Buntingford and District Agricultural Society
A Fine Show At Hertford
Hertford, 15th July.
The Seventh Annual Show of the Buntingford and District Agricultural Society was held at Hartham, Hertford, today, in fine, but very dull weather.
There was a good attendance, and the judging was completed under most agreeable circumstances. As was to be expected, empty stalls and pens were nowhere to be found, the proportion of absentees in the cattle classes being very low.
Owing to Foot and Mouth Disease near Reading, no cattle from the Royal Show was present.
Hertford indeed gave a hearty welcome to the Society, which was mothered for a couple of years by the old-established Buntingford Horticultural Society, and after six combined shows it was under different circumstances that the Agricultural Society stages its seventh show.
Indeed everything was different - the venue and the people. One grew accustomed at Buntingford to meeting the rank and file of the Agricultural industry - the labourers who tilled the land in the winter and cut the golden corn in the summer - men who were glad when the Buntingford Show came round in order that they might have a day's enjoyment with their fellow workers and watch the horses from their own farms being led proudly round the shaded ring in Corney Bury Park.
In the past the Buntingford Show has been a gathering of agrilculturalists and horticulturalists, but today it was a different type of person that was threading his way by the pay-boxes and over the cool waters of the River Lea on to Hartham. Clerks, tradesmen and shop girls were in the majority, and but for little groups of agricultural workers gathered near the animal pens one would think the crowd typical of a first-class cricket match or a garden party.
Although it was the Buntingford Show there appeared to be few Buntingford people here - one in every thousand probably came from Buntingford district. The huge ring - many times larger than the Corney Bury ring - was lined with motor cars and people, while others found accommodation under the trees by the swimming bath.
Things were astir here very early this morning, and by 8 a.m. entries were pouring into the Show Ground from a special railway siding. Stewards were busy directing stockmen, and the Secretary's tent was swarmed with enquirers, five clerks, with their shirt sleeves rolled up, doing their best to keep the routine of the day going.
In a tremendous marquee opposite, waiters and waitresses were preparing for the public luncheon, while close by there was the usual ear-splitting noises from the poultry tent, which was rapidly filling up.
One rabbit - a beautiful creature - was glad of company in the next pen, as he had been on the Show ground since Tuesday afternoon. There was a varied assortment of implements on the trade stands which were hoping to do a record business. One thing was certain, and that is that the vendors of ices and cool drinks had a harvest.
The Exhibits
The horse classes were unaffected by the conditions that hampered the movement of exhibits in order departments, and as a rule the various breeds were strongly represented. Breeders of shires paraded the breed in force, and quality of high order was witness.
The collection of cattle was impressive, as was seen when the prize exhibits were paraded later. The breeds that specialise for milk and meat production were pleasing in numbers; there was a large entry of Shorthorns, British Friesians and Red Polls.
Sheep and pigs made a meritorious display.
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The Show was undoubtedly a great success, and it is hoped that the financial result will be first step towards the return of the Show to Buntingford.
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