suitable for large establishments, such as unions, gaols, asylums, hospitals, and similar institutions. The steam-generator is much like that employed in the portable steam-cooking apparatus, being of 1 horse-power and worked at low pressure, say from 6 to 8 lbs. to the square inch, provided with a simple selfacting water-supply, and is fed from a cistern placed about 8 feet above it, requiring no attention whatever, the water being admitted as fast as evaporation goes on. The two boiling-vessels, for meat, soups, water, tea, &c., are made of strong galvanised wrought-iron, and are double cased or jacketed, the steam circulating between the cases. The contents are thus boiled by steam, yet without its admission into the pans,-a plan found to be very economical. These vessels hold 40 gallons each, and, together with the potato-closet (to which the steam has access), are placed on the right-hand side of the boiler. Fig. 22.-Amies and Barford's Set of Steam-cooking Apparatus,

No. 240.

On the left of the boiler is a large roasting oven, on the "Leamington " principle, capable of roasting 50 to 60 lbs. of meat at once; this is heated, without any extra cost, by the flues from the boiler being simply deviated to encompass the oven, and the unspent heat is thus utilised on its way to the chimney. The whole forms a complete range, 12 feet long, occupying a small space, yet capable of supplying the requirements of 500 people, with a consumption of coal of about 1 cwt. per day. This apparatus was used to prepare food for the Bath and West of England Meetings at Southampton and Taunton, and was highly commended.

William Smith, of Foston Lowthorpe, West Driffield, exhibits a novel sheep rack, in which the rack is shut off from the trough by patent moveable slides. The food, of whatever kind, is put into the rack, the sheep drawing it through the bars and below the slides, which can be set at any height. The object is to economise the food by preventing its being pulled out and wasted; also the sheep, whilst eating, do not breathe on the fodder, and everything is kept perfectly dry. The rack is 14 feet long, accommodates about 30 sheep, and costs 67. It was highly commended.

J. P. Barford, of Wantage, was commended for an improved carriage lifting

jack. In this the old pin and chain is done away with. The lift is perpendicular, and alteratious of height are easily effected. Price 12s. 6d.

Messrs. H. J. and C. Major were commended for specimens of Bridgewater tiles, which are well known as excellent roofing; the price varies from 9s. to 15s. a square. These tiles are larely used in the West of England, and are much liked.

I cannot conclude this report without expressing my grateful sense of the hearty assistance rendered by the Judges in their different departments, to which I am in no limited measure indebted for the material of the report.

XXVI.—Report on the Exhibition of Live Stock at Oxford. By D. REYNOLDS DAVIES, Senior Steward.

MORE than ordinary interest has probably prevailed regarding the Royal Agricultural Society's exhibition this year, from the fact that it was held at Oxford, where the first-born efforts of the Society were welcomed thirty years ago; and there are happily still living not a few who were able, from their own personal observation, to note the extraordinary and rapid progress that has been made in the appliances of agriculture since the Society's first gathering in the same city. Then about seven acres of ground more than sufficed for its requirements, whilst on the present occasion the space occupied was tenfold the area, with its many miles of shedding.

It is gratifying to know that the exhibition has been thought a successful one in many respects, but financially it is feared the Society's resources may be taxed to supply a deficit of not less than two thousand pounds. Such results as those of the previous year could not be looked for at Oxford. The Manchester meeting was altogether exceptional, having been held in the midst of the most densely populated manufacturing districts, and under the presidency of his Royal Highness the Prince of Wales, accompanied as he was by the Princess of Wales, whose presence so greatly charmed the honest hearts of Lancashire. A fairer comparison would probably be that of the Leicester meeting two years ago, where the total money receipts were but little over Oxford's second meeting.

A system of season tickets was inaugurated at the Manchester Show, and as it has again worked well this year it is probable the Council may see fit to make it an established rule for the encouragement and convenience of the public to visit the showground at their pleasure.

The labours of the Society at Oxford were heartily seconded by his Worship the Mayor, to whose personal efforts, aided by the Local Committee, much of the success was due; and the recollection of agreeable and warm hospitality and kindness will

remain in the minds of many in time to come. These good offices were recognized at the annual meeting held in the member's tent on the ground, his Grace the Duke of Devonshire in the chair, when Lord Vernon (President elect) moved, and Lord Kesteven seconded, a vote of thanks to the Mayor and Corporation of Oxford for their exertions in promoting the success of the Show. The vote was carried by acclamation, and acknowledged, in the absence of the mayor, by the senior member of the corporation present, Alderman R. J. Spiers.

A new and interesting feature preceded this vote, viz. the declaration of the awards made by the Judges for the best managed farm in the Oxford district. The first prize of 1007. was offered through the liberality of the High Sheriff of the county, James Mason, Esq.. The cup or vase, designed by Mr. Owen Jones, and executed by Messrs. Hancock and Co. of London, was of exquisite form and workmanship, and, whether for its intrinsic value or artistic beauty, might well have been coveted by landlord or tenant. The name of the successful competitor, Mrs. Mary Elizabeth Millington, Ash Grove Farm, Ardley, Bicester, a tenant of his Grace the Duke of Marlborough, was received with much applause. Mr. John Treadwell, of Upper Winchendon, also a tenant of the same noble Duke, took the Second Prize of 507.; and Mr. Robert Craddock, of Lyneham, Chipping Norton, the Third Prize of 251. The lists were entered by twenty-one competitors, and it may be hoped that, under such peculiar circumstances, the gallantry of the unsuccessful ones would in some degree tend to soften their disappointment in being vanquished by a lady. The reports on these farms will be perused with much interest, and their value to the agricultural world will be recognized, both, on account of their giving prominence to that system of culture and management most desirable to emulate and to follow, as well as directing attention to that of an opposite character and tendency.

Divine service was, as usual, held in the showyard on the Sunday preceding the opening of the show. Both in the morning, when the sermon was preached by the Bishop of Oxford, and in the afternoon, when the Rev. Canon King officiated, the attendance of yardmen and servants in charge of the stock was numerous in proportion to the increased size of the exhibition; and it was computed that no less than 600 persons formed the congregation on each occasion. The evident desire of the eminent divines who so kindly officiated, to make themselves understood by the least educated of their audience, leads us to believe that these services are as effective as they are interesting.

To the breeders and exhibitors of stock the Oxford meeting must have proved abundantly satisfactory from the numbers and importance of the sales effected on the ground. Probably at no

or

previous exhibition have buyer and seller been brought together so frequently with success, and the prices realized for many of the animals at once bespeak their superiority, and indicate the liberal spirit of the purchasers, of whom there were some of the most enterprising present, from the United States, Canada, and Australia. Shorthorns and Herefords seemed most to take their favour, and if they carry with them across the seas, as they will do, some of our choicest specimens in form and blood-Bates as well as Booth, and other kinds-they are surely entitled to possess them, with our best wishes for their success in distant climes, for the weighty considerations left in exchange. The enormous almost fabulous prices realized of late for shorthorns are beyond all precedent. Two thousand guineas for a seven year-old cow is surely a startling if not a tempting price. That such an offer was made and declined, the writer has it from the best authority. This priceless treasure is "Lady Fragrant" ("Extract of Gold," or "The Nugget," would have been equally appropriate names), owned by that well-known breeder, Mr. T. C. Booth of Warlaby. Selections were made from the same herd at 1500 and 1000 guineas each. Duchess blood, too, now so rare, has not escaped the compass of these spirited visitors, as Mr. Cochrane of Montreal has charmed away two of Captain Gunter's gems, both yearling heifers-"Duchess 101st," and "Duchess 103rd" -the consideration being no less a sum than 2500 guineas. The first and second prize yearling heifers at Oxford also found buyers at 500 guineas each. The first, an undeniably good one, owned and bred by Mr. D. McIntosh of Havering Park, Essex, goes to Australia, and her second competitor, bred by Mr. Dudding, follows suit to America. All this, and much more that cannot here be given in detail, should be highly encouraging to breeders, and in the absence of Continental buyers the vast amount of business done is the more astonishing.

The entries of stock, like those of implements, have a progressive annual increase, as will be seen in the following summary:

In cattle, sheep, and pigs, it will be noticed the numbers are considerably in excess of former years, whilst there is a notable falling off in horses, in the aggregate, as well as in the quality and character of some of the classes. Last year, however, there were unusual attractions in the way of hunters, hackneys, and other classes, by reason of the largely augmented prize lists offered through the liberality of the local committee, for in no

district, rural or otherwise, could superior horse-flesh be exhibited before a more discriminating public.

The reports of the Judges will be given in extenso in their respective places. Some of them will be found copious and full, for which reason they are the more valuable and interesting, whilst it is to be regretted that others are brief and scanty.

It

is at all times desirable that gentlemen of experience and competent authority should, in the interests of breeders and the public, offer full and free remarks on the classes brought before them for adjudication.

Commencing with the agricultural class, as arranged in the catalogue, the Judges, Messrs. Biddell, Woolhouse, and Turnbull, in their joint names, report as follows, and that their opinions are in accord, save that the last-named gentleman is a less enthusiastic admirer of the Suffolk horse. This divergence in taste is surely pardonable between northern and southern

men.

REPORT OF THE JUDGES ON THE AGRICULTURAL HORSES SHOWN AT

OXFORD, 1870.

AT the request of the Secretary, I send this Report on the horses brought before myself and colleagues at the late meeting at Oxford. Commencing with the agricultural stallions, not Clydesdale or Suffolks, the Society may be congratulated on having produced one of the best exhibitions I have looked over for many years-a remark as applicable to numbers as to merit in the individual animals exhibited. As regards what are generally known as the "shire-bred horses," a little more quality, without sacrificing power or substance, would be an improvement, but I can but remark the progress made by the breeders of these horses since the first meeting of the Society thirty-one years since. For my own part, accustomed to the uniformity and decided character of the Suffolk horse, a class of this kind must always appear a mixed lot, and one rather difficult to judge when brought into the ring as agricultural horses-a term presumed to include the breed of large heavy dray-horses, animals suited to the common work of a light land farm, as well as specimens of all grades between the two. The question has been asked, on what principle we could award the first prize to Mr. Welcher's No. 4, or the Reserved Number to Lord Norreys's" Black Prince," when such an animal as Mr. Statter's mare, No. 94, came in for a first prize-all being in classes for agricultural purposes. In this decision we were unanimous, but as No. 4 and No. 94 are widely diversified in style and form, we explain an award by stating that we considered the respective animals were adapted to the different purposes that various circumstances suggest for the requirements of agriculture. In such a class we were guided in our selections by merit, either for the slow heavy work on the stiffest soil, or the more active labour upon lighter land.

Taking the whole class of aged horses, we found a large proportion of soft, boggy-looking hocks, not amounting to actual unsoundness, but still an indication of weakness not to be disregarded. This, with flat feet, appeared to be the prevailing faults. On some we noticed a short coarse hair upon the leg, with gummy matter round the fetlock, invariably denoting a tendency to cracked heels, and grease in its worst form. This was always accompanied by knots and unsightly excresences upon the legs. If the breeders of "shire breds" hold the rough leg an indispensable point (I, as a Suffolk breeder, hold it