Berkshire, chief breeders of which were Mr. Malcomson, of Portlaw, and Mr. W. Joyce, a winner of prizes at our English society's shows. These Berkshires attain a weight of 16 imperial stone at the age of seven months, and with such exporting markets as Ireland possesses for small bacon, no wonder that the old native breeds are everywhere disappearing or being improved by crosses with the very best quick- feeding fine quality sorts. White pigs are Irish favour- ites and Mr. Wainman of Carhead, Yorkshire, and Mr. Naper of Oldcastle, showed some extraordinary fine specimens, but the Berkshires carried the palm. The poultry show was commendable, although of moderate dimensions. The Dorkings, the favourite breed among improvers in Ireland, were very good, particularly pens shown by Mr. R. P. Williams of Clontarf, and Mr. J. C. Cooper, of Clarina, Limerick. The Spanish made a miserable show. Brahma Pootras were exceedingly good — particularly those of Mr. Boyle, of Bray, Wicklow, who is well known in Eng- land for his splendid birds. The turkeys were very poor indeed; the geese tolerably good, and the ducks of considerable merit, Mr. Williams's Aylésburys being wonderful. Surely the agricultural improvers of Ire- land must be very remiss in not spreading more good birds among the myriads of small occupiers, who are I just the people to pay their rent almost with the proceeds from a proper breed of poultry. It has been proved over and over again that pure-bred fowls will yield far more eggs and meat for the food consumed than the miserably diminutive birds such as are com- mon through&ut Ireland; yet chickens are sold in Limerick at 6d. each; while Wicklow and Wexford are finding it profitable to fatten large numbers of fowls for exports, and thus become a source of good income to small farmers, which is lost from mere over. sight and ignorance of the capabilities of a modern poultry-yard.

ALLEGED FORGERIES TO UPWARDS…

DOUBLE MURDER AT BATLEY, NEAR…

FACTS AND FACETIJE.