Further, the displays of machinery grow more and more various.
Among animals the hunter and hackney take a bigger place and now constitute one of the chief attractions of the show for the general public. This does not mean that the stock are of lesser importance, but the other attractions have impinged to this extent that moderately successful shows have been held this June in which not a single head of cattle, pigs or sheep was exhibited. The change is far from welcome in more than one respect. One of the best of all the seed growers and most regular exhibitors told me last week that he was never again going to exhibit his sheaves and his
. sacks. His clientele had changed. Less grain was grown and he would henceforth advertise his wares in a less laborious manner. This is lamentable and the spirit of the show has altered as well as its appearance. Fewer farmers attend for any business purpose and more women come for the sake of the flower-show, which is usually admirable, and for the horses. Certainly the show has changed, perhaps in some respects degenerated ; but it is still a good show and of great interest for all classes of people who are concerned with the reconstruction of rural life. It is useful, too, for imparting "the rural bias" to school children. An admirable example of how this can be profitably organized was given under the leadership of Mr. Allsebrook at the Three Counties Show at Hereford. Thousands of children came, saw and admired.
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