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Report - 11.
section; and thirdly, as the best animal in the yard. There were larger and fatter beasts shown, but taken altogether none that equalled Theodore in general excellence. Out of 100 points the judges awarded him 84; the nearest competition obtaining only 82. This second position was reached by Garibaldi 4th, also bred in England.
Next to English stock, the Colony has been indebted to Victoria, whence several valuable bulls have been imported. Breeders, however, are now drawing more from English than from Victorian studs, and the large ships from London are continually unloading at the Circular Quay animals selected in England by returned colonists, who are judiciously investing their pastoral gains in the purchase of first-class stock.
In the female list there were three animals of the short-horn breed, imported from England, and five of the Hereford breed. The imports of late have not been so exclusively on the male side as they were some years ago, and the studs are not so one-sided. The best results may be anticipated in a few years by careful breeding from the excellent stock, both male and female, now continually reaching the Colony. Not long ago it was largely the fashion for squatters to get a good bull or two, and turn them loose upon their runs; but this plan was not found to answer; the new comer had a fight with old "scrubbers," who were often more than a match for him, and the change in the mode of life very often proved fatal. The imported stock are now more carefully tended; and, with a larger supply of imported heifers and cows, and a more careful selection of the Colonial stock to breed from, the average quality of the young stock is steadily improving. The Colonial-born produce displayed at the Exhibition was of the highest promise, and that though most of the youngsters were out of Colonial dams. The value set upon them was sufficiently indicated by the prices paid at the sales which succeeded the show.