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Les diagrammes suivants illustrent la mdthode. 1 2 3 1 2 3 4 5 6 ) ^Q^ HISTORY OF POLLED ABERDEEN OR ANGUS CATTLE HISTOKY OP POLLED ABERDEEN OR ANGUS CATTLE GIVING AN ACCOUNT OF THE ORIGIN, IMPROVEMENT, AND CHARACTERISTICS OF THE BREED BY JAMES MACDOISrALD EDITOR 'IRISH FARMERS' OAZETTE,' AUTHOR Of 'FOOD FROM THE FAR WEST,' ETC. AND JAMES SINOLAIIJ SUB-EDITOR ' IRISH FARMERS' OAZETTK ' ILLUSTRATED WITH NUMEROUS ANIMAL VORTRAITS WILLIAM BLACKWOOD AND SONS EDINBURGH AND LONDON MDCCCLXXXII All Righti rttei'vati CONTENTS. CHAPTER I. ORIGIX OF DOMESTIC CATTLE: Disagreement as to origin of domestic cattle— The ox in prehistoric times— The Bos tmts -The Bos lo luji/mis— Bbmestic cattle de- scended from one or the other, or from both— Opinion of various naturalists : Riitimeyer, Cuvier, Bell, Boyd Dawkins, Darwin, Storer, Owen, Dr John Alexander Smith- Are the urns and the longifrons really distinct species ?— Practical value of the dis- cussion—Probability of domestic cattle coming from " one com- mon source " — Low on variations in cattle, CHAPTER II. ORIGIN OF POLLED RACES OF CATTLE. Speculation as to origin of hornless cattle— Their antiquity— Their distinctiveness— Letter from Darwin on loss of horns— Letter from Dr John Alexander Smith — Professor Low's opinion- Absence of horns— Deviation from original form— Loss of horns before and after domestication— Preserved and fixed by selection in breeding— Acquaintance with principles of breeding in early times— Advice of Palladius, Columella, and Virgil— Distribution of polled cattle— Polled cattle in Austria, South America, Nor- way, and Iceland— In Cheshire, Lancashire, Nottinghamshire, Norfolk, Yorkshire, Devonshire, in England — In Ayrshire,' Lanarkshire, and Isle of Skye, in Scotland— In Ireland— Exist- ing polled breeds in United Kingdom- The Galloway breed- Norfolk and Suffolk polle, PAGE y- 11 VI CONTENTS. CHAPTER III. y ORIGIN AND EAIILY HISTOUY OF TIIF. POLLKO ABKRDEKN Oil ANGUS CATTLK. Scotch domestic cattle derived from aboriginal wild breed— All one variety— Differing according to conditions of life— Origin of polled Aberdeen or Angus breed— Natives of their present home— Loss of horns— When ?— Probably centuries ago— Polled cattle in An- gus in 1752, in 1757, in 1797, and in 1813— Youatt on Angus polled cattle— Polled Galloways in Angus— Polled cattle in Aber- deenshiro in last century— Keith and Williamson on Aberdeen- shire cattle — Youatt on ditto — " Native low country" and "Ruchan humlies " the same breed— Letter from Mr Macplier- son, Huntly, in 1832-Polled Galloway cattle in Aberdeenshire —Early polled breeders in Aberdeenshire- Improved breed direct descendants of Angus doddies and Buchan humlies— The latter two same variety — Loss of horns, .... 25 CHAPTER IV. / IMPKOVEMENT OF THE BREED. Little inducement to improve cattle a hundred years ago— Beef at one penny per pound— Rearing cattle for farm-work— Introduc- tion of Holderness and Fife breeds— Demand for beef— Working cattle abandoned — Improvement of native races— Choice of polled variety as beef cattle— Improvement of polled cattle in Angus— Operations of Mr Hugh Watson, Lord Pannmre, Earl of Southesk, Mr William Fullerton, Messrs Mustard, Mr Bowie, and others — Improvement of the breed in Kincardineshire— Operations of Mr Walker, Portlethen, and others— Improvement in Aberdeenshire— The efforts of Mr William M'Combie of Tilly, four, and others — Introduction of Shorthorns — The crossing craze— Improvement in Banff and Moray — The Ballindalloch and other herds — Encouragement by Agricultural Societies to improvers of poP-d cattle — The 'Polled Herd Book' — The Polled Cattle Society, .... Ti 45 CONTENTS. Vll CHAPTER V. CHARACTKllISTICS OF THE BUEEl). Early characteristics of tlie nortliern polls— Two varieties in Bnchan — The effect of early crosses with Shorthorns — The colour of the breed — "Scurs" — Shapes, size, anil symmetry — Increase in size —General improvement in form, &c.— Comparison of polled and Shorthorns— Full description of a typical polled animal— Com- parison witli Galloways— The breed's surpassing beef-properties — Excellent (quality of its beef — High value of polled crosses — Early maturing — Weights and prices of polled oxen — Milking- properties— Wide and growing reputation of the breed— Great increase in value, ....... VA CHAPTER VI. NOTES OX SOME EARLY POLLED CATTLE. Inaccurate entries in vol. i. of ' Polled Herd Book '—Statement by the late Mr Fullerton, Mains of Ardestie, on breeding of cow Black Meg 766 and bull Panmure 51— Communication from Dr Simpson, Marykirk, regarding sire of Panmure 51— Mr Collier, Hatton, on the breeding of Panmure 51— Errors in entries of Keillor cattle — Confusion as to bulls Old Jock 1 and Grey- breasted Jock 2— Account of the Keillor Jocks— The Keillor cows Favourite and Beauty — Supplementary information re- specting the pedigrees of the bulls Monarch 44 and the Tilly- four Victors, ..... 90 CHAPTER VII. EXTINCT HERDS. The Keillor herd— Old Grannie 1 — Her remarkable career, and list of her calves— The Kinnochtry Princesses, Baronesses, and Emilys— Mr Watson's cows Old Favourite and Favourite 2— The Kinnochtry Favourites— Beauty of Tillyfour 2nd 1180— The Wellhouse Euths and Ballindalloch Jilts— Mr Watson's Beauty Vlll CONTENTS. and the Ba hmlalloch Ericas-Lord Soutl.esk's Dora 333-Mr Harry Shaw s Jane of IJogfern 540-The Portletheu Pansys-List kJT Z T'^"^ ^'''" ^^''^^'' cow.s-Fa„u>us bulls bred at Aeillor-THK AuDoviE and Audkstie HEUDs-Black Me- 766 -1 annmre 51-The Tillyfour Queen tribe-Families traeiL. to Ardovie stock-Earl o' Buchan 57-Mr Fullerton's lossesS^y I. euro-pneunion,a-THE Tillyfouh heud-Cows owned by Mr ILT M;V.r '7^^"" ''°^'" '''' ^"^^ ''''' "^-*-- Off- spring-Mr M'Combie's system of breeding-Table showing de- scendants of Queen Mother 348-The Pride of Aberdeen famL- , rr/l',"" '""'"' ^'"'^''' "* Tillyfour-Mr M'Combie's un- paialleled success in the show-yard-His public sales. 107 CHAPTER VIII. EXTINCT HERDS— con^mucrZ. '^'"fuirjr"''''' "7"-f '^""li^^ ^-eared by Mr Brown-Sires used breedtrT"'", ^"^ '^"''" blood-Mr Brown's method of Dreeclmg-Loss by pleuro-pneumonia-Revival of the herd-Its success in the show-yard-THE Kinnaird herd-Us antiquity -Description of the early polled cattle at Kinnaird-Cows in «ie he, in 1840-Remarks on tribes cultivated at Kinnaird- Old Lady Anne 743-The Floras, Forniosas, and Fannys-The SnS \ ^f''^"*>^ *"bes extinct in female line-The Earl of Kate if ''^^'"^^^^^-•'l-His important purchases-Dora 333. Ka e 12, and Kathleen 339-Cup-Bearer 59, and his show-yard victories-Pride of Angus 176-Octavia 331-Emily 332 and her daughter Erica-The bull Windsor 221 -Notes 'on lecatt P r?h~S n ^f°«/^ «^^^'^-The Zara tribe -Fair Maid of leith 313. and Mayflower 314-The Honourable Charles Car- negie's recollections of the Ardgay stock 132 CHAPTER IX. EXTINCT HERjis— concluded. '^'^ Vi!t^.rr'l.'' ""T'!'' ^^^^^-^^t^^-i^tics-The Princess, Isabella. Yictona. Keepsake, Annie Laurie, Emily, and other families- IHE Mulben HERD-Origin and progress-Sires used by Mr »l^ COXTENTS. Patei-son-THK Castlk Frasku HERi,_Position in show-yard -Bleeding of bulls used-Sale in 1870-The Aboyne Castlf HEun-The Marqui. of ;^. dy's services to the breedfand tl dr Portlethen 21/-T,ie Duff House iiEUD-Notes regarding chief animals -Their wonderful success in exhibition - The fnlM^l^V?''^^^' Adanison's aim in breeding-Dispersion m 1881 the best public sale of polled cattle that has ever been Jwfl f7r' "^"f -Fyvie Castle, Tullochallum, Brucklay, I'einyflatt, Bogme, Indego, Garline, &c., . . UC 156 )7 CHAPTER X. »v EXISTIXa SCOTCH HERDS. The Royal Herd at Abergeldie MAiNs-Her Majesty the Queen and the breed -Aberlour Mains -Altyre-Ardhuncart- Auchorachan-Baads-A remarkable show-yard herd-The Sybils and Halts-Prince Albert of Baads 1336 the liist-prize Highland Society bull in 1879 and 1880-Ballindallogh- The premier herd of the time— Its antiquity— "The talk of the country" since Mr M'Combie's earliest recollections-Sir John Macpherson Grant's purchases at Tillyfour in 1850— Improve- ment of the herd under Sir George Macpherson Grant— Forty- two first prizes, and twenty-four special prizes, cups, and medals gained in 1879 and 1880-Sir George's principal purchases-The sires used-Trojan 402, a son of the Paris cow Charlotte 203 and half-brother of Pride of Aberdeen 581-His influence on the herd-Juryman 404, Judge 1150, and Justice 1462-Younc' Vis- count 736, the champion bull of his day— Families cultivated at Balhndalloch-The Ericas, the Jilts, the Sybils, the Nosegays, the Coquettes, the Lady Fannys, and the Prides-Public and private sales -Ballintomb- BallUxNIe-Bai.quhain Mains— Benholm Castle— Blairshixnoch— Bridgend— Mr Auld's experience in connection with tlie Tillyfour herd- Famous ani- mals at Bridgend bred by Mr M'Combie-Pride of Aberdeen 9th 3253 the highest-price cow of the breed-Knight of the Shire 1699— Mr Auld's aim to collect as many branches of Mr M'Com- bie's Queen tribe as are obtainable— Burnshangie, 180 CONTENTS. CHAPTER XI. EXISTIXO SCOTCH UBRHS-COntinUcd. CoETAoHv '«°-*'' «, 'P""™^ Champions at fat stock shows- Drumim— ATr Qu.-„ . T •'^ ^*'' '^"^ records lost— tho™ dTtf .wV r'-\ ''T """^ B«-"ty«-Marshal 399 gove ui. iiera its characteristic of size— Mr avinT,^^'„ • ^ , show-yard-EARNsiDE-E. sT Town Tl^.^ 7 ™°'''' '"^ *^^ to 1822-Longevity of the PatHc Ifr ^ ''^'"'"enced prior M 204 )> 234 >> 326 » J) 328 362 f THE POLLED ABEEDEEN OE ANGUS BEEED OF CATTLE. CHAPTER I. ORIGIN OF DOMESTIC CATTLE. Disagreement as to origin of domestic, cattle— The ox in prehistoric times — The Bos «rws— The Bos longifrons— Domestic cattle descended from one or the other, or from both— Opinion of various naturalists : Riiti- meyer, Cuvier, Bell, Boyd Dawkins, Darwin, Storer, Owen, Dr John Alexander Smith — Are the urits and the longifrons really distinct species ?— Practical value of the discussion— Probability of domestic cattle coming from "one common source" — Low on variations in cattle. It is probable that complete agreement may never be arrived at in regard to the origin of the domesticated races of British cattle. There has been much discussion as to whether they ought to be looked upon as the conglomerate produce of two or more distinctly different species of the genus Bos, or as the variegated offshoots of one great parent stem. The subject, like most other questions re- ceding far into the mists of prehistoric times, would seem to be almost hopelessly entangled in tlie meshes of scien- tific and theoretical speculation. The combined researches of the geologist and the archa3- ologist have proved that the genus Bos — the generic a^pel- 2 ORIGIN OF DOMESTIC CATTLE. lation of the ox and kindred species — had lived in Britain at the time of the Mammoth, sharing with many varieties of extinct mammalia the luxuriant herbage that distin- guished tlie flora of Northern Europe prior to the glacial period. Its fossil remains, along with those of the ele- phant, rhinoceros, &c., have been dug up from the drift and fresh-water deposits of the Newer- Pliocene formation. There is little doubt that, outliving many of its earlier associates, and finding nev/ companions as it passed from age to age, the ox, of one or other variety, has since that remote period had constant existence in Northern Europe. The varieties of the ox which in the prehistoric era roamed in the sweet freedom of nature through the British forests and marshes have been arranged by palaeontolo- gists into two main divisions. The line of demarcation — to minds of a practical turn somewhat arbitrary — seems well enough understood by naturalists. The two types or species differed materially in size, and also, to a varying extent, in some other points of lesser importance. In the strictest sense of the term, however, they presented no structural differences. The larger was named the Bos pi'imi- genms by Bojanus, and is likewise known as the Bos urns. To the smaller, Owen gave the designation of Bos longi- frons. Other species of fossil European oxen are spoken of by various writers, notably the Bos frontosus and the Bos trocJioceros, but all these are now generally regarded as identical with either the Bos primigenius or the Bos longifrons. Eiitimeyer considers the Bos trochoceros to be the female of an early domesticated form of the Bos jprimi- genius, and to be the progenitrix of the Bos frontosus. The Bos urus is described as having been an animal of enormous size and ferocious temper. When the Eomans first penetrated into the heart of Britain, more than half a century before the dawn of the Christian era, they found the great iirus roaming wildly through the forests and marshes. Ctesar describes this animal as being in THE GREAT UKUS. 3 size little inferior to the elephant, but in colour, form, and general appearance resembling the common bull. " Great is their strength, and great their swiftness," says the Eoman leader, "and they spare neither man nor wild beast that comes within their view. The Germans take and kill them in pitfalls made with great care and trouble. Their young men inure themselves to this labour, and exercise themselves in this kind of hunting ; and they who have killed the most, publicly produce their horns in testimony of their exploits, and receive praise. But it is impossible to accustom them to man, and to tame them ; and to this, even the very young ones are no exception. The great size, form, and beauty of their horns make them differ much from the horns of our oxen : these they collect with great care, and, surrounding the margin of them with silver, use them as cups at their largest banquets." This is an interesting picture drawn by a graphic writer who had seen the huge monster careering wildly in all its pris- tine majesty. Pliny describes the urus as an animal of "excessive strength and swiftness," and states that both the urus and the bison were conveyed from Germany to Eome, and " viewed by the people in the circus." Numerous skeletons, or parts of skeletons, supposed to belong to the Bos urus type, have from time to time been discovered in the British Isles, and elsewhere in Europe, and from these various scientific observers and celebrated naturalists have given us sketches of this ancient variety of cattle. Professor Nilsson, writing of the unis, says: "The forehead is flat, the edge of the neck is straight, the horns very large and long, near the roots directed outward, and somewhat backward ; in the middle they are bent forward, and towards the front turned upward. This colossal species of ox, to judge from the skeleton, resembles almost the tame ox in form and the proportions of its body ; but in its bulk it is far larger. To judge from the magnitude of its horn-cores, it I) 4 ORIGIN OF DOMESTIC CATTLE. had much larger horns, even larger than the long-horned breed of cattle found in the Campania of Eome. Accord- ing to all accounts, the colour of this ox was black ; it had white horns, with long black points ; the hide was covered with hair like the tame ox, but it was shorter and smooth, with the exception of the forehead, where it was long and curly." Eiitimeyer, Owen, Bell, Boyd Dawkins, Smith, and others, give similar descriptions of the urns, differing slightly in minor details. There is uncertainty as to the colour of the urus. Some say it was black; others believe it to have been white. By various writers elaborate measurements are presented of the urus, showing that the animal must have been of huge dimensions, far exceeding any living variety of cattle. The length of the body " from the nape to the end of the rump -bones," is stated at about 9 feet; and the length of the head " from the occipital ridge to the anterior border of the intermaxillary bones," °at 2 feet 4 inches, making the entire length of the animal no less than about 11 feet 4 inches. Then the height over the mane is said to have been 6 feet to 6 feet 6° inches. The horns carried by the urus must have been of great size. The horn-cores of the various skulls found in Scot- land and elsewhere measure, along the outer curvature, about 2 feet or 2 feet 2 inches in length ;' while the span between the tips of the horn-cores is stated at 2 feet 2 inches, and their circumference at the base at 1 foot 2 inches. The breadth of the forehead, between the horn- cores, would seem to have been about 9 inches. ^ The Bos longifrons has been represented as smaller in size than many of the existing varieties of cattle. Pro- fessor Owen, in his work on 'British Fossil Mammals and Birds,' says: "This small but ancient species or variety of ox belongs, like our present cattle, to the sub- genus Bos, as is shown by the form of the forehead, and by the origin of the horns from the extremities of the oc- THE BOS LONGIFRONS. in cipital ridge ; but it differs from the contemporary Bos primigenius, not only by its great inferiority of size bein- smaller than the ordinary breeds of domestic cattle, but also by the horns being proportionately much smaller and shorter as well as differently directed, and by the forehead bemg less concave. It is indeed usually flat; and the frontal bones extend farther beyond the orbits, before they jom the nasal bones, than in the Bos primiyenius. llie horn-cores of the Bos longifrons describe a sincrle short curve outwards and forwards in the plane of the forehead rarely rising above the plane, more rarely sinking below It: the cores have a very rugged exterior, and are^usually a little flattened at the upper part." The accounts of other writers differ but little. The Bos longifrons would seem to have been short in the body and to have had legs almost as slender as those of the deer Professor Nilsson, in a paper " On the Extinct and Existing Eovme Animals of Scandinavia," published in the 'Annals and Magazine of Natural History,' says that, as far as he knew, theses longifrons was "the smallest of the ox tribe that had lived wild in our portion of the globe • " the whole length, "from the muzzle to the end of the 'rump- bone," having been "about 6 feet 8 inches." The skull would seem to have been long and narrow. The various specimens found and preserved measure in lencrth from the supra-occipital ridge to front edge of intermaxillary bone about 16 to 18 inches; from roots of horn-cores to upper edge of orbits, about 3i to 4 inches ; breadth of forehead between roots of horn-cores, from 5 to 6| inches • breadth of skull across middle of orbits, from 6 to 7 inches • circumference of horn-cores at base, from 4 to 7 inches • length of horn-cores along outer-curvature, from 3 to 7 inches ; and span from tip to tip of horn-cores, from 9 to 16 inches. From the bison and other varieties of humped cattle— liospnscus, Bos hahdus, Bos indims, &c.— these two types. ^ 6 ORIGIN OF DOMESTIC CATTLE. just described in detail, are generally regarded as speci- fically distinct. It is not denied that the Bos urus and Bos longifrons, as well as the existing races of non-humped cattle, all come within the one generic — or rather sub- generic — distinction, the Bos taurus. Naturalists, however, as we have seen, have arranged the ancient varieties of humpless cattle into two main species or types, the Bos urus and the Bos longifrons ; and while they would seem to agree that these two species represent the sub-generic division to which domesticated cattle belong, they have been unable to arrive at anything like unanimity of opinion as to which type or " species " has been perpetuated in existing races, or as to whether both have been so pre- served ; and, if both have been preserved, in what varieties each type has its purest representatives. Some naturalists tell us that our living races of domesticated cattle are pure but modified descendants of the huge urus. Others claim the deer-like longifrons as the progenitors of existing races. Perhaps the most generally accepted notion is, that existing domesticated cattle are the intermixed descendants of the two ancient types. Eutimeyer gives it as his belief that some of the larger domesticated races on the Continent and in England, as well as the semi- wild cattle in Lord Tankerville's Park at Chillingham, are the descendants of the urus. The Chil- lingham cattle, he says, are less altered from the true urus type than any other known breed. Cuvier, Bell, and others, would seem to go the length of believing that our entire stock of living cattle are " the degenerate descend'; a Is of the great urus." Nilsson considers that the existing races of cattle may probably have been derived from the Bos urus, the Bos longifrons, and the Bos frontosus. Boyd Dawkins and Darwin are of opinion — and the one quotes the other to this effect — that " European cattle are de- scended from tWv tpecies" — namely, the urus and the longifrons. In l.i;-, -nf /'esting work on * The Wild White THEIR PROBABLE SOURCE. Cattle of Great Britain,' the late Rev. John Storer devoted himself mainly to the substantiating? of his belief that the semi-wild cattle confined in the Chillingham and Cadzow and some other parks were the progeny of the great urus ; and that the Bos longif ons, having been " driven with its master, the Celt, to the remote and inaccessible parts which the English could not reach," has been preserved in the Kyloe of the Highlands of Scotland and in the smaller cattle of Wales. Owen considers it highly improbable that the enormous and savage urus, spoken of by Csesar, was ever tamed so as to be fitted for the uses of man. He believes that the progress of agricultural settlement had caused its " utter extirpation," just as similar progress in North America is fast driving out the bison, and as it drove out the Aurochs in Europe, and that our knowledge of the urus " is now limited to deductions from its fossil or semi-fossil remains." Owen suggests that the early domestic cattle in Britain, more particularly in Eoman Britain, had been derived mainly from importations of breeds " already domesticat- ed " by the founders of the new British colonies. But, he remarks, " if it should still be contended that the natives of Britain or any part of them obtained their cattle by taming a primitive wild race, neither the bison nor the great urus are so likely to have furnished the source of their herds as the smaller primitive wild species or orio-inal variety of Bos" the longifrons. Winding up his concise and complete description of the longifrons, the same writer says : " In this field of conjecture the most probable one will be admitted to be that which points to the Bos longifrons as the species which would be domesticated by the aborigines of Britain before the Eoman invasion." Dr John Alexander Smith, of Edinburgh, who has given much attention to the subject, and whose papers on the " Ancient Cattle of Scotland," published in the ' Proceedings of the Society of Antiquaries of Scotland,' are full of°interest, I ,f 8 ORIGIN OF DOMESTIC CATTLE. .' t expresses his entire concurrence with Owen's beh'ef as to the extirpation of the urus. Dr Smith adds : « To suppose beasts like these not only tamed, in opposition to such decided evidence to the contrary, but also so strangely degenerated into the comparatively small-sized and placid ox of the present day, seems really past belief." He is inclined to regard the longifrons as "the true origin of our domesticated cattle," and presents strong evidence in support of the contention. These extracts from noted writers, not by any means comprising all the different views that have been expressed by men entitled to be heard on the subject, will serve to indicate how hopelessly involved the question of the "true origin" of our domestic cattle has become. But while we despair of the discovery of facts calculated to bring all investigators and thinkers to full agreement, we indulge the comfortable conviction that for every practical purpose it matters little which of the varying " beliefs " " opinions," and - contentions " referred to is'' really the correct one. We shall not seriously raise the question as to whether the two recognised types of ancient hump- less cattle, the urus and the longifrons, should properly be regarded as " distinct species," or merely as varieties of one species, the sub-genus Bos taurus, modified in form by food, climate, and other changing conditions. That is indeed a question upon which some pertinent considera- tions might be submitted ; but for our present purpose it will suffice to assure the reader that wliether the existiucr races of domesticated cattle are the descendants of the huge long-horned urus, or the slender short-horned longi- frons, or of both combined, the material of which these races are composed and the forces bound up in them are still the same. If (as the late Mr Storer would have us believe) at Chillingham we might look upon a pure descendant of the urus, and in the Highlands of Scotland upon a living specimen of the ancient longifrons, we would 3 m tfi LOW ON VARIATIONS IN SPECIES. 9 in the two cases have before us material of almost com- plete sameness— animals so entirely identical in structure, altl oucrh slightly modified in form by different usage, that in spite of all the arbitrary and fanciful distinctions that naturalists have endeavoured to set up, we would still feel constrained to regard them as having had a common origin in one well-defined if somewhat varying species of the genus ^os,— those wild humpless cattle that browsed on the luxuriant plains in this country during the Newer- Pliocene peiiod. ^ In leaving this subject, we may present an apt quota- tion from a footnote in Professor Low's admirable work on the 'Domestic Animals of Great Britain.' In refer- ring to the huge oxen whose skeletons were found in various parts of Europe, Professor Low says these skele- tons indicate an animal nearly three times the bulk of the oxen of the present day, and adds that the skeletons have been found "in the same situations as the great extinct Irish Elk, and thus seem to have survived various species with which they were associated, and even per- haps to have survived till within the historic era." Con- tinuing, he says : " A question, however, which has been agitated by naturalists is, Whether these huge animals are the origin of the domestic races, and may not even have been the uri described by Ctesar? The question is one which bears less than is assumed upon the origin of the existing races. We can, by all the evidence which the question admits of, trace existing races to the ancient tiri which, long posterior to the historical era, inhabited the forests of Germany, Gaul, Britain, and other countries. It is a question involving an entirely different series of considerations, whether these uri were tliemselves de- scended from an anterior race, surpassing them in magni- tude, and inhabiting the globe at the same time with other extinct species. While tliere is nothing that can directly support this hypothesis, there is nothing certainlv 10 ORIGIN OF DOMESTIC CATTLE. I' founded on analogy that can enable ns to invalidate it. Ihere 13 nothing more incredible in the supposition that animals should diminish in size, with changes in the condition of the earth, than that they should be extin- guished altogether, and supplanted by new species. The fossil urus inhabited Europe when a veiy different coii- of vL?M /f 'T"* '" temperature, the supplies of vegetable food, and the consequent development of ammal forms. Why should not the urus, under these eondi ions, have been a far larger animal than he subse- quently became ? We know by experience the effects ot food m increasing or diminishing the size of this verv race of animals. The great ox of the Lincolnshire fens exceeds in size the little ox of Barbary or the Highland hills, as much as the fossil urus exceeded the lar<.er oxen of Germany and England; and we cannot consider 1 as incredible that animals which inhabited Europe when e^phants found food and a climate suited to their natures" should have greatly surpassed in magnitude the same pecies under the present conditions of the same coun 11 '"1 CHAPTER 11. ORIGIN OF POLLED KACES OF CATTLE. Speculation as to origin of hornless cattle-Their antiquity-Their dis- tmctxveness-Letter from Darwin on loss of horns-Lelter ft"m Dr -DevtatTon f" ^™^*^rP-f-- ^oWs opinion-Absence of horn -Deviation from original form-Loss of horns before and after domestication-Preserved and fixed by selection in breeding _ Ac- pXlLTrT r""\^^' *^f ^'•^^'^"^g i" early times-Advice of Palladins Co umella, and Virgil-Distribution of polled cattle-Polled cattle in Austria, South America, Norway, and Iceland-In Cheshire ErZrr ^;**^;?^^";«^"-' N--folk, Yorkshire, Devonsh ^i n England-In Ayrshire. Lanarkshire, and Isle of Skye, in Scotland- In Ireland- Existing polled breeds in United lan/dom-The Gallo way breed-Norfolk and Suffolk polls. *" Eegarding the probable derivation of tho polled varieties ot cattle, there has been considerable speculation As far as our present knowledge extends, the subject is found to rest mainly on conjecture. By some it has been seriously argued that polled cattle are entitled to be ranked as an original and distinct species. We have even met with the assertion that their polled progenitors first saw the post-diluvian world at the "general dispersion on Mount Ararat ! Without going either so far back or so hi.rh up for their origin, the majority of thoughtful writers who have given attention to the subject are prepared to assicrn to the principal living varieties or breeds of polled or hornless cattle a separate existence for a long period of time. The idea which finds most favour==and°we believe 12 OKIGIN OF POLLED RACES OF CATTLE. the correct one-is that the aboriginal cattle from which existing races are derived were all originally provided with horns, and that, therefore, the many varieties of hornless cattle which have from time immemorial existed m various parts of the British Isles and elsewhere must be regarded as forming distinct departures from the ancient or original order of things. How and when tliese depar- tures may have been effected must be left in a larcre measure to conjecture. ° That eminent philosopher and naturalist, Dr Charles JJarwin who has so recently gone the way of all the livin- (he died at Down, Kent, on April 20, 1882, aged 73 yearsf and whose works, notably those on the 'Origin of Species ' cand ' Animals and Plants under Domestication/ mark him out as at once the most gifted and most far-reaching in- quirer into matters connected with the origin, formation, and deviation of species, confessed frankly tljat he could not account for the loss of horns on certain races of cattle. In his last-named work, he says he lias " often speculated on .he probable causes through which each separate dis- trict in Great Britain came to possess in former times its own peculiar breed of cattle ; " and yet he had not been able to arrive at a confirmed conclusion as to how the horns may have disappeared, and how the hornless breeds have sprung up. He thinks "it is probable that some breeds, and "some peculiarities, such as being hornless A.C., have appeared suddenly, owing to what we may call 111 our ignorance spontaneous variation," and tliat throu-li selection in breeding, eitlier skilled or rude, the results°of these '' spontaneous variations " have come to possess a powerful hereditary tendency. In a courteous communi- cation to us, dated January 23, 1882, this gifted naturalist expresses his regret that he had " not had time durincr several years to attend to the very interesting subject of doniesticated animals ; " and adds : " No one can give anv explanation-although no doubt there must be a cause- v*.? ! DARWIN ON LOSS OF HORNS. 13 i of the loss of horns, any more than of the loss of hair, both losses strongly tending to be inherited. It is I think, possible that the loss of horns has occurred often since cattle were domesticated, though I can call to mind only a case in Paraguay about a century ago. Is there not a sub-breed of the so-called wild park cattle which is hornless ? " In a communication to the authors, dated March 1, 1882, Dr John Alexander Smith of Edinburgh, whose in- teresting ' Notes on the Ancient Cattle of Scotland' have already been referred to, also expresses his belief that the absence of horns in certain breeds of cattle is " an acciden- tal variety or peculiarity which might occur in any do- mesticated herd." Professor Low evidently regards tlie absence of horns as a departure from the original condi- tion of things, but protests against the application of the term « accident " to the organic change that gives rise to such peculiarities. "There is nothing," he says, "in the phenomena of nature to which the term accident can be justly applied. The characters were doubtless the result of some organic change proper to the animals in which they appeared, and their transmission to their progeny is only the exemplification of a law common to other cases of transmitted characters. ... In the case of the domesticated animals, we find similar evidences [as in regard to the human race] of the wonderful permanence of characters once acquired and imprinted on the animals. In certain breeds of oxen and sheep, the animals retain from generation to generation their distinctive marks, the presence or absence of horns, the length and peculiar herding of these appendages, and even the minutest varia- tions of colour, as spots of white and black on certain parts of the body." Other writers have expressed themselves in similar terms ; and in the absence of proof to the contrary, the conclusion would seem justifiable, that the want of b^rns 14 ORIGIN OF POLLED BACES OF CATTLE. ¥l i|i constitutes a deviation from the original form of the ox • tl atthe deviation has been due in the first place to sudden 7^Z.y':~ZT% ".»P™'--us/- ..accMentS" or proper we need hardly inquire ; and that by selec- tion m breeding, the new feature has come to possess the absence of horns may have arisen from some such sudden variation as lias been indicated, we nevertheless mltln tlia the principal races of polled cattle are ZheZ well entit ed to be classed as distinct breeds as any of he horned varieties, and that their chief di tinguTshin. as any of those varying characters, either in colour form Js"'z„''rotinrfr y r ""T '- '"'''■ *= loini, It IS generally considprprl ~h:''::;/t*d rtieTdr °"^ f -^ T,.- ., . "oinea cattle had become domestinatoil This idea is supported by the fact that nil ti, f , , semi-fn«;i «i.„ii„ J , V ■ ' ''^ '""**' 'ossil and the sole 1- « ''''°°' '^'"'^'^ ''^"^'""te ''Imost pieseice of horns. Even in the face of these considera tions however we are not prepared to admit that notch variations as the sudden loss of horns had evei occurred lioni all we know, the conditions under which cattle tne occnirence of spontaneous variation than after thev ad been tamed ; and following the law of ana IgV and r coj^iising an inherent power in nature to give^rth modified variety-we regard such deviation as the Mf^U consliamed to assume that among the wild progenitors LOSS OF IIOENS. 25 Of our domesticated cattle there may have appeared an occasional hornless anin.al. But while we think it more than probable that that may have been the case, wH e nevertheless inchued to regard the common b lief as accurate in at least one sense. There is we conceive, ample proof in support of the con. elusion that those sudden losses of hornsittiose spontane- ous variations, or proper organic changes, which have riven us our known polled varieties-have really occurred since domestication took place. It is admitted by all authorU ties-Darwin clearly enforces the point L t,,t Xe deviations from the original or typical form of races of animals may arise spontaneously, some sort of artificial method or selection in breeding is necessary in order to impart to those spontaneous and isolated deviations such hxity of character, or such strong hereditary power, as would in.,ure their perpetuation. Among cattle c^m! pletely wild, no artificial selection could take place ; and therefore any such sudden and radical variation as the loss of horns which may have occurred among ancient wild cattle, would in all probability have been rapidly obi terated by the undirected flow of long-sustained nat- Z '"T-T,^™' '=""" "'"'^' domestication the caset difierent. The appearance of new characters, whether the tage of by the ownei's, who, by isolating the animals pos- sessiug the peculiarities desired to be perpetuated, Ld be ding from none but these, would succeed in stamping with less or more hereditary fixity those favoured feat^ires had not artificial means been taken to preserve them would u.ve quickly disappeared, merging again, as it wer ,' into the mam current from whicli they had temporarii; In this connection it should be remembered that although the general principles which regulate the la«^' 16 ORIGIN OF POLLED RACES OF CATTLE. I Mii' i heredity are now better known, and have been made to produce more remarkable results in late years than at any former age, yet those laws were recognised, and to some extent observed, even iu the earliest historic times. In b J ""?'.'; '""""" *''' ""^ ""^ *1'^ P"-"?*! beast of deal witb f^*";''^ f. ""''' "' ''"' ^»'y -rite- -ho deal with industrial subjects show clearly that in these nations the power of selection in breeding had been known l^mans. Palladius gives explicit directions as to the selection of bulls. " The bull," he says, " should be tS with huge members, of a middle size, rather young as old of a stern countenance, small horns, a brawny and vas b"t ;::;::?•,"' ""''■■" ^°'"™^"^'^ descripLnof t « that aie of a tall make, long with ver. large belly, verv broad forehead, eyes black and open, horns gra";ef„l, smooth and black, hairy ears, straight jaws, very kvge dewlap and emarkinftLt -f ""^T^ "' ^''^ """''' »" «»*««. reraaikmg that "if any one, fond of the prize at the Olvm- fockfr'f; ?"' I""''''- '' 'f ""^ »»« l"-^^* 'tout bil locks for the plough, he chiefly attends to the make of the mother who ought to be large in all her parts." „ Drv "Distinguish all betimes t^'ith branding fire, To note tlie tribe, the lineage, and the sire ; Whom to reserve for husband of the herd • Or who shall be to sacrifice preferred • ' Or whoin thou shalt to turn thy glebe' allow. To smooth the furrows, and sustain the plough • Ihe rest, for whom no lot is yet decreed. ° " May run m pastures and at pleasure feed." Darwin says he has found that the degree of care ih. selection and isolation-necessary to perpetuate ^l! DISTRIBUTION OF POLLED CATTLE. 17 ities in races Of Stock "has sonaetimes been taken even in It e.c.v.l.sed districts, wl.ere we shonid least have ex- cattle in Cn"V """I V^' ''^*''' *""' ^"^ ''o™'-^^ ca e n South America." These facts indicate that in tlie eailiest historic times selection in the breeding of cattle l.ad been practised with considerable skill. Iloa„ w"th other known circumstances, they also seem to iustrfy the conclusion that almost ever since cattle were thorZldy domesticated and fitted for the uses of man. they hav^ been submitted to some kind of selection, peri ap In Polled varieties of cattle have been more widely spread covered of the existence of any polled cattle prior to the historic era-although, as we have already remarked an ThenTsl, '""'"' "'""'" "^^ «^^" "'-have appeared Then, as far as we are aware, no reference to polled cattle IS made by any of the early writers excepting Herodotus who describes the domestic cattle of the Scythians as hav >^ been hornless. But passing to more rlZZZ^::; c ently leliable evidence that, in the British Isles and elsewhere a great many varieties of polled ca have existed. A number of these varieties have disappeared but several still survive. It is known that on thee ate " Prince Leichtenstein in Austria a herd of red poll d cattL has been in existence from time immemorial ; and we are told by Darwin that in Paraguay in South America a variety of hornless cattle originated little more han a hundred years ago. The latter case Darwin, in his com- munication to us, mentions as the only instance he had ever come across in which the origin a'Jid formati n of a polled race were fully known. In his work on 'Animals and Plants under Domestication,' he states B (tiud he takes 18 ORIGIN or POLLED RACES OP CATTLE. du laiaguay ), hat amongst a horued race a polled bull had been bom in 1770, and that, having been preserv ' the anima founded a hornless breed. There ZIo poled cattle in Norway ; while Dr Uno von Troil, writtg in 17^2, says Iceland is "well provided with cattle which are generally without horns." It is not necessary to state all that is known regardin.. the n^any vanet.es of polled cattle that ha-e at one time ment: wh^'^M" '"^ """^'^ ^^>^^- '' -" ™»c " mention where the more important have been fonnd Several of the herds of semi-wild cattle which existed 7n land Zl C" . "'",''''' f """""^y S^""^™''" '" Eng. and and Scotland early in the present century, but which have now with two or three exceptions, wholly disappeared Jiugland, there has existed from time immemorial a pure erd of white polled cattle. Writing of this herd in 1875 ltd « r:/"'" ^'"•^'^ "'^''' " «-" -""bered twenty head; that it was of great though unknown antiquity mving been at Somerford Park for several hundred y'^;' that t had undoubtedly been at first derived from the lome H^ 1 1 'rf ' ''^'"'^^•"" ■ """ «-' 't '-d •'erio g ext" I of th'e ^ r" P'f '"^ "" '"=^' representative extant of the hornless and tame variety of the original wdd white breed. The semi-wild herf "of „Srn origin but great antiquity " wliicli was formerly kept at WoUaton Hall, Nottinghamshire, England, beco';nng ex- tinct nearly sixty years ago, was witliout horns; as also Ts'lt r> " Y '' ''''""^^ ^'"^^-^' Lancashir'e, ;,■!:; IS said to have been transferred to Gisburne Park, York- sh.re, where it remained till about twenty-five or thirtv ITchZ: /'•"> ™°'k"" '' ^''^^'^'°" H^'"' Lancashire Di Cliailes Leigh, i„ his work on the 'Natural History of Lancashire and the Peak of Derbyshire,' published in 1700 mentions the Middleton Hall herd, and presutes that the POLLED CATTLE IN ENGLAND. 19 Eng. cattle had first been brought there from the Highlands of Scotland although he does not state the grounds upon whicli that assumption was based. According to Mr fetorer this herd was in 1765 transferred to Gunton Park m JN-orfolk, wliere it existed till some thirty-five or forty years ago, having thrown off several branches which are still represented by polled herds, at Blinkling, Woodbast- wick, Brooke Hall, and other planes in Norfolk In other districts in England there would seem to have been races of polled cattle which have long ago disappeared. Youatt, writing nearly fifty years ago, says, " The Devon- shire nats, or polled cattle, now rapidly decreasincr in number, possess the general figure and most of the good qualities of the horned beasts of the district;" while in reference to the " Northern or Yorkshire polled cattle,"' or Yorkshire polls," he says, they "are almost as large as the horned beasts of that county, and as good for graz- ing and for the pail. Many breeders pay particular atten- tion to the shape of the head of these polled cattle, and to a certain extent also in the horned ones." Passing into Scotland, we have several extinct as well as two living races of polled cattle to note. The herd of wild white cattle which existed at Ardrossan Park Ayrshire for centuries, and became extinct about 1820 is described as having been originally horned, but latteky polled Ihen it is clearly established that the iJuke of Hamilton s celebrated herd of semi-wild cattle, which has existed at Cadzow Park, Lanarkshire, from tJie remotest antiquity, although now horned, was formerly polled Ihis latter curious and significant circumstance is authen- icated by the facts, that there is in preservation the skeleton of a Cadzow ox showing the animal to have been hornless and that at the show of the Highland and Ag icultural Society of Scotland at Glasgow in 1844, two polled specimens of the Cadzow herd were exhibited J^rom a very peculiar source we have interesting testi. 20 OEIGIN OF P0LU:D RACES OF CATTLE. 'I, Li :( llT of t„M > "' °^ Pf "'•' '=»'"<' '" "-« ^^««"^™ High, lands of Scotland more than a hundred years a»o Dr .SamuelJoimson, i„ his pubii.hed account of the iournev wh,ch he and Boswell, his faithful follower, made thTri he Western Islands of Scotland in 1773, say"' The a tie of Skye are not so small as is commonly believed. s!nce StTMTv T '"•?,? =""•' """'"- '» -"'•^°™ that wantf» ^ t?"? ™"^' "^ ''' «»" ^ ^ee A«mW that wants a st.ng. Whether this difference be specific or accdcnta. though we inquired with great diligence wo could not be informed. We are not very sureiha 'tL such bulls there are. What is produced by puttin<- a horned and unhorned male and iLale togetherno man h..evernr.ed that thought the result worthy oLbser tion. When or how the polled cattle of Skye became extmct, we unfortunately know nothing, for t^>e earifer writers on agricultural matters in the north of Scot and as elsewhere, describe cattle so generally, that any refer ' ence to such points as horns is very rare Pennant has left us interesting notes on his tours in Scot and dunng the years 1769, 1772, and 1773 but n y he clirh /"''' ""'' '"' °°'^« " ■""""« desript on o'^' sh re in m9 andT"; „ ""' 'T''"' ""'""^'^ ^uth^erland snire m 1769, and he tells us that it is " a country abound fd^t th :■• "'rf ""^ "'' ^°""^"^ 2500 hefd ^hfch ^3 pe h ad m^fv"""' '^''l^'^^") '' ^™"' ^2 10s. to 7l wu ?,, ^ "® "^'y frequently without horns and both they and the horses are very small "Of T' Sutherlandshire polled cattle we have Tls iS all trat In other parts of Scotland, polled strains which a elw e-xtinct would seem to have existed in forme times buT ve have mentioned the more important var tilTn'o In f : il P II THE GALLOWAY BREED. 21 It IS well known that, although the native breeds of Ireland are now horned, there was at one time a polled race m that country. The most interesting and valu- able testimony of this fact is the following extract from a review of a work on agriculture which appeared in the Irish Farmers' Gazette ' in August 1847 The re- viewer says : " A relative of our own, deceased a few years ago at the age of 114, had polled cattle in Ireland and stated that the same breed had been in possession of his great-grandfather over 200 years before our informant was born. These cattle were chiefly black, and black and white on the back; occasionally red, and brindled with white stripes ; in some cases all white but the ears, which were red; and he believed there was never any inter- mixture of English or Scotch blood amongst them for the period he alluded to. They possessed the characters of being great milkers and good butter-producers " / At the present time three distinct and well-defined breeds of polled cattle exist in the United Kingdom, iwo, the Aberdeen or Angus, and the Galloway breeds have their headquarters in Scotland ; and the third the Norfolk and Suffolk, in England. The first forms the subject proper of this volume. As to the others, a few sentences here may be of interest. There is hardly any doubt that the polled Galloway cattle are the direct but modified descendants of the horned race that formerly occupied the old Galloway district, which comprised an extensive tract of valuable grazing-land in the south-west of Scotland. According to Youatt, the "greater part" of the Galloway cattle were horned-some had medium horns and some were polled-about the middle of the eighteenth century; while Dr Bryce Johnstone, in his view of the agriculture of Dumfries, written in 1794, George Culley (who d,ed in 1813 in his 79th year), in his works on live stock, and Alton, Smith, and Singer, in their views of the agriculture of Ayrshire, Galloway, and Dumfriesshire, pub- »• 22 ORIGIN OF POLLED RACES OF CATTLF. l! fi lished towards the end of the first decade of the nineteenth i ^« ";«,f''"'« '" t'le^'' districts were hornless. The sat^' ^'i «f '?' "^''°' °^ ""^ ' '^'^"""^'y Herd Book,' fS n „ "^ "'"' "" ''^'■y ''"!« doubt but that tl>e Galloway and the West Highland breeds of cattle have sprung from the same parent stock at a very remote date. There is a close resemblance, even at the present day between a well-bred polled Galloway and a West Hollander „n,u. the horns. Indeed the similarity is so gieat, that when we bear in mind the fact that previous to he close of the eighteenth century alnrost^ the Gdloways were horned, it is easy to understand how any difference between the two types of aninmls may have been produced by the different circumstances in w Ich t wi srti ""1 '";' "''""''' ""' *"^ "'«■--' '-" ' to which they have been subjected " th^'X """^n"?!^' ^r'*''"'""""' '"PP"'' «"^ conclusion that the polled Galloway cattle had originated in tliJ zzf' nr'' V' '"°^' like'y -ui'cfoni^i: less cattle-».c., by the sudden appearance ol one or more animals without horns, and the preservation of the Tew feature through selection in breeding. At what time t I hist hornless animals may have appeared in Galloway we iiM only some ot them were polled," and from tlie everal other writers named, that fifty or ixty ye U after only a "very few" had horns.' We n,;/ thus X hat the absence of horns had been favoured by the Gal oway armers and that they had so managed the h«ds" as toultrmately .'breed out "the horned strains, Indeed we know, from authentic sources, that the farmers of Galloway had strong inducement from exterior qu ter cultivate and extend their polled herds. ShorSy a the union of England and Scotland in 1707 there a,o,» an active trade in cattle bet«.en the two counlZ"!' NORFOLK AND SUFFOLK TOLLS. 28 in the exportation of lean cattle from Scotland to Eng- land, Galloway participated to a large extent. By the end of last century as many as 20,000 head of cattle were annually sent from Galloway to England— chiefly to Nor- folk— to be fattened there for the southern markets It IS stated that the English buyers preferred the hornless cattle ; and no doubt, this fact had induced the enterprising Galloway farmers-who had been taking advantage of the new outlet for the produce of their herds-to strive more anxiously than ever to get rid of the horns and to enlarge the ranks of their polled stocks. About twenty-five or thn-ty years ago, mainly through the encroachments of those excellent dairy cattle, the Ayrshires, and the chancr. ing of graznig-lands into tillage farms, the Galloway polled breed became greatly reduced in numbers. Indeed had not some enterprising gentlemen, who knew well the value of the race, taken active steps in the matter, it might have soon become extinct. Since the commencement of the ' Polled Herd Book' in 1862, the breed lias regained much of the popularity it worthily enjoyed in bygone days. It is now reared extensively, and with much success, in Dumfries- shire, Kirkcudbrightshire, and elsewhere. In general ap pearance the Galloway resembles the polled Aberdeen or Angus breed, although we believe the one to be almost if not indeed quite, as far removed from the other in kin- ship as from any of the other British breeds. The Gal- ] loways are handsomely formed, all black in colour, sli-htlv ranker and coarser Jnthejiair, rather thicker ^nd s'tiffer m the skin, and also sonievvhat slo3ver in mahiring th^n Ui£^lLe^,^bei^een_or .4ngus caUle. They are, however, justly celebi:ateda_s_graziers, and are well deservincr of the increased and growing attention now being bestowed upon them. They are noted for re mark a ble fixi ty of_iyrP Tl ^ origin of the Norfolk and Suffolk polled breed lias been the subject of considerable discussion. By some it IS regarded a, indigenous to the district it now occupies =^ "-^"L ' l.^ : =^ 24 OKIGIN OF POLLED RACES OF CATTLE. r lli^ t ■' Others believe that it had sprung from Galloway polled cattle introduced in the last century, probably soon aftsr the union of England and Scotland, when, as has already been stated, a large number of cattle were driven every year from Galloway and elsewhere in the south of Scot- land into Norfolk and other parts of England. Youatt in particular adopted the latter notion as to the origin of the breed. He says that the polled cattle which he found in both Norfolk and Suffolk (about 1832 to 1835), and which are recognised as one breed, had " undoubtedly sprung from the Galloway." It has been stated that in 1765 a herd of semi-wild polled cattle was introduced to Gunton Park, Norfolk, from Lancashire. These wild cattle became domesticated in Norfolk ; and it is believed by some that they also have had a share in the build- ing up of the improved Norfolk and Suffolk poUs. In a volume published a few years ago at ' The Field Office, London, Mr John Coleman — the editor of the work, who is him.self a Norfolk man, and one of the best livincr authorities upon the subject — in his article on this breed, admits the probability of the Galloway polls being in the main its progenitors, but claims part of the credit to an " old native race." He says : " From a very early period large numbers of polled Galloway cattle were brought into the counties of Norfolk and Suffolk. There can be little doubt that these were crossed with one or other (probably both) of the native races, and that thus the present breed of Norfolk and Suffolk red polled cattle was called into existence." The^ characteristic colour of tlus_breed is a deep blood-red. Formerly, according to Youatt, some were black, some red mixed with white, and some black mixed with white, aUhaviijg^a "golden circle about the eye." In recent years the breed has been greatly improved, and it now ranks creditably among English cattle. SI 25 CHAPTER IIL 4! ORIGIN AND EAELY HISTORY OF THE POLLED ABERDEEN OR ANGUS CATTLE. Scotch domestic cattle derived from aboriginal wild breed— All one variety —Differing according to conditions of life— Origin of polled Aberdeen or Angus breed— Natives of their present home— Loss of horns— "When ?— Probably centuries ago— Polled cattle in Angus in 1752, in 1757, in 1797, and in 1813— Youatt on Angus polled cattle— Polled Galloways in Angus— Polled cattle in Aberdeenshire in last century- Keith and Williamson on Aberdeenshire cattle— Youatt on ditto— "Native low country" and " Prachan humlies " the same breed- Letter from Mr Macpherson, Huntly, in 1832— Polled Galloway cattle in Aberdeenshire— Early polled breeders in Aberdeenshire— Improved breed direct descendants of Angus doddies and Buchan humlies— The latter two same variety — Loss of horns. We have already indicated that, among naturalists and other persons of distinction, there has been much dis- cussion upon points connected with the origin of domestic British cattle. It has been disputed whether they should be regarded as the degenerate descendants of the great urus, the magnified progeny of the slender longifrons, or the composite product of these two. There has also been discussion as to whether they have been derived solely from the aboriginal wild cattle of ancient Britain, or partly from these and partly from domesticated cattle introduced from the continent of Europe. There would seem to be strong reason to believe that the latter idea may be applied correctly to several of V ! 20 EARLY HISTOnV OF ABERDEEN OH ANGUS CATTLE. the English breeds. With the more truly Scotch races h wever, the case is different. It is hardly pocsihle, we think for any one who has become acquainted with the eady Instory of the country, and with the works and c." cumstanoes bearmg upon the origin and domestication of Lut.sh farm stock, to avoid arriving at the conclusion that «>e foreign element could have had but very little to do with the formation of t],e existing races of Scotch cattle. At iH-esent four distinct breeds have their headquarters n ', .T"?'''^' *''' ^y''^'"^"' **<= P^l'-^d Galloway breed nefif"" "/^'f ^' ''"' *''^ "'^hland or horned b. ed The first-a valuable dairy breed-has undoubtedly t.oduction of foreign cattle, probably either of the Alderney sens^lf'ir't ""'"'■ ,.^'"^»*^^ «««e are in the fullest sense of the term native Scotch cattle. It is rlMit we fw!' nT •"'?" "' "'' "'"^ l'°<^al descendant; of tliose wild aboriginal cattle that roamed through the for- wt" tbn,"-"'f? f, ^'"''<'»' Caledonia. Whether those wilc abongmal Scotch cattle, from which the existing races were delved were of the nrns or the lonyi/rons t™ we need not, perhaps could not, determine. It is at any rate tolerably clear that they had all been of one variety No one, we imagine, who investigates the subject fully and mpartially, can escape the conviction that the three exist- ing breeds of pure Scoteh cattle had all originally been of one type, had all sprung from one common source Diflei- ing in minor points in accordance with the variances iu the climate arid other conditions under which they had been reared they would still seem to have been so /early alike m all the chief characteristics which distinguish a es from each other, that they ought to be viewed a be onging to one large well-defined roup or type. Even ent tieatment, they present such strong .similarities as aflord substantial proof of their reputed%„mmon origi,! SOURCE OF ABERDEEN OR ANGUS CATTLE. 27 and close affinity. Those marked distinctions which they have come to display are, with the exception of that striking peculiarity, the want of horns (which shall pres- ently be dealt with), exactly such as might be cal- culated to arise from the variations in their respective conditions of life, more particularly from the divergencies in the mode of treatment to which their owners have subjected them for many generations, nay, even for cen- turies. The truth of this statement will receive verifica- tion when, in dealing with the characteristics of the polled Aberdeen or Angus breed, we come to compare the sleeky polls which have been reared on the highly cultivated arable farms of the cold, dry north-east, with the more shaggy hornless cattle which have been produced on the soft natural pastures of Galloway, where the rainfall is much greater, and the cold less intense. Then a glance at the distinctions between the small " skranky " native horned cattle of the bleak, stormy, northern heights, and the massive, handsome Highlanders that occupy the lower, softer, greener, and better sheltered regions of the west[ supplies equally forcible testimony of a similar kind. In the foregoing digression we have indicated very briefly the grounds upon which we assign to all varieties of true Scotch domestic cattle (some years ago grouped into three distinct breeds) one common origin in the aboriginal wild horned cattle of ancient Caled°onia. We have now to trace the source and early history of the Aberdeen or Angus polled breed. It follows from what has been stated tliat we regard this beautiful race as a direct branch of the aboriginal horned cattle of Scotland thrown off by those sudden, "proper," "spontaneous," or " accidental " " organic changes " referred to in the preced- ing chapter. We go further, and say that the breed is indigenous to the very districts wliich still form its head- quarters, the nortli-eastern counties of Scotland, with Forfar and Aberdeen as chief centres. There we believe Ih i- :? 28 EARLY HISTOEY OF ABERDEEN OR ANGUS CATTLE. it to have originated, and there it has been bronahf n f offshoot and force the coZ:^nl:.\.:^'^^Z a fresh departure or distinct "sudden organL cTan' - a entZ rfh '™"' '"'l"^"" '"" ^--nt th.: a^ut a century ago there were hornless cattle in the Isle of trt^ T "'."'' ""'"'^ »f Sutherland. Of these all he nnddT f T," '"I ^'"■"^ ^"^ ""-l - "- "bou the nndd e of the eighteenth century there were " somp " polled eatt e in the old fli=f,.;„t c /. Vi ^ »,„. u , Qistnct of Galloway. These it cattle were pretty well diffused over certain ZZ' Tt aote^Ltrhit: ^z^^ ''^-- -' »■>- As to the precise date or period at which those sudden Angus polled breed may have occurred, we are left with eteZ Z" ai"' • d " "" "^^ '"^' '» the ™i«h 4.1, 1 ^, negative evidence we concludp fhnf he loss of horns must have occu-red n.ore thTn a hundred j:Z:^- '''"""' ""' "'« -^J-' -*^ mainly onl::' A careful investigation of all known works and circum- il ,' POLLED CATTLE IN ANGUS. 29 Stances relating to the matter has led us to believe that towards the end of the last century and beginning of the present, the higher parts of that section of the north-east of Scotland comprising the counties of Forfar, Kincardine Aberdeen, and Banff had been occupied by a horned race of cattle, and the lower districts partly, perhaps mainlv, by the same race, and in part also by a polled variety. In arriving at that conclusion, we have to some extent been influenced by circumstantial as well as by direct evidence. We have already noticed the perplexing ab- sence of precise descriptions of cattle in the earlier works relating to the agriculture of the north, as well as of other parts of the country. In several of the earlier books dealing with rural matters in the north-east of Scotland reference is made to the varieties of cattle which then existed; but, as a rule, they are simply described as having been large or small, as useful and docile, or as wild but handsome. In none of these publications do we find /hat could be called a complete and minute sketch of the animals referred to. It is thus found that the Identification of some of the varieties spoken of by writers whose works appeared towards the close of the last century or the beginning of the present is a matter of considerable difficulty. The breed takes one of its sub-titles from the old dis- trict of Angus, now mainly comprised in the county of Forfar It is proved that there have been polled cattle in tha district for a very long period of time. In a pamphlet issued in March 1882, Mr James C. Lyell Monifieth House, Forfarshire, says: "That a breed of hornless cattle existed in Strathmore [a strath which runs through Forfarshire] in very early times, is attempted to be proved from one of the ancient sculptured stones of Meigle which is figured on Plate LXXVII. of the Spalding Club s Sculptured Stones of Scotland.' This stone is now m the old schoolhouse of Meigle, which has been set apart 30 EARLY HISTORY OF ABERDEEN OR ANGUS CATTLE. ?ii 1 ! a. a museum for the preservation of these wonderful relics of pre nstoric times. After examining it carefij y I am not satisfied that the two cattle depicted on reLse." betvTd tTrt ':?^'"'" ^^^ '"' -'=-vingXe "l neiievea that the cattle represented were polls • but the art,s nas not adhered strictly to particulars in his draw ing as any one may see who compares it with the stoTe. In he same volume there are other representations of cat le apparently polled, but I have not had an oppor- tunity of companng the drawings with the originals" The same writer states that in an old MS. accoun -book belonging to Mr. G. B. Simpson, Broughty-Ferry Dundee cZTt: '" "«V^M^Grahame°of'Bal,„u^;,KTn : drum, Dry borough, Duntrune, Powrie, and Meathie the ccur^:r"° 77 """' "''™^ »'■ -'"^ '~'i™" occur. Account of oxn bought June 9th, 1752. -To vaTue I's V? 'r J^-"^^ Craraond, at 30 [pound Scots, 1/0 , to 3 at Forfar, at 28, 84; to a branded oax, at 37 • a coy at Mon.fith, at 22 ; to ane oax at Methie at 50 •' to ane oax at Methie, at 36." A little further in this nry.s found: "June 14th, 1757-bought at T^aU g loup, a two-year-old quach doded, at 26, 12; a yellow qugh one-year-old at 21, 6; a bluck D, one-^ar-old "I calf !t'lo^« " , ' ""^■y^'''-"'''' 22,6; a black quach "f ' ^V • ' " ^,"' ''°' '^='"' ^' 1^' 6-" Another entry in 17o7 gives a list of the stock then on Balmuir: " 10 4atcalf.ti,„e; 4 three-year-olds ; 2 year-old slots ; 3 three yeai.old quaes; 5 year-old quaes; 2 calf stots a cow'' Ml Lyell, who has evidently examined carefully Ocliter- onys description of Angus in 1084-85, as well as o her xtr j™ r' "f ^" '" ^"s"^' -y^ " "- "™' beas " heri . ''"'""^/' "'" ^''' mention of a polled tieast he liad discovered. He seems, however to thinl- it probable that the "excellent breeds" which, 'accord!:!: AMBIGUOUS DESCRIPTIONS OF CATTLE. 31 to Ochterlony, were kept two hundred years ago by the " Earles c : Strathmore, Southesk, Panmure, and Edzel] Pourie, Balnamoone," may have been "polled or dodded."' The first printed reference we have found to polled cattle m Angus occurs in the Old Statistical Account of the par- ish of Bendochy, near Coupar-Angus, and on the border of Forfarshire. The Eev. James Playfair, the writer of the account of this parish, dated 1797, says : « There are 1229 horned-cattle, of all ages and sexec. in the parish. I have no other name to them ; but many of them are dodded wantmg horns." These two sentences are exceedincrW in- teresting and suggestive. In early times, the word'cattle included both the ox and the horse ; and it would seem that, to distinguish the former from the latter, the terms "black cattle " and "horned cattle" had been commonly em- ployed. It IS evident, from Mr Playfair's remarks, that even so ate as the end of last century, the term " horned cattle " had not been hmited to its literal meaning, but had com- prehended all varieties of the ox. There is little doubt that, had he not been of a more discriminatincr turn of mind than many early writers on agricultural matters, and m particular than most of his brethren who contri- buted to Sir John Sinclair's ' Statistical Account of Scot- land,'— m fact, had he not been a skilful naturalist, as well as a minister of the Church, he would have left us with- out the simple but significant explanation that, althouo-h he had no other name but "horned cattle" to o-ive the cattle of Bendochy, yet " many of them are dodded, want- ing horns." In all probability, the loose application of such distinctions as Uack and horned, ^x^^t indicated, is largely to blame for the puzzling ambiguity which many ot the early writers have thrown around most of the vaii eties of cattle they pretended to describe. The statement of Mr liayfair, however, in conjunction with the quotations pimluced from Mr Lyell's pamphlet, would seem to be sufficient to justify the belief that, during the closing de- ^fT \ « - i I) ' II t! 33 EAULY HISTOKY OF ABERDEEN OR ANGUS CATTLE. cades Of the eighteenth century, there had been throu.-h- ideatf 'n «™^'d'=''»We proportion of polled cattle. This he ' Si"" v'"PPf f* ^^ '^' f«"°«™g • *'«y «"'« derived. IT™ s between the Argyleshire, reckoned the largest of the real Hghlanders, and the heavy-horned, has been found vaLble parts they reach from twenty to tliirtv stm.n • nr.ri i ^ these extremes every variot/„f ^^, 1 nd Mep S --y tne lo^\ oomury, do not vary so nmcli in size as tlio 40 EARLY HISTORY OF ABERDEEN OR ANGUS CATTLE. horned. Tliey generally equal the heavier classes of the horned m that respect ; but it is not considered here that their quality is equal to that of the horned when brought to the shambles All cattle have greatly improved within the last thirty or forty years, owing to the introduction of the tur- nip husbandry, sown grasses, and the general improvements m agriculture. The cattle of this district are well adapted for grazing and the dairy. They are pastured in the fields in summer, and fed with straw and turnips in winter ; sometimes with steamed potatoes. Calves are fed wi^h milk warm from the cow Ihat is the general practice ; but they are some- times a lowed to suck, and in a few instances reared partly upon oil-cake. ^ "^ "The present Duke of Gordon has at different times within the last thirty years brought the best selection of bulls and cows that could be found in Galloway into the district The same also from Argyleshire, the Scottish isles, and the Tees water from Yorkshire, from which great benefit has arisen, by tlieir increase and mixture with the original stock and with each other ; and his Grace's example has since been extensively followed by agriculturists and breeders of We thus have evidence of a most trustworthy kind that while undoubtedly the Galloway breed of polled cattle had been introduced into Aberdeenshire about the open- ing of the present century, and that while by the time Youatt had commenced to collect his information the pro- geny of this introduction had increased so much as to form "a large portion of the heavy stock in our markets," there had also been a distinct "variety of the polled cattle" forming "the principal breed" in the "Buchan quarter of Aberdeenshire," where it had " existed time out of mind." Mr Macpherson says the polled cattle were kept chiefly in the low country ; and this, together with his other statements, supplies substantial confirmation not only of the idea. that the famous ' .ative low country breed" so highly commended by George Williamson, and the polled cattle which Youatt speaks of, were really the EARLY POLLED HERDS. 41 partly same variety, but also that the former, like the latter, were hornless. Mr Ramsay, in his 'History of the Highland and Agri- cultural Society of Scotland,' published in 1879, gives^an extract from a communication which he had received from Mr George Stodart, « lately former in Culter-Cullen, Foveran, now (January 1879) in his 97th year, and who made his first purchase of cattle in 1801." Mr Stodart, who died in June 1880, says :— " There were at the beginning of the century both polled and horned cattle in Buchan, but the horned cattle were mostly in the Highlands of Aberdeenshire. The horned and polled were mixed in the low districts. The biggest market was Aikey Fair, and there was another ma^rket, Kepple Market, in New Machar. At Aikey Fair about one-half were polled and one-half horned, but they were all of the Aberdeenshire breed." Mr George Barclay, now farmer at Stocherie, and his forefathers, bred Aberdeenshire cattle at Auchmill and Yonderton, King -Edward, for more than two hundred years, and a good many of their animals were polled. The late Mr John JNIarr, Cairnbrogie, Tarves, commenced to breed Buchan polled cattle early in the present century, probably about 1810, or soon after. His son, Mr W. S.' Marr, Uppermill, one of the most extensive breeders* of Shorthorns in Aberdeenshire, favoured the authors with a communication in reference to his father's herd. He says: "My fatlier commenced to collect them before I remember— I would suppose about sixty-five years ao-o They were not like the present polled. They had not the same points, being more round in the quarter, short-legged thick, well-fleshed animals ; most of them brown round the muzzle, and many of them with a brown stripe down the back. They were known as the Cairnbrogie breed There were several public sales of young bulls and heifers at Cairnbrogie, when they realised good prices for these F f / L h I; ' ll 42 EARLY HISTORY OF ABERDEEN OR ANGUS CATTLE. days. There were no Shorthorns in the district at that time, iov the purpose of improving their stock, my ^ither and th tte Mr Hay, Shethin, then in the farm of Craigies, went lo Galloway about 1823 [probably two or three years earlier] and bought the pick of that district. 1 do not remember the number they bought, but I think they would have liad between 30 and 40. They were not kept long, as they did not retain condition with the same treatment as his own stock, and they were sold at a public sale along with some of his own breedim?. I ?^ ^^^^^ ^'^ "°^ ^'""P ^''' ^'^^^ «f them long either." Mr William Stronach, Ardmeallie, Huntly, who was an extensive breeder of cattle early in the century, states that m 1835 he purchased a Shorthorn bull to cross with us stock of cows, which « consisted generally of Buchan mmel, the Aberdeen horned, or a mixture of these breeds." T i^f ^^f7^ ''^'^'''^^ '^^" ^^'""^ ^^ ^^^^^'^e Williamson, St John s Wells, Fyvie, had been an ardent admirer of the "native low country breed." We have expressed our opinion that these famous native cattle were not only the progenitors of the modern Buchan humlies but were themselves also polled. At any rate, there is un- doubted testimony that Mr Williamson was a breeder of polled cattle. The late Mr M'Combie of Tillj tour stated that he obtained some of his earlier polled animals from bt Johns Wells. In his first catalogue, issued in 1850 an entry reads as follows: "Matilda, an Aberdeen cow' bred by the late Mr Williamson, St John's Wells." Another of the foremost agriculturists of his' day, the late Mr Ilobert Walker. Wester Fintray, was also a breeder of polled cattle ; and his herd would seem to have been continued by his son James, who succeeded him. ]Jr Skene Iveith, writing in 1810, refers to Mr Kobert Walker as an advanced farmer, and quotes the following as showina the success he had attained as a breeder and feeder of cattle— POLLED CATTLE IN ALFORD. 43 VIZ., that he (Mr R. Walker) had "received £50 each for two bullocks reared upon his farm, and killed at seven years old ; that he received £35 each for other two only four years old ; and that he has frequently received £30 for young stots either sold to the cattle-dealer, or fed to the butcher." It is not stated that these were polled cattle, but it is proved beyond doubt that very early in the present century Mr Walker did breed polled cattle at Wester Fnitray. It is stated in the ' Farmer's Magazine ' for 1846 (vol. ii.). that Mr James Walker was then one of " the most successful breeders of black cattle in the north of Scotland, particularly the polled Aberdeenshire breed, for which he has acquired much and well - merited celebrity." It would appear that although it had its headquarters m Buchan, the polled breed had even in the last century been reared in other parts of the county. Mr William Anderson, Wellhouse, Alford, in a conmiunication dated April 13, 1881, says . " My father and uncle farmed land in the Vale of Alford in the end of the eighteenth century, and bred polled cattle. Sometimes the bulls were black and sometimes brindled, but they were always polled. My father would not have bred from a horned bull, and he always disliked horned cattle. He and my uncle' took prizes for black polled cattle at the shows of the Vale of Alford Agricultural Society, formed soon after 1830." Mr Anderson also states that there were other breeders of polled cattle in the Alford district, such as Mr Eeid, Greystone, father of the present tenant; Mr Taylor, Well- house, and others. Then through Mr James L. Douglass, banker, Ballater, and others, we learn that polled cattle had been bred very early in the present century in the upper districts of Aberdeenshire. Mr Douglass says: "As to the introduction of polled cattle into the Cromar district, I cannot assign a particular date. The late Rev Mr Jk'own, minister of Coiill, who died in the end of 44 EAHLY HISTORY OF AI5ERDKEN OR ANGUS CATTLK. m if W- ' 1823 or boginnins of 1824, had a small farm rented alonj. witl^ his glebe, and had a very excellent stock of cattlct, chiefly o tlie polled breed ; also the late Mr Harry Lammond, of Pitmurchie. on his farm of Strathmore previous to his death in 1829, had polled cattle for manv years always using a polled bull. The late Mr Eobei't J)ouglass, farmer, Culsh, had a polled bull in 1822 while his cows were horned, as almost all the cows in Cromar at tnat date were." We have thus set forth as briefly as possible the main ijasons which have induced us to regard the Aberdeen or Anous polled breed not only as a direct branch of the aboriginal cattle of Scotland, but also as indigenous to the very districts which still form its headquarters -the north-eastern counties of Scotland, with Forfar and Aber- deen as chief centres. The improved breed is derived directly from the ancient polled cattle of Angus and i>uchan-two varieties of the same type, known in the former as "Doddies." and in the latter as "Humlies" And we have endeavoured to show the great antiquity of the race in its hornless form in these two districts. We beheve that originally the loss of horns had arisen from tliose spontaneous variations, or accidental or proper sudden organic changes, spoken of by Darwin, Smith, and Low, and referred to in the preceding chapter. Nothin- has been discovered that would enable us to fix the precise date at which these changes had occurred It has certainly not been within the past hundred years-pro- bably not within the past two or three centuries 45 CHAPTER IV. IMPKOVEMENT OF THE BREED. Little inducemnit to improve cattle a Imndred years ajro-Beef at one renny per pomul-llearin. eattle for fann-work-Introduct' n of Holderness and Fife breeds - Demand for beef _ AVorkinrcattle abandone.1- n.provement of native raees-Choiee of polled variety as nf n^ ? W r'*"^'7"";' ,"' ^"""^'^ '■'''''' "' An.us-OperationI of Ml Ilugli Watson, Lord Pan.nure, Earl of Southesk, Mr William Fullerton, Messrs Mustard, Mr Bowie, and others-Lnprovemen of tie breed m Kmeardineshire-Operations of Mr Walker, Portlethen Wnr '^rrovemcnt in Banff and Moray-The Balhndalloch and other herds-Encouragen.ent by Agrieultu^al So! ss ^.z^;' '-''-' -'"''-''^ '^^^^^^^ --- -^^ It would seem that in the north of Scotland little atten- tion had been given to the improvement of cattle till after he middle of the eighteenth cenLury. Prior to that there had been scarcely any inducement to bestow trouble or expense m developing either the beef or the milk pro- ducing properties of cattle. During the Queen Anne 7n\Vnf'lTf^ ^' ^^'' ""^"^ "^ ^"Sland and Scotland in 1707, the farmers of the south of Scotland began to export their surplus cattle to England. Tliat trade con- tinued and increased considerably, but did not until lon<. after extend its benefits in any substantial form to tlie counties in the north and north-east. It is stated that in 46 IMPROVEMENT OF THE BREED. 1762 the English supply of salt beef for the Navy had proved insufficient, owing to a visitation of cattle disease in England, and that the deficiency in tliat and some succeeding years had been made up from Scotland "at the average price of one penny per pound " ,^ T' ^;^^,^)^^f^««"' "^ l^is 'liural Recollection.,' remarks that in 1740 the largest ox in the county of Kincardine weiglnng from 43 to 51 imperial stones, ''could have' been bought for 20s., or at most, 21s.; » and that by 1764 the same class of cattle, "as full fed as the county couM make them, would have sold at from £3 to £4 each It IS hus seen that even later than the middle of' last century the farmers of the north of Scotland had little or 110 encourageniont to develop the beef-producing proper- ties of their cattle. o ^ t Other circumstances, however, arose which resulted in a marked improvement of the cattle in the north-eastern counties Ihroughoat these counties, as in other parts of Scotland, a large part of the farm-work was formerly— in some districts even after the opening of the present century -accomplished by oxen. The native cattle of the north- eas having originally been rather small for the heavier part of this work, the larger farmers obtained their ploucrh- oxen from the south of Scotland, chiefly the Lothi^ms. About the middle of last century the Lothian farmers began to give up cattle-rearing for the growing of wheat and barley. Ihis, together with the general progress of the coun ry following upon the Union and the protracted wars of the time, raised tlie price of cattle, and induced the farmers of the north-east to turn their attention to the rearmg of their own plough -oxen. The importing of these oxen froin the south became decidedly a losing arran.^e- men ; and soon after the middle of last centuryrthe more practical landlords, and larger and more enterprisincr far- mers, commenced the systematic improvement ot' the native stock, with the view of rearing cattle sufficiently IMPROVEMENT IN CATTLE REAlflNG. 47 large for tilling their knd and for other field-work The native cattle were not only submitted to better treatment but were also crossed with bulls of larger breeds, some being taken from England-notably of the Holderness breed-some from HoUand, and some from the south of fecotlaud Satisfactory results were not obtained until bulls of the Fife or Falkland breed were introduced. This breed (said to be descended mainly from some EnolJsh cows which Henry Vir. sent as a dowry to Margaret: his eldest daughter, who in 1502 was married to James IV ot Scotland, then residing chiefly at Falkland Palace in Fifeshire) was large and handsome ; and between bulls of It and cows of the native breeds of the north-east of Scot- land, excellent varieties, both of work and butcher cattle were reai-ed. ' At length, however, in the increasing prosperity of tie country, and the advancement of skilful farmiiirr the true function of the ox -the production of beef- came to be recognised and developed. The demand tor beef grew rapidly ; and therefore, by degrees, the ox was withdrawn from the plough, and put instead into the feeding -stall. It was then found that development of bone and muscle was not so essential or so valuable a property as a capacity to produce, at an early age, a heavy carcass of beef of the highest quality. The production of beef had in fact become the main object to be aimed at. bone and muscle were discounted, and the new ideal was a maximum of beef with a minimum of bone, little offal and prime quality. The farmers of the north-eastern countios abandoned the rough big-boned varieties of cattle tliey had formerly found suitable to their wants, and cultivated instead the smaller broader, and better fleshed sorts that were less useful in earlier years when oxen had to do the work of horses. Cattle were more liberally fed and more carefully housed, c.n„ thus the north-east of Scotland rapidly became famous ■n'- '• jV Id I'- 1 (If I Sli ) i h -i ij ill 48 IXrPROVEMENT OF THE BREED. for its beef-producing cattle— a distinction which in re- cent years it has pushed into still greater prominence. In this new demand for beef-producing cattle the pro- genitors of the polled Aberdeen or Angus breed were not long in having their excellent fattening-properties duly recognised. We have seen that in Aberdeenshire the " native low country breed "—the ancestors of the Buchan humlies— had nearly a hundred years ago become quite famous among the leading cattle dealers and feeders for having "flesh of the finest grain," and for being better payers, "in proportion to the goodness of their keep," than any of their contemporary varieties. Then, from Youatt and others, we learn that in Angus the doddies had at an early date developed similar qualities—" their natural fitness for stall-feeding, and the rapidity with which they fattened." The discovery of these valuable properties in the native polled race naturally enough in- duced its owners, both in Angus and Aberdeen, not only to strive to maintain its purity, and develop still further its better qualities, but also to effect improvement in points where defects were apparent. We cannot fix the precise date when these systematic efforts to improve the breed within its own limits actually commenced, either in Angus or Aberdeen. We have good reason to believe that°in both they had been begun some time before the advent of the present century. It will be convenient, and in accordance with the order in the preceding chapter, to notice first the progress of the breed in Angus. The late Mr Hugh Watson, farmer, Keillor, Meigle, Forfarshire, if not the first, was certainly the most systematic and most successful early improver of the breed. Both his father and grandfather were ardent admirers of the Angus doddies. The late Mr William Fullerton, Mains of Ardestie, in a manuscript document (which has been kindly placed at our disposal by his son, Mr James Fullerton, Dundee), states that Mr Hugh Wat- THE KEILLOK HEED. 49 -tt son's grandfather "had the breed lor upwards of forty years, which leads us back to 1735." We understand that the Watson family is in possession of a letter from tlie late Mr Henry Stephens, author of ' The Look of the Farm,' from wliich it would seem tliat at a still earlier date the great-grandfather of Mr Hugh Watson had for a long period reared doddies on his farm of Cattie, in tlie parisli of Bendochy, near Cupar-Angus. Mr Hugh Wat- son was born on his father's farm of Bannantyne, of New- tyle, in 1789, and became tenant of the neighbouring farm of Keillor in 1808. It is stated that from his boyliood he loved the Angus doddies, and he certainly lost no time in devoting his energies to their improvement. When he entered Keillor he received from his fatlier six of his " best and blackest cows, along with a bull, as a nucleus for an Angus doddie herd." It is recorded, however, by his son, Mr William. Watson, now in the United States of America, that lie was not satisfied with the merits of these, and that " he started in tlie same summer for Trniity Muir Market, Brechin, and purchased the ten best heifers and the best bull he could procure showing the greatest characteristics of the breed." Mr William°Wat- son says: "The heifers were black, brindled, and black with brown muzzles and brown streak along their back. The bull was black, and all black my father stuck to, thus working the other colours out of fashion." Mr Fullerton states that Mr Watson, in selecting these animals, had the assistance of Mr Mustard— " likely Mr William Mustard, Fithie, his brother, Mr James Mustard, not having been tenant of Leuchland till 1811,"— and adds that the heifers came from " near Farnell, which points to either the late Mr Euxton, tenant of Farnell, or to the late Mr David Aymer, tenant of East Carcary, as their breeders. Both these gentlemen were long keepers of this breed, and Mr Aymer's stock had a peculiar style of their own. I pur- chased his two-year-old heilers in 1834. They were par- D I c m If?' 11 I 1: 50 IMPROVEMENT OF THE BEEED. ticularly good, hr i extraordinary coats of hair and Decu h^rly large, hairy, well-set ears." AVith these sixt'^ Sri '^' '""^' ""' ^"^^^ ^^^-" comrencTd : systematic improvement of the Angus doddies-a worV im near the close of h.s life i,, 1865. It will be more convenient to notice in a subsequent chapter the leaX' families tracing to Mr Watson's herd. Several of tblJ uTvlv ir; T'' '" ''" ^^'"^'^ "- bT i' ^ S'triber ""' "' ""' ^^"^™"y recognised ar tXc „ni; -t . ^' ""' '' "^ °f surpasshig i„. teller, unlunited perseverance, and accurate judgment In many ways he would seem to have presented a s rO. mg resemblance to his great prototypes in the Shorthorn' fwntT f °f;S''f thorn cattle just twenty-eight years (in It h! :r " '""""^ ^^"''"- P-'l^-i herd ;as found d It has often been remarked with truth that what the Col XITb :,*'" ""r""™^' ^' ""S" Watson wa' the" CibttfXTofr'Tp'^t ?^ '^'^ r ™'''™' . -^^^v^uwr, ivi.i. — the only man who rnnhl V.o set up as a rival to Mr Watson-bears^he ml t gei^'oL ^HSer:; Mr'Sibi^-sS • "t °" ' ^f" '^ ^^ have distingui hed themsSve: Tbreedtr:! AbTrd: „" tth-:itrwi'iifTotori^"T''^^^ indebted to K^^^l" bloo^ " '"' ""'""-^ "'™" '^ "»' Unfortunately, there is little known of Mr Watson", operations as a breeder. la his wide circle of ^rte MR Watson's system of breeding. 51 nd peeu- s sixteen snced the -a work i success be more 5 leading of these ?ht stilly lised as iportant sing in- ^gment. a strik- orthorn the im- 3ars (in unded. le Col- to the /^illiam uld be nerous le and e who jrdeen eillor, Aber- onour great t dis- 3 not son's mate friends he included the late Mr John Booth, Mr Wetherell, Mr Anthony Maynard, Mr William Torr, and other noted breeders of Shorthorns ; and there is good reason to believe that in many points connected with the building up of his herd of improved polled cattle, he was to some extent guided by the experience of these great patrons of the rival breed. Mr H. H. Dixon, in ' Field and Fern,' says Mr Watson " was purely catholic in his cattle tastes. Bracelet, Charity, and one or two more of the pure Booths, were the models he kept in his eye in building up his blacks ; and even in a shire so strongly wedded to its own breed, he did not shrink from saying so." His motto would seem to have been, " Put the best to the best, regardless of affinity or blood." He bred from none but the choicest specimens at his command, and did not hesitate t follow the ex- ample of the Colliiigs, the Booths, Thomas Bates, and other celebrated Shorthorn breeders, in mating animals closely related to each other. It is evident that he practised in- and-in breeding to a considerable extent. It is also clear that he aimed at building up particular lines or families, and that to some extent he bred each of these families within itself. He did not pursue persistently that intri- cate system of in-and-in breeding adopted by most of the noted early improvers of Shorthorns ; but in this point he so far followed their example. Perhaps the truest descrip- tion that could be given of his method of breeding is, that he bred from none but the best— those that came nearest to his ideal— and that he did not care whether these were closely related or not. He no doubt discovered that under his improved system of breeding, which may truly be called a system of " selection," he could raise better animals than could be found on Trinity JVIuir, or anywhere else in those days ; and that of course led him to breed in closer relationship than he might otherwise have done. Ho may not have approved of in-and-in breeding in principle, but, like the earlier in« pro vers of Shorthorns, he frequently 52 IMPKOVEMENT OF THE BREED. hiill t I put it into practice, with resnlfQ tJ.nf satisfactory ^' ^^'^^ ^'^''^ eminently a.r • rir- t!r ;:— rr '''«^^^ 'l-inies. Tl„s calf is suckled with the otiiers bv tZ IT cave uei.,s:thtrh fa: v.:r:i; ;r ^"""{' sliced potatoes, porridge, and otlier food f 1 nf n ^' inclined to talce. By the 1st of M,. "'"^ ^'^ is rPHflx' fi,. -^ ? ^^'^^' ^^' ^'^s soon as ltoss vlietttn ^''T''"'^ '''"^ '^"'"^^^ ^"^^'^--"^ the byre ^^llell two fresh calves are immediately put into their sH it' suck, to eat grass, and are brought into the byrelni i the evening, when the cows come in to be sud'ed" Tl set IS ready to wean bv fhp icf ^e a sucked. Ihis calf isnnf infn+i ? v*^ '^ ^^ August, and a single *> lo iiLccssaiy to have a verv carpfnl on,i o^ j JJC'son to attend to the suckli,,,, ^t^.Tt T'' tliree times a-day-viz eariv inV ""^ ''°""' cows are t«„,ed' our t^ ^s „ ''L7"''''° Y'-'" '1" to'cibs, at mid-day, and in the 1 i I ' i MR WATSON'S SIIOW-YAI^D SUCCESS. 53 evening when the cows come into the byre for the niglit and get a little cut grass, tares, or other green food. The byre is arranged so that the cows have each a stall of about 4 feet wide, with their heads to the wall ; and on the opposite wall the calves are tied up, two in a stall, exactly behind the cow, so that there is little trouble in putting them to the cows, and no chance of misplacing th^em. The fat calves have in some seasons been sold at £5 each, this being the scarcest time of the year for veal." Mr Watson gave much attention to the preparing of cattle for the show-yard, and early in his career he in this respect achieved great success. His son, Mr William Watson, says: "The list of awards to my father during his lifetime for various descriptions of stock— in England"^ Ireland, Scotland, and France— amounted to upwarcls of five hundred." The first occasion on which he exhibited polled cattle under the auspices of the Highland and Agricultural Society of Scotland was at Perth in 1829. His first prize pair of polled oxen at that show attracted much attention by their size, symmetry, and quality. One of these was a great beauty, and a choice butcher's animal. He was exhibited at the Smithfield Show in London tlie same year, and there too he was greatly ad- mired. Wiien slaughtered by a leading metropolitan butcher (Mr Sparks, of High Street, Marylebone) his carcass was found to be of very rare quality, the meat bemg fine in the grain and well mixed ; while his fat weighed no less than 240 lb.— about 84 lb. more than the fat of the famous "Durham Ox." Another remark- able animal shown at Perth in 1829 by Mr Hugh Watson was a heifer, which, like the oxen, was bred by himself and which, at the request of the Highland Society, was exhibited at the London Smithfield Show as a sample of tlie excellence to which the Scotch polled breed might be brought. There she was the admired of all admirnr^ bhe was then U years old, and her dead weight was esti- 54 IMPROVEMENT OF THE BREED. mated at between 130 and 140 Datcli stones. Before being slaughtered, she, like the "Durham Ox," was pubhcly exhibited for some time. Her purchaser at bmithfield paid £50 for her-a very handsome price for more than half a century ago. She was a round, low-set compact animal, the symmetry and evenness of her parts having been wonderful. The bone of her fore-leg, which her breeder long kept in his possession, is said to have been htt e hickcr than that of a roe-deer. At the time she was killed, her brisket was barely 8 inches from the ground and her inside fat was found to be equal in weight to one- fourth of her gross dead weight. Another wond'er- lul ammal of Mr Hugh Watson's breeding, " Old Grannie " or the Prima Cow, No. 1 in the 'Polled Herd Book,' is noticed in a subsequent chapter. Mr H. H. Dixon in Field and Pern,' says Mr Watson gave the Irish a taste ot the quality of his earlier polled celebrities. " Hi. four year-old Angus ox [out of Old Grannie] went over and was placed first for the Purcell Challenge Cup at Belfast and yet^ strange to say, died after all in the plough at the Koyal Home Farm, when he was rising eighteen. Still his tame was in all lands, as a traveller in India found ins portrait pasted up on a temple of Vishnu " Besicks Mr Watson, there were in Angus'a good many enterprising agriculturists, who at a very early date-some even earlier than Mr Watson-devoted attention to the breeding and improving of the native polled cattle Pro- minent among these were the late Lord Panmure; the late Sir James Caniegie; Lord Southesk ; the late Messrs Mustard, Leuchland and Fithie; the late Mr Bowie, Mains ot Kelly and his son, Mr Alexander Bowie, the present tenan ; the late Mr William Pullerton, Mains of Ardestie; the late Mr Iluxton, Farnell; the Hon. Charles Carnegie ' Mr Ferguson Kinnochtry; Captain Carnegie of Craigo'; Mr J. Lyell, Shielhill ; the late Mr Scott, Balwyllo ; Mr Lyall, Carcary; Colonel Dalgairns of Balgavies; Mr .1 OTHER BREEDERS IN ANGUS. 55 Before )x," was baser at price for , low-set, ler parts g, which to have •he time rom the 1 weight wonder- raiinie," )Ook,' is ixon, in a taste -is four- ^er, and Belfast, I at the , Still found I many —some to the Pro- e ; the Messrs Mains resent iestie ; iiegie ; raigo ; ); Mr ; Air Aymer, East Carcary ; Mr Lerlie, The Thorn ; Mr Archi- bald Whyte, Braedownie; Mr W. Whyte, Spott; the late Mr Lyell, Arrat; the late Mr Goodlet, Bolsban; the late Mr Pierson, The Guynd, &c. Of these Lord Southesk, Mr Alexander Bowie, Mr Ferguson, Mr Leslie, and Mr Whyte still possess herds, and their operations will be noticed afterwards. Accounts will be found of two different herds at Kinnaird Castle — one of great antiquity, annihilated by rinderpest in 1865, and another founded about two years ago. There is good reason to believe that the property of the Carnegie family has long -been a stronghold of the breed. Ochterlony, in his description of Angus in 1684, 1685, states that the Earl of Southesk owned the whole of the parishes of Kinnaird and Farnell, which contained " ane excellent breed of horses, cattle, and sheep ; " and from other sources we gather that polled cattle had been bred extensively on the estates even before the commence- ment of the present century. The Hon. Charles Carnegie, brother of the present Earl of Southesk, has kindly fur- nished us with an account of the extinct Kinnaird herd, in which he states that it is impossible to trace the origin of that old stock, "which had probably gone on from generation to generation from a very remote period." Mr Bowie, Mains of Kelly, owns the oldest herd now existing. It was commenced in 1809— the year after the foundation of the Keillor herd. What we shall have to say regarding it, more particularly in reference to tlie bulls produced in the herd, will fully establish its title to rank as one of the most useful agents in the im- provement of the breed. Mr Ferguson, Kinnochtry, com- menced to rear polled cattle in 1835, and has ever since been a devoted, intelbgent, and successful breeder. It is generally understood that the late Lord Pan mure (born 1771, died 1852) did not himself establish a herd of polled cattle till about 1835. We have, however, good 56 IMPROVEMENT OF THE BREED. u\ > 'I' , t J ' i] reason for believing that long before that time-in fact prior to the opening of the present century-he had r^iven close attention to the rearing of the native polled clttle and had done much to encourage his tenants and others' m improving the breed. Mr William Fullerton give, it as his opinion that few men did more for "the doddies" than Lord Panmure, and remarks : " He not only bred beasts himself which did good service, but, as President ot the East Forfarshire Association, he fostered the breed iie stimulated his tenants to breed good doddies and amongst others, Mr Bowie, Mains of Kelly, and his worthy father. I must confess he filliped me on to try my skill as a breeder." In another manuscript document in our possession, Mr Fnllerton says: "In 'he early part of this century, Lord William Eamsay Maule of Panmure, seein- there were points in the doddies capable of bein- im° proved, tried the exp.rmient of having so many An-us cows put to Galloway bulls. Procuring eight or ten" of tliese bulls, he had them suitably located over his estates. Ihe result of this crossing was such a failure, that all attempts to improve the old breed in this direction were abandoned. Lord Panmure after this disappointment set himself to form a Society for the purpose of advancing the agriculture of the district, and, in particular, for improving the old doddie breed. In this he was greatly aided by the other landlords of the east of Angus, more especially Mr Arklay of Dunninald. The movement culminated in the formation of the East Forfarshire Farming Associa- tion Lord Panmure being chosen perpetual President, and Mr Arklay, Vice-President for the first year. No breed of cattle were awarded prizes but the breed of the county The competition took place yearly on Trinity Muir in the latter end of July or first week of August. Members competing had to bring forward at least a pair of quevs and lor every 100 acres and above, which they farmed' they were bound to bring tbrward another quey. " Jn com- dL LORD PANMURE'S HERD. 57 peting in the class of stots, a pair had to be exhibited for the first fifty acres farmed, and for every other fifty acres the competitor was bound to bring forward another stot." There is in existence, we believe, an oil-painting of three cows exhibited under the auspices of the East Forfar- shire Association, one being a " rigged " cow belonging to the late Mr James Black, Barrelwell, and the winner of the first prize on the first occasion on which the Society offered prizes for cows. It would seem that Lord Panmure had still been anxious to try the effect of a fresh cross upon the Angus cattle, for in 1838 or 1889 he commissioned his agent, Mr Collier, Hatton, to p* lect for him half-a-dozen of the best polled Buchan heit rs to be obtained. One of these heifers, named Black Meg, and purchased from Mr Silver, Netherley, Muchalls, on the Kincardineshire coast near Aberdeen, became the dam of the celebrated bull Pan- mure 51, whose sire was a bull named Hector, bred by Mr Hector, Fernyflatt, Kincardineshire. Lord Panmure held a public sale in 1841, when Mr William Fullerton pur- chased the young bull Panmure 51. The dam of Pan- mure 51 passed into the hands of Mr Bowie, Mains of Kelly, and to him she produced the cow Mary, dam of Mary of Kelly 2nd 1192, progenitrix of Mr Bowie's Martha tribe, to which his race of bulls called Major be- long. Another animal of Lord Panmure's breeding was the cow exhibited by Colonel Dalgairns of Balgavies, at the show of the Highland Society at Dundee in 1843, where she gained the first prize. At that show Mr Ful- lerton also headed the old bull class with Panmure 51, and won the first prize for lots of three cows, in which latter class he had strong competition from the Keillor, Portlethen, Leuchland, and Wester Fintray herds. One of Mr Fullerton's three cows was Dairymaid, bred by Lord Panmure. It is interesting to note that descen- dants of Colonel Dalgairns's first-prize cow at Dundee 58 ii M '« III i IMPROVEMENT OF THE BREED. Mr William FuUerton's long conuection with the polled breed will be referred to later on. He was born iu^l8 began to breed polled cattle in 1833, and died iu 1880 Black MelTf"'/.""'"'' ^'' "'^' °' "'« ^'''"""'^ «°- wacfc JMeg 766, and from one of her dauc'liters and tl,» sS ;?nd '"" J:r'' ''■ ■'^ ^'^^^--^ tzt^: 348, foundress of the meritorious Queen tribe. Mr Fuller ton was a pa.nstaking and intelligent breeder, and h s name will ever live as that of one of the n.ost dist nguth d mprovers and most accurate judges of his iavouritf horn le.o breed The two brothers. Messrs William Mustard n h.e, and James Mustard, Leuchiand. both bred polled ca tie early m the present century. The latter was not only one of the earliest, but also one of the most ca eM breeders of doddies ; and descendants of his stock made an «cellen appearance in other herds, notably in tha of «Sh r"' f'""- Mr William FuUerton has reco.de4 with genume humour some of his earlier contests with his good neighbour Leuchiand. In 1844 they had a t rhl of being an Edinburgh dress-coat." Mr Fullerton won and we are informed that the coat was in due time delivered bled with greater care than almost any one I ever knew " sued at Leuchiand is also very highly connnended. Mr Kuxton, Faniell, was another intellige,- and systematic breeder, paying close attention to the purity of his he d He at one time had a blue or light-coloured tribe, wS had been kept on the farm in a pure condition fo ma^y years. A few were black, but the majority were Xe h ',::::? ''" ""'""?■" ^"^ ^''^uHertoiUells us ttt he nevcT saw a secondary droiier blue or black " The late Mr Scott, BolwvUo built ui .,„fl i -7 ■ , i.-wviiu, uuuc up and long maintaiued a t 3 EARLY HERDS IN KINCARDINESHIRE. 69 ^■1 large and excellent herd, which will be found fully noticed later on. The Howe o' Mearns, in Kincardineshire, — a continua- tion of the Vale of Strathmore, — has also had a share in the producing and improving of the polled Aberdeen or Angus breed. Formerly, polled cattle were more numerous amongst the farmers of Kincardineshire than now. Mr William Fullerton, who assisted in awarding the prizes at upwards of thirty shows in the county, states that he did not think that any time since 1833 there were, relatively speaking, more than one-fourth as many doddies in Mearns as in Angus, but adds that he had seen twenty-five polled cows in the " bught " — adjudicating ring — at Fettercairn which would have done honour to any county. Foremost amongst the improvers of the breed in Kincardineshire must be placed the late Mr Eobert Walker, Portletlien Mains, near Aberdeen, who for more than half a century occupied a leading position, not only as a breeder of polled cattle, but also as an advanced agriculturist generally. He founded his herd in 1818, and continued it with much success till his death in 1874. He bred and owned many noted animals, including the show-yard heroes Fox Maule 305, and Banks of Dee 12. In one season the descendant of the latter bull gained no fewer than seven first prizes and one second. lieferring to Mr Walker's success in the show-yard, Mr M'Combie, in ' Cattle and Cattle-Breeders,' says : " It would be endless to attempt to sura up his vic- tories — local, national, and international, — they are spread over sucli a large surface." Among the others in Kincar- dineshire who took a leading part in the improvement of polled cattle were the late IMr Hector, Fernyliatt ; his son- in-law, the late Mr Glennie, Fernyflatt; the late Sir Thomas and the lute Sir Alexander Burnett, Barts. of Leys ; Colonel M'Inroy, The Jjurn ; and the late Sir John Stuart Forbes, Bart, of ritsligo, Fettercairn House, who gave substantial encouragement and assistance to Mr liavenscroft in start- 60 IMPROVEMENT OF THE BREED. Mis/ It lias niready been jnHi,,j.i..,i that in \h^.^ i,- i" Angus, the systematic imp'-^voinei ofi T '■^',"' breed within its own limits woud'eemtoh T ''""''* celTv" urr r^ -e'egrn:<:;tirpTes::t rn'SeH ifl^r^ -'I, -«-br;ede;.s:X:en othervari es i^'t our" Tir™'"'" r^ '" ^" *« e..ed to entirely diWlfna e^L 'IVle "' 7 " ame of the improved Shorthorns after cX-gtt sa ! "rere5Sl:rof^I^-7^^^^^^^^^^^ ^nrs^ro'^z^^^^^^^^^^ Simpson of Pitcorthie FiSL m p/ ''' it ^'"'''^ obtained cattle from ir Rob rtsof anc at'«, fi T"'r"^ exhibited Shoithorn oxen, which, by their extraordinary CHAZE FOR SHORTHORN CROSSES. 61 merit, excited groat astonishmeut and admiration. In 1827, at a public sale of Shorthorns held at Phantassie, Captain Barclay of Ury, Kincardineshire, and Mr Alex- ander Hay, Shethin, attended, and both made purchases. Within the next few years their example was followed by Mr Cruickshank, Sittyton ; Mr Grant Duff of Eden ; Mr Longmore of Eettie, and others,— and from the herds of these gentlemen drafts of young Shorthorn bulls were dis- persed either publicly or privately every year. The im- proved Shorthorn was found a very differ. art stamp of an animal from the big, coarse, ungainly Holderness or Tees- water that, as we have seen, had been tried at an earlier period. The improved bulls, mated with native polled cows, produced better })utcher cattle than had yet been known— animals remarkable alike for aptitude to fatten, wealth of flesh, constitution, and quality of beef. Cross- ing in this fashion therefore became almost a craze. Hand- some profits were realised from it, and for a time it seemed as if farmers had been rendered oblivious to the risk of running out their reserve of pure polled cows, which were as necessary as the Shorthorn bulls for the raising of the class of cattle which had aroused this excitement, and which soon reached the highest prices in Smithfield mar- ket. And it was not only in Ab(n'deen that the craze for crossing had displayed itself. It also invaded Angus, and th^re induced many farmers, much to their own chagrin afterwards, to allow their excellent x nds of pure-bred polled cattle to degenerate into stoclvs of ever- varying crosses. It is for unate, however, that in both the great strong- holds of tne poll, d Aberdeen or Angus breed there were a number of shrewd, far-seeing agriculturists who grasji-d the full significance of the new fashion in cattle-breedin^: They recognised the danger which threatened the native polled cattle, and with commendable courage they deter- mined to disregard the popular taste, and to maintain i I 15/ 62 IMPROVEMENT OF THE BEEED. more jealously than ever the purity of the polled race. The men who had taken the lead in preserving the Angus doddies are mentioned in an earlier portion of this chapter. In the county of Aberdeen, one man, ^he late Mr Wil- liam M'Combie of TiUyfour, M.P., stands ahead of all others as the great deliverer of the polled race. He was among the first to discover its threatened extinction; and knowing full well its value to the country, he resolved to do what in him lay to protect it from the danger to which it had become exposed. It is doubtful, we think, whether any other single individual has ever done more to improve and^ popularise any breed of live stock than tlie late Mr M'Combie did to improve and make known his pet race of polled cattle. Taking up the good work so systematically commenced by Mr Hugh Watson, Mr William M'Combie carried it on with a skill and success that have few eqaals, and that will hand down his name to posterity as tliab of the chief improver of the polled Aberdeen or Angus breed. It has been said that what the Ceilings did for Sliorthoiiis, Mr Hugh Watson did for the polled breed. It might be said with equal truth that what the Booths have been to the "red, white, and roan," Mr William M'Combie was to the "glossy blacks." Than that, higher credit could be paid to no breeder of live stock ; and every one who l,as any acquaintance with the subject will admit that it is due to the memory of the late Laird of Tillyfour. Mr M'Combie was born at Tillyfour in 1805, and died m the spring of 1880. His father, who owned the small estate of Tillyfour, was for many years one of the leading cattle-dealers in the north of Scotland; and young Mr M'Combie, before he had completed his " teens,' ° also devoted himself to trading in cattle. About 1829 he became tenant of the farm of Tillyfour, and immediately after he gave up dealing in lean stock, and commenced the formation of a polled herd. It would seem that his .1 1 I MR WILLIAM M'COMBIE. 63 father, who of course had exceptional opportunities of knowing the value of the breed as compared with others, had held the native polled cattle in high favour. Mr William M'Combie, in replying to the toast of his health at a banquet to which he was entertained in Aberdeen in 1862, said : " I was led by a father whose memory I revere, to believe that our polled cattle were peculiarly suited to our soil and climate, and that, if their properties were rightly brought out, they would equal, if not surpass, any other breed as to weight, symmetry, and quality of flesh. I resolved that I would endeavour to improve our native breed." The Tillyfour herd dates from 1830, and was finally dispersed in 1880, a few months after the death of its worthy owner. The material used and produced by Mr M'Combie, as well as the system of breeding which he pursued, will be so fully described afterwards, that a few sentences will suffice here. He started his herd with cattle bred in the county, some on Tillyfour itself, and some by the Messrs Williamson, St John's Wells, Fy vie ; Mr Walker, AVester Fintray, and others. With these old local strains he worked for some years, producing many excellent animals, and gaining numerous prizes. At Mr William Fullerton's sale at Ardovie in 1844 he purchased Queen Mother 348 as a yearling heifer for £12, 10s., and from her he built up his celebrated Queen tribe, which has probably done more than any other to spread and enhance the good name of the breed. It will be shown in our account of the Tillyfour herd that Mr M'Combie pursued close breeding to a considerable extent, and that with much ingenuity he blended the material which ulti- mately produced such excellent results as the progress of his herd displayed. Mr M'Combie's success in the show-yard has few paral- lels in the history of farm-stock. In the third edition of his volume entitled ' Cattle and Cattle-Breeders,' no fewer than seventeen pages are occupied by a mere record of 64 IMPEOVEMENT OF THE BREED. m 111!; to ISW M '. "'"" ^^ """'"'' "^^'^Sing to the herd prior Euill l!' , '°1 "' "'"' ' ''•'■S'^ ^'"''« »f Scotch and contests m France, and on all occasions returned with . ew laurels and fresh fanre for his favourite blacks. Prob- « e gieat International Exhibition held at Paris in 1878 Un that occasion, iu addition to several leading "cla<.s" the Dv..zon foreign to France, but also the £100 prize lor the best group of beef-producing animals bred by Ml M Con bie has often proved invincible ; and altogether of tl e r >M ''^^J^^f'^dly gained beyond the bounds ot the British empire has to a very large extent been Tillylbt herd' '""'"■''""' «''<>«'-ya''J achievements of the The show-yard career of " Black Prince," one of Mr M Combies many fine polled oxen, deserves special men- tl <" Limmgham and Smithfield Fat Stock Shows in 1867 when four years old, and at botli shows made almost a tie Earl ,." f'™,'' "'"'"^ "' "'^ ^''' '" ''^^ «1^^«; the Earl of I'owis's silver cup, value £25, for tiie best «teer or ox bred and fed by the exhibito , two peek pmes for tlic best Scot ; the Hotel and Inn k epers' th rty and the gold medal or £20 for the best steer or ox in the how At Smithfield he won the first prize and s Iver eda as the best in his class, and the £40 silver enp for med!. t '"' r ""'i '" *'" '''""' '■'""S "■''"' "'^ ^20 gold medal to his breeder. From Birmingham the ox ^'astby OTHER BREEDERS IN ABERDEENSHIRE. 65 the Queen's desire, forwarded to Windsor for her Majesty's inspection; and her Majesty was afterwards graciously pleased to accept from Mr M'Combie her Christmas baron of beef from the carcass of this fine animal, of which her MajcGty had expressed great admiration. A year or two afterwards her Majesty visited Tillyfour, mainly for the purpose of inspecting Mr M'Combie's herd of celebrated polled cattle, and she was interested in finding, in Mr M'Combie's dining-room, the head of the beautiful animal she had seen at Windsor. Black Prince was sold by Mr Giblett to Messrs Lidstone & Scarlet, Bond Street, London, for £120, the head having been retained by Mr M'Combie, who had it stuffed and placed in a prominent position in his dining-room at Tillyfour. The important work to which Mr M'Combie devoted himself so assiduously for nearly half a century lias been helped forward in a very substantial manner by many other enterprising agriculturists in the county of Aber- deen, both landlords and tenant-farmers, who have also devoted much money, time, and attention to the improve- ment of the native polled cattle. The operations of most of these will be referred to when we come to notice extinct and existing herds. The following (in addition to those already named) deserve to be mentioned here, as having specially distinguished themselves as improvers of polled Aberdeen or Angus cattle— namely, Mr William M'Com- bie of Easter Skene ; Colonel Fraser oi Castle Eraser ; Mr Harry Shaw, Bogfern ; Mr James Eeid, Greystone; Mr William Anderson, Wellhouse; the late Colonel Gordon of Fyvie ; the late Mr Dingwall Fordyce of Brucklay, M.P. ; Colonel Ferguson of Pitfour; the late Sir Alexander Ban- nerman, Bart, of Crimonmogate ; the late Dr Eobertson of Indego; the late Mrs M'Combie, East -Town; Mr Farquharson, East-Town; Mr Walker, Ardhuncart'; Mr Walker, W^est&ide of Brux ; Mr Lumsden of Clova ;' Mr Farquliarson of Haughton ; the Marquis of Huntly ; the £ I I QG IMPROVEMENT OF THE BREED. Ill 1 1 I : Earl of Aberdeen ; Mr P. Davidson of Inchmarlo • Mr Reid, Baads ; the late Mr M'Combie, Cairnballocli '; Mr Hunter, Confunderland ; Mr P. Cran, Old Morlich, &c. The contiguous counties of Banff and Moray 'have in no small degree contributed to the improvement of the polled Aberdeen or Angus breed. In fact, the premier polled herd of the present day-that belonging to Sir George Macpherson Grant, Bart, of Ballindalloch, M.P.— has its home on the borders of these two counties, near the junction of the rivers Spey and Aven. The origin of the Ballindalloch herd has been lost in the mists of anti- quity. Of its early history nothing more definite is known than that (as described by Mr M'Combie) it is 1^ perhaps the oldest in the north," and that it has been "the talk of the country" for very many years. The present Baronet is an enthusiastic and accomplished breeder. For many years he has given close personal attention to the management of his large and valuable herd, and the success achieved by him has been so remark- able that we believe no one will dispute the title of the Ballindalloch herd to the premier position, which, since the dispersion of the Tillyfour herd in 1880, has been generally assigned to it. The influence which the Ball- indalloch herd has exercised in the improvement of other stocks could hardly be overestimated. Sir George has been specially successful in the rearing of bulls : and these have been eagerly sought after by breeders throughout the country, in whose herds they have given undeniable testimony of their choice breeding. In a word, the fame ot the Ballindalloch herd is equally great in the breeding paddock, the sliow-yard, and the sale-ring ; and this is probably the highest tribute that could be bestowed upon any herd. The other leading improvers of polled cattle in Banff and Moray have been the late Mr George Brown Westertown; the late Mr Eobert Walker, Montbletton- the late Mr Morison of Boirnie : tho Earl of Vif^ • tvi. \\t' ^ -«,«»»(4'?Sl»S POLLED CATTLE IN EARLY SHOWS. 67 Mr Mr IS J. Tayler of Glenbavry ; the late Mr Alexander Paterson, Mulben ; the late Mr Skinner, Drumin, and his son, Mr William M. Skinner ; the late Mr Eobertson, Burnside ; and the late Mr John Collie, Ardgay. The late Mr George Brown's father bred polled cattle at Westertown more than half a century ago ; and when Mr George Brown himself succeeded to the farm in 1853, he devoted his attention in a very special manner to the rearing of the breed. He procured the best material available, and devised a skilful and systematic plan of breeding which gave promise of grand results, but which was prematurely closed by his early and much -lamented death in 1874. Of the operations of Mr Brown and other breeders and improvers more anon. Improvers of polled cattle have received hearty encour- agement in their noble work from the many influential agricultural societies which have existed in Scotland during the greater part of the present century. We have seen that at least one society in the old county of Angus — the East Forfarshire Farming Association — was started early in the century, mainly for the purpose of promoting the improvement of the native polled cattle. In the county of Aberdeen, where there are more than a score of similar societies, the improvement of the polled breed has in most cases been one of the chief objects kept in view. As early as 1812 " black humble " cattle were exhibited and won prizes at the show of the Garioch Farmers' Club, which was established in 1809, and still continues as active and useful as ever. At the second show of the Highland Society, held at Edinburgh in 1823, a second prize was won by a polled or "dodded" ox bred in Aberdeenshire ; while at the Society's first pro- vincial show, held at Perth in 1829, prizes were offered for polled cattle. On the latter occasion, as noted else- where, Mr Hugh Watson exhibited some of his famous Keillor doddies, both ia tlic fat stock and breeding claaaes. itil ml 68 IMPROVExMENT OF THE BREED. -I Ever since tliat time tlie Higliland Society has oiven due attention to the polled breed of the north-east, and has more than once take), official notice of its peculiarly high merits. At the Perth show of the Highland Society m 1852, there would seem to have been an excellent disi)lay of polled Aberdeen or Angus stock, for in the portion of the official report of tliat show referring to these we find the following sentences: "The Directors rejoice that this and preceding shows indicate a praiseworthy amount of effort and care on the part of breeders of polled sto,dv, followed by a corresponding improvement in the stock rhey cannot but regard it as the most valuable breed of Scotland, combining as it does in a great measure the constitution of the Highlander with tlie feedin- pro- perties of the Shorthorn." In 1834 the Highland Society appointed a Committee to consider and report as to tlie general arrangements for its live stock shows. The Com- mittee gave special attention to the classification of "the particular classes of stock, or breeds as they are called which the Society will recognise and encourage in their pure state by the offer of specific premiums ; " and recom- luended that the live stock department be divided into four sections-one for Shorthorns, one for West Highland- ers, one for Ayrshires, and another for " the polled^breeds of Oalloway and the northern districts." The Society adopted the recommendation, and acted upon It until 1848, when S'3parate sections were arrancred for the Galloways and the polled cattle of the noith- eastern counties. Tlie starting of the Tolled Her.l Book' forms an import- Mt event in the history of Aberdeen or Angus cattle. Ihe movement was taken up actively by Mr Eurl> 1, the markings of the different families or stocka du aeem to have been very distinct and preserved. They went by the names of the different farms on which they were bred. Thus, the Strichen brec J. w- J mostly brindled ; while at Gowanfold, in Eathen, there was a belted race — black animals with a white belt round their waist. There was also a * rigget ' race, or black with a white ridge along the back. The most general sorts, wever, were black, or black with a little white below, iu.a about the logs, a white udder being regarded as the sign of a good maker. There was also another very good sort, black \ itli a brown back. The cows — of course I am speaking of the better sorts — were deep, wide, roomy animals, — a necessary feature; and their milkiug-properties, which were good, were carefully cultivated. I recollect well the Skillymarno polled stock. They were black with white udder, and generally a white spot in the face. Some of them came as a * tocher ' [mar- riage dowry] with Skillymarno's daughter, on her marriage to the tenant of the next farm to my father's. Here they were several times crossed with good Shorthorn bulls; but although they became blue in colour, no scurs were ever seen upon them. I happened to mention this to one of the Messrs Cruickshank of Sittyton, who remarked that he could quite understand it, for they had obtained a polled cow from the late Mr John Hutchinson of Mony- ruy ; and after her progeny had been crossed for five gen- erations with Shorthorn bulls, neither horns nor scurs appeared. The nearest approach to the best types of our old Buchan cows that I can recollect seeing is old * Char- lotte of Fyvie,' purchased by Lord Southesk at the disper- m M -fil ill IMAGE EVALUATION TEST TARGET (MT-3) '% /, *v. '^o i< i/.A fA 1.0 I.I 2.5 22 18 yi III u iiiiiib p^ (^ 11 1 i_i Sciences Corporation 23 WEST MAIN STREET WEBSTER, NY. 14580 (716) 87i-4&03 # 6"^ 9-^L ^ ^1> k- ^"^'"w t/j ,.y % 76 CHARACTEKISTICS OF THE BBEED. sion sale at Fyvie in 1881. Mr Auld's 270-guinea cow [Pride of Aberdeen 9th 3253] is also a good deal of the same stamp." ^ Formerly, both in Angus and Aberdeen, the breed em- '^ braced a variety of colours as well as difference in size. •: Black, with some white spots on the underline, was the prevailing colour. Some were brindled — dark-red and black stripes alternately ; others were red ; others brown ; and a few what Youatt called " silver-coloured yellow." But since systematic improvement was commenced in thorough earnest, all shades of colour excepting black have been at a discount,— indeed almost entirely " dis- honoured." Now the cry is, "black and all black." It IS not easy, however, to wholly obliterate features that have at any time been characteristic of a race of stock ; and even in the "best regulated families" a "reversion" to one or other of these unpopular shades of colour still occasionally displays itself. A shade of brown is not rejected, and not a few of the best -looking and most highly priced animals of recent years have had some white about the underline, chiefly around the udder. Eed or brindled, however, are wholly inadmissible; and when animals of these shades do appear, they are not bred from. In most herds one or two red calves have appeared, but a brindled calf is now rarely dropped. But while these colours are unpopular, it should be remembered that they do not denote impurity. They simply indicate that an ancient characteristic of the breed, wluch modern fancy has doomed to extinction, has in the mysterious workings of nature been able to temporarily reassert itself. And here it may be well to draw a distinction between those occasional unwelcome cases of "harking back" to discounted colours, and another deviation from the rule which now and again appears in some strains in the form of"scurs." These "scurs" are small, rounded pieces of horn, without horn-cores, and attached loosely to the head. i DESCRIPTION OF TYPICAL POLL. 77 We do not regard them as a recurrence of an original characteristic, but rather as denoting contact in compara- tively recent times with some horned race. We have seen that both in Forfarshire and Aberdeenshire a race of horned cattle has from time immemorial — at least as far back as history and tradition carry us — existed alongside the ancestors of the improved polled breed, the former occupying the higher, and the latter the lov.er ground. We have no record of any systematic combination of the two races ; but a hundred years ago, and even less, farmers saw no special advantage in keeping any breed absolutely pure from generation to generation. They had not then learned — what not a few personally interested in the sub- ject have even yet to learn— the value of an unstained pedigree. It may therefore be concluded that the polled and horned varieties were in these days occasionally inter- mixed. Moreover, we have it on record that, towards the end of the last century and early in the present, the Buchan " humlies " were crossed with Ayrshires, and the horned breed of Fife and other races ; and the Angus " doddies " with Ayrshires and other breeds. Youatt tells us, no doubt on Mr Hugh Watson's own authority, that the latter gentleman's famous Smithfield heifer, already re- ferred to, " had a remote dash of Guernsey blood in her." In these circumstances, and in view of the known tendency of peculiarities in remote ancestors to display themselves from time to time, it is only natural that now and again an animal of the breed should appear with " scurs." They are scarcely ever seen on females. Some strains are more liable to them than others. In no family are they of frequent occurrence, and in some they have never once been observed. No effort should be spared to eradicate them from the breed. No animal showing the least si^n of " scurs " should on any account be used for breeding purposes. If we had to choose between the two evils, we would much rather breed from a red animal than from one 78 CHARACTERISTICS OF THE BREED. with " sciirs." The one feature is foreign to the breed ; the other simply not in accordance with modern fancy. From the earliest accounts of the Angus and Aberdeen polls, i' would seem that they were even then noted for symmetry of form, and that most of them were small in size. They were generally so small, in fact, that oxen of the breed were not considered suitable for the ordinary light farm-work of a hundred years ago. It would seem also that they have always been thick, low-set, round, very compact, fine in the bone, with soft hair, mellow skin, rich cover of flesh, fine head, hardy constitution, and great aptitude to fatten, their beef being of the finest quality, and beautifully mixed. The polled Aberdeen or Angus cattle of to-day are just magnified animals of the same type. Most of the good points they formerly possessed have been still further developed, and brought to a higher condition of usefulness ; while some defects that character- ised the breed a hundred years ago have been wholly or partially removed. There has been a very great improve- ^lentinsize during the present century. They are now large cattle— scarcely inferior, indeed, in weight to anyother variety in the country. At a casual glance they seem decidedly smaller than average Shorthorns ; but on closer examination, or on the " scales," the difference is generally found to be much less than had at first sight been sup- posed, and often disappears altogether. As a rule, polled animals are lowerrset, oi: thicker and more compact, than average Shorthorns— the latter being more "pointy," and longer in the legs. The ancknt symmetry of the breed has been more than maintained, and now in this respect it is surpassed by no other_breed in the British Isles, or perhaps anywhere else, A really good northern poll leaves very little to be desired in the symmetry of its parts. The improved race have wider ^P^b^^^ei: spningjibs than their ancestors had, and are also longer^d^better filled uj»jromthj hooks backwards, Id n the MORE CYLINDRICAL THAN SHORTHORNS. 79 as well as morejichly fleshed, finer in the bone, of superior quality, and sweeter and more gay, especially about the head. Their general fattening-properties too, notably in regard to earlxmaturity, have been very greatly improved. Some admirers of the breed, who have a distinct recollec- tion of the animals that gained fame in show-yards twenty- five or thirty years ago, maintain that, in comparison with these, the show-yard animals of to-day exhibit little or no improvement. They admit that there has been great improvement in the "rank and file" of the breed, and that a much greater number of good specimens are seen in the show-yards now than formerly ; but some of those celebrated animals that a quarter of a century ago en- listed their warm admiration, have never in their eyes been excelled. The same statements have been heard in regard to almost every breed of live stock in the country; but while in some instances they may be p: ; fectly accurate, we believe that as a rule they are not so. We judge all things by comparison; and we believe that as we watch the progress of a breed that is being constantly improved, our standard of comparison becomes higher unconsciously. We cannot help believing, especially if full value were given to character or appearance of " breeding," that better animals of the polled Aberdeen or Angus breed have been shown within recent years than were to be seen a quarter of a century ago ; and we are probably not far wrong in attributing the contrary impres- sion, which has been mentioned, to the fact that those who hold that impression have not made full allowance for the higher standard of comparison which their long experience must almost of necessity have brought them to apply. In general form a model polled animal differs consider- ably from a model Shorthorn. Both should be lengthy, ^^' wjde, even, pro^gortionate, and cylindrical. *^he poUedLanimal, however, should be more truly cylindrical in the body than the Shorthorn. Its points should be vP. V ,^. 4. K, --?- Vr A :r- X 80 CHARACTERISTICS OF THE BREED. \ TthT'n 'J """'•^'1 Off; ". in other words, the frame of the polled animal is not so fully drawn S ilT 1 tenlnl f Pf '^ *''™*'' "<">' " '^^e-'Iy living the stin '^T'"'" ,'"° "^"'y '» *•>« square type o the Shorthorn. In a beef-producing animal a broad square frame can hardly be said to be a burnish ■ fo^if It .s thoroughly well covered all over, it will cat; more fel r ' "'"f" ''""'■ ^ «<""?»<". weTl"ou"ded r"; ^oZ'br.^-Tl'"" " ^^'"^'''»" charac^erisd; qi,£^ , ,v ' ^"^ ""^ "■*'" f^ason why^a square is that such a form is foreign to the breed, and therefore b^ed^^rCrr if'^P""'^- ^"^ admirers oTi aTelalTxW "\"'''™' P^^P^^ies not found to T T i , "* ""y "*''«■• '"•eed ; and they fear that ^ o'inlfo^^^^^^^^^^ '■''"'"'^' ''PP^"^"'=« -•'-h was breed ^' '^°°""™' chamcteristics of the nostrils to the eyes of only moderate length • the eves ms^'i:;frr'T^ ''" p^" '-'^'^^ 'i>--?^ :" size, lively, and well covered with hair • fhp +v..^„^ clean, with no development of skin and ile b eatrle jaws, which should not be he»v„. fi,„ 7 "'^"^*'" '"e clean, and rising from1he\t7t; sK! ^.rt'S masculine appearance-a desirable point in a bull. The , H I * i DESCRIPTION OF POLLS. 81 neck should pass neatly and evenly into tlie body, with full neck-vein. The shoulder-blades should lie well back- wards, fitting neatly into the body, and not lying awkwardly outside It : they should show no undue prominence on the shou der-top, on the points, or at the'elbow. An upricvht shoulder in cattle is generally accompanied by a li^ht waist—an important, and in all breeds a much too common, defect. The^est should be wide and deep so as to give plenty of room for lung-development. The bosom should stand well forward between the fore-legs and underneath should be well covered with flesh and i' , T :^^'-2P« ^^°"1^ be full and level, with no falling off behind them; the^ribs well sprung, springing out barrel-like and neatly joined to the crops and loins ; the back level and broad ; the^loins broad and strong • the hook-bones not too wide-narrower than in an average Shorthorn ; the^uarters long, even, and rounded, with no hollow from the hooks to the tail ; the tail should come neatly out of the body, not too far up^lh^ back, and not higher at the root than the line of the back. A high tail- nnlf .T i\'''"' ''^'^* Characteristic of the ancient polled breed, but it is one of the defects that are beinc gradually removed by the more scientific systems o1 breeding now pursued. Some good polled cattle, too, have been found to show a development of soft worthless :1esh and fat on the rounds behind; but that defect, which is disliked very much, is also almost obliterated. The tail should hang straight down, close to the body all the way till it comes near to the level of the flank. On both sides of the tail thequar- ters should turn away in a rounded manner, swelikij-'out downwards and ultimately passing into thick deep thighs. and not detached from the body until the level ot" the flank IS reached. Thejank should be full and soft, so that a good handful may be got out of it. TheJ^ottom line F '% 82 CHARACTEBISTICS OF THE BREED. ! :[ , •i i \\i r of tt'leilTlr ''r '?'' "'" ^'"^ ""«'^ -^ should a rich and even coating of flesh Evpn ih^ i,^ i i, and other pr„n,ine„t pfrt, sl^uid tweU ov rt'Td no lolls of hard flesh, with spaces of soft useless fat hi cou?d^fi,,^::f I^J'y;'- -- 'l^e *^' - that one Respects it has hardJaXa.fardrsrper thl acter Thl r , ■ ■ ™"''''' '^'^'"^ considerably in char- ct ejj^^,tir::t"twh'"n' t "^""^ *■''---<• altogether finer -he *t, ^^r'-^t'^^ sharper ; the bone W. and .i":;e:^lt^ -;r- cS-^^-^e-dd^trss^^ f I . I (. HIGH QUALITY OF THEIR BEEF. 83 The Galloway, as already noted, has a thicker skin and stronger coat of hair, and has altogether a slightly more shaggy appearance than the northern polled cattle, and does not mature quite so quickly. It is claimed that the northern polls surpass all other races of cattle in the production of beef. On that point there is of course considerable difference of opinion ; for at the present day, when the beef-producing properties of our other leading breeds, notably the Shorthorn and Here- ford, have been developed to so high a degree, it could not be expected that with anything like unanimity any one breed would be accorded the premier position. Be that as it may, we think the polled Aberdeen or Angus breed may safely be said to be inferior to none as all-round beef-cattle, and suj)erior to all others in some respects. The brilliant and unequalled position it has latterly taken, alike in the show-yard and market-place, sufficiently estab- lishes its claim to that description. Its show-yard achieve- ments will be fully noticed afterwards. Here it may be noted, that at the Paris Exhibition in 1878 it carried off every single honour for which it was entitled to compete, including the £100 prize for the best group of beef-produc- ing cattle in the Exhibition ; and that in British show- yards, both fat stock and breeding, it has attained to a leading position. In a strictly butcher's point of view, it has very seldom to yield to any other race of cattle. The superiority over most other breeds, for the butcher's purpose, lies mainly in the excellent quality of beef, and in the high percentage of dead meat to live weight. As a rule, the beef of the northern polls is very well mixed, and contains a greater proportion of compact, finely grained flesh, and less soft, coarse fat, than most other kinds of beef Inside, the carcass is usually well lined with fat of the finest quality; while in the density and quality of the carcass itself, the breed may fairly enough claim the premier position among all our leadino- rt^r:: 84 CffARAOTERISTICS OP THE BREED, iH-eeds of cattle. Some place the small Devon breed a ongmde, if not even before it, in this respect ; b„twh ;t "dies" .e„ and tS'';..\",Sr^ leading fat-stock nmrkets in the country the bre!d1 hdd m h.gh estunation and. as a rule, commands ti, ve J highest pr.ces-,n fact, generally a higher price in com w 1 f M -^ '^ '' especially the case at the "reat Sm.thfield Christmas Market in London, where the Xn. s:,7aTtr hi 'ri "-^ ""«' "^^^" f--' ^^^^^'Oy sale at the highest quotations, '' _ The breed is specially adapted for crossing with Short nmal tW h ' P^'''^^ ">« ^'^^ best berf-p d„ ll ammal that has as yet been reared is a cross between I e torLtl d 1 ^ P"""' ""^- ^'™"8'"'"' «>« north ex „ Jvelv 'Ne» "? '^''T f ''°^^'"S '^ f"^^"^"! very extensively. Nearly nine-tenths of the famous Aberdeen- shire beeves, so highly pri.ed in the London mark t ml :™ between these two breeds. The best system is o mate the polled cow and the Shorthorn bull- but the I reverse system, which, owing to the scarcity 'of poled Icows, IS freely practised, also gives excellent resnUs.'^ It IS noticeable that, as a rule, those of these crosses .at approach the most nearly to the Shorthorn type are latest h'' " ^m^' '" '^PP^^'^*"-' -'d -Wafn the fhit rtnV IT^''*- ^' ^' ^1"""^ «" J^no^n. however that those which most closely resemble the polled breed not' only bring the highest price when fat, and ySd a We percentage of dead meat to live weight but a so com S 88 CHARACTERISTICS OF THE BREED. iM i! i '■ill' milk. The cow, Miss Macpherson 1252, of the EnVa giving 6 Scotch pints a day, more than nine and a half months after calving." Writing at a later date on the same point the Earl of Aivlie says: "The Scotch pu winch I referred is a measure of 12 gills eaZ to 3 imperial pints, or U imperial quarrs me' I wro e on this subject I had .ome cols t^^at fne v ca,ved)gave 14 Scotch pints or 21 English quart Id one cow, I think. 15 ^ints or 22i English quar 'have pints 01 18 English quarts, daily, thou<.h ouite thr»« months calved. The cows are milked thi^e Xes a dly which I believe to b, the usual practice in Scottnd ^f do not know the weight, as the pint and quart are mev sures of capacity, so that of course the weight .depends on the specific gravity of the milk. But itl admitted I believe, that the milk of the polled Angus is r"i cream tlian that of either the Shorthorn oi- Ayrsh e" The northern polls have risen rapidly in public estim. tion withm the past ten or fifteen years Thdr lu teZ" may now be said to be world wide' Anin al fX bt d have been exported to the Australian colonies, to the Con Znr f^r '\'"""' ^'"«"-' -d to Can da ;^^i" the United States. In the two latter countries an exceed mg ly keen demand I.as sprung „p for tliem, and it 's pro" table that within the past eighteen montlis more than 500 specimens of the breed have crossed the Atlanta The cry from the United States is still for more poH and 13 probable that although every animal of the bre;d „ow n this country were sent across to them, the wa, te of ouT transatlantic co.sins would still be unsatisfied Ihis great expansion in the demand for the northern pol s ha, of course brought forth a corresponding ircrerse n their market value. About twelve months °ago Cod polled cows, with ordinary pedigrees, would have sold at VALUE OF POLLED CATTLE. 89 from 30 to 45 guineas ; while females of the better bred and more distinguished families gave from 50 to 100 guineas on an average. Since then, prices have risen by at least 50 per cent, and still higher figures could be obtained for choice animals if their owners could be in- duced to part with them. The highest sum yet paid for one animal was that (270^guineas) given for Pride of Aberdeen 9th 3253, by Mr R C. Auld, Bridgend, at the Tillyfour dispersion sale in 1880. M ^^....-^..^J "'-.■ 90 ! I 11 CHAPTER VI. NOTES OK SOME EAELY POLLED CATTLE. '""irt S';.i", sit :/:.■;:":■" ""-i ^"^■-^i^^-^^nt ^ «. ?86, „„a bull Panmure 51 r^L J °" '"''""^'"S "f "" Black Meg kir^., rega-ding »i« o^ "S e™ -rSlfrn''/. ''""T' *'"^- mg of Panmure 51-Error« in . f • ^*^^,.\'^^"^'^' Hatton, on the breed- to bulls Old Jock aifdrevlear? T ff'' -ttle-Conf.sion as Jocks-The Keillor col A^^m f t'^^^^^^ 'r^^^^""* ^' ^^^ Keillor "nation respecting the pedilrelf of M Beauty-Supplementary infer- Tillyfour Victors! ^ ^ ^ '^'' ^""« ^^"^^•''h 44 and the Having traced the T3rooTP^« nn^ ; polled breed we mirrlff Yf ^"^ /"^P^^^^ement of the telligiblerit s n" ~^^^^^^^ ''' """^^ ^' '^"" ^^- ingafewiftheLT l^b 1 ", Tr'"^' ^'^^^^'^^^ ^^S^^'^^' ^-ve been inac::Xt n'^ tlie 'Herd Book ' Tn .L ";;P"'«'^"y recorded in vol. i. of 'Herd Book' etries of S" f»' «-t «- employed to effect the Zr- ' '"""^'^ "'*' «'™ ™«^t of reflecting on the ww ;' , , !'. ^ ^S'"''' '"'^°«™ formed the°d„tie of eZoToltl j^^V^™""™'' P^'" timt l,e discharcved ],;! 'v 'l if' ^''"'^ '' «"'''^>'<'e X' / INACCURACIES IN VOL. I. OF 'HERD BOOK.' 91 the production of the first volume. The collection of materials for vol. i. was commenced in 1842. The whole of the documents were deposited for safety in the Museum of the Highland and Agricultural Society in Edinburgh, and when the fire took place in the buildings there in 1851, they were unfortunately all destroyed. The loss was irreparable. Mainly through the instrumentality of the Earl of South- esk the work was again begun in 1857, but it was not until 1862 that the first volume of the 'Herd Book* was actually published. In the interval, several of the finest polled herds in the country were attacked with rinderpest or pleuro- pneumonia. In some cases only a wreck of formerly magnificent herds remained after the devasta- tion wrought by these fell diseases, and more than one of the fragments had been finally dispersed ere the first volume made its appearance. It must also be said that private notes of pedigrees were not systematically re- tained by many breeders ; and Mr Eavenscroft has stated that " in some cases where assistance was naturally looked for, obstacles were thrown in the way of procuring infor- mation." If in 1862 it was not easy to obtain reliable details regarding the breeding of several of the early registered polled cattle, we need scarcely remark that the task is now much more difficult of accomplishment. We are pleased to say, however, that after the most careful investi- gations, we have succeeded in procuring information which we think clears away several of the more glaring inaccura- cies in vol. i. It is to be hoped that breeders may not long be without a revised edition of the first volume of the ' Herd Book,' with corrections made under the authority of the PdUed Cattle Society. The interests of the breed demand that this should be undertaken without undue delay, and it is rendered more necessary by the fact that the first volume is out of print. We shall refer in the first place to — Bi I 92 NOTES ON SOME EARLY POLLED CATTLE. Tie Coio Black Meg 766, and the Bull Panmun 51. Hundreds of polled animals, many of them amon» tlie mo t famo.,s of the breed, are descended from Mr Fuller mu e 51. The pedigrees of these two animals, as printed astelk L ^^l ''"'^ P''"^^'^ ^'-■("'•^ ''«^ "ame an from tt; Iberd'" ?'"* '" '"^""S'"'^'' "^« «-"»^ay irom the Aberdeen or Angus cattle, when the pedi..rees of vt.^:::%T rrt'^ "• "^ --'HeMBooir „" These Zt "■'''™ ^'^^" °"* «f Black Meg 766. .^ e of pL ™ """'^ ''™"' inaccuracies. The name It the H ,n • 1 '''^''^'^'-^'^d animals are, so far as the ■ Herd Book entries go, shrouded in complete mystery. Breeders of pol ed cattle a,;e under a debt of gratit^e to Mr Tl oma clctrr?- ^''"' "' ^^"'^'^f""' I^"°». f°>^ Laving con U cted such investigations as have solved the difficuWes which arose from the erroneous entries of thesetimr Minting to us under date 9th February 1882 Mi Jamie irSciiiS' ":rf '"^ '"^^ »' rord;o'i'ctrr" at iuarisc lal College, Aberdeen, I devoted some attention to the subject of polled cattle along with other matters and I f, niK that all the best blood of the Abe d^en ai d Angus docie, traced back to three fountain-heads-v'f 1st, Mr lullerton's Black Meo- • 9nrl fi.. i n iV ' from Brechin Castle; and sfd^he Sill Jo^cLul:' mass or confusion in rpn-nv/i ^^ 4.i ^^ '^ "i^A^t-e iiuMua in legaid to the pedigrees and hi,storv of these animals at least • and T ^hZ^f . ^ustoiy splf vpvv f.,.f . ' therefore considered mv- self ve y fortunate m getting from Mr Fullerton himsel^F authentic communications giving me all th J 1^/1 sessor of Black Mecr nnrl Pa "'^ 7 ^^''^^^^e, the pos- animol." m r ^ Panmure, knew about these animals. Mr Jamieson has kindly furnished us with the more important parts of Mr /ullerton's stalni^t ■• fi BLACK MEG 766 AND PANMURE 51. 93 addressed to liim at various times in the years 1872 and 1873, and we feel privileged in being able to place them before our readers. Mr Fullertou wrote from Mains of Ardestie as follows: — "I was fortunate at Ardovie in 1833 in starting to breed doddies— as we then called the breed— from a°few cows of excellent milking-qualities. To no cow I then had was I more beheld than to a cow called Black Meo-. She was a most wonderful beast this, and a great milker, and steady all the year round, although in her latter years she did fall off in this respect a good deal; but then I suppose she was having calves up to nearly twenty years of age. I shall never forget how her calves dwindled down in size ; but it mattered not after we got hold of them-we had only to milk them well, and they all came to have size enough. To describe this cow. She was low on her legs, as otherwise, but of lengthy and heavy build on small bone. Her back was straight as a rash, and her tail so well set on that you would never tire to stand behind her and to look along her back. Then her hooks were so level, wide enough and not too wide. Then her ears and eyes full and sticking well out ; then her beautiful jaw and muzzle, with fine, good-natured expression of face were such, and when taken as a whole, why one could stand and look at Meg and not weary for a whole hour as she chewed the cud ! Then her hair-my eye, such hair >— ' we shall never see the like again ; ' of the best quality, and on to her flanks you could almost hide your hand in It. She had a streaked udder, had a knack of havinrr quey calves, and in the colour of their udders they stuck to the old lady's pattern. My cow, Queen of Ardovie 29 daughter of lilack Meg, was very like her mother in some' points but was a heavier and .. .re stately cow. Princess of Ardovie 831, daughter of the Queen, was also a maoni- flcent cow. I sold her to the late Mr Watson, KeiUor for 1 think, 28 gumeas-^a big price in those days. She calved 94 NOTES ON SOME EARLY POLLED CATTLE. the day she arrived at Keillor. Mr Watson afterwards showed her in Ireland, where she beat all comers, and he sold her for 60 guineas. Her calf was a quey she had at Keillor, and I bought it at Mr Watson's sale in 1847 for 35 guineas. I had only one calf out of this quey (Princess Daughter 832), when in 1859 pleuro - pneumonia got amongst my herd of pure polled— I cannot tell how— and between the 8th of January and 1st of June I had the misfortune to bury about 100 head of as well-bred cattle as ever were in any oiie's possession, reckoning that I had one way or other met with a loss of £2000. I have twice since commenced to breed the polled sort, and for a second and third time have I been all but cleared out by that fell disease, pleuro-pneumonia, and I am now frightened to keep a 60-guinea beast, and am breeding from £25 cows with a Shorthorn bull. I find these cows terrible eaters and often wish I had a few Black Megs, Queens, and Princesses. The big brutes of cows I have, I am con- vmced, eat a third more food than ever I saw doddies do ; and I do not find we are so well served with milk and I feed higher than I ever fed the blacks, nor is the milk of that rich quality my old favourites used to supply me with. So much as to the milking -qualities of the black polled breed, and the ready tendency to fatten and also to milk well that all cows of the breed have as well as their progeny, who are of good mellow handle, and have plenty of good hair. "The famous bull Panmure 51 was not bred by me at all, but by the late Lord Panmure, from whom I bought the bull when u year and a half old. He was out of a cow called Black Meg, belonging to his lordship, not certainly to me— and I never at any time said so. It is a misprint altogether of Mr Eavenscroft, the editor of vol. i. of the 'Herd Book,' to confuse in the way he has done Black Meg of Ardovie with Black Meg of Panmure. I do not think at the time the late Lord Panmure bred this bull BLACK MEG 766 AND PANMURE 51. 95 that he had over three or four polled cows in all; and certain I am of this-he had no Galloways. Therefore a double mistake occurs by Mr Eavenscroft placing either my Black Meg or his lordship's Black Meg amongst the Galloway cows in the ' Herd Book.' As for me, I never had a beast of the Galloway blood in my life ; and at an early period of the existence of the Eastern Forfarshire Association (about the end of the last or beginnincr of the present century), a trial to introduce the Galloway blood into this county not succeeding at all well, the late Lord Panmure, the then-and indeed he was the perpetual- i resident of this Society, had ever afterwards an utter dis- like to the Galloway breed, and, as is well known by many m this county to this day, would not have tolerated the existence of a beast of this breed in any moor, park or paddock on his wide domain. Therefore his Black Mecr was not a Galloway. But the bull Panmure is on canvas m the Mechanics' Hall, Brechin, painted by the great J. Piiillip ; also he is now before me and on canvas by the same great man, and presented to me by the late Lord lanmure; and let any judge look at these paintings, and say if he sees the very slightest resemblance to the Gallo- way breed. Not he ! No! Half a judge would even say so. His elegant head and stately outline would at a glance at once bring out such a remark as, 'There has been no Lralioway blood there — no, no ! ' "Further, as to Black Meg of Ardovie 766, where did she come from? I purchased this cow from an excellent nian now no more-Mr Thomas Fawns, cattle-dealer, Brechin. He brought her from the north, and I always understood that she was bred in Buchan, although I think Mr Fawns got the cow off the estate of Mr Arbuthnot in ' the Mearns. She cost scarce £15; yet in those days she was looked upon as bought at rather a foolish price. For ail tliat, I know not of any other three five-pound notes I ever laid out so profitably. 96 NOTES ON SOME EARLY POLLED CATTLE. I "The bull Panmure 51, again, and as to his dam. Neither was the price of this bull a bad investment. His price at eighteen months old was £17, 17s. While Black Meg of Ardovie was a great bearer of quey calves, this bull was a great getter of males. I saw him stand as winner of the third prize at Aberdeen with his two sons, Monarch 44, and the Colonel, both bred by me, standing beside their father — Monarch having the first and Colonel the second prize. Of course Panmure was by this time some eight or nine years old, and so wanted to some ex- tent the outline and sprightliness of a three or even a five year old. Still, and to make allowance for the service he had rendered, there would have been but small mistake, if any, to have made his sons stand below him. I do not think I have ever seen such a dashing three-year-old as he was at Dundee in 1843. " As to Black Meg of Panmure, dam of the bull Pan- mure, I think I only saw her once, and all I recollect of her is that she had a large streaked udder, and, if I am correct, was amazingly well ribbed ; also a very strong cow. Who the bull Panmure's father was I am not certain." These most valuable communications from Mr Fuller- ton still left one point uncertain — viz., the sire of Pan- mure 51. Mr Jamieson, in his indefatigable efforts to procure reliable information, accordingly prosecuted his inquiries further. He received from Dr Simpson of Mary- kirk, in Kincardineshire, the following interesting letter, which we have Mr Jamieson's permission to quote. The letter is dated September 30, 1873, and reads : — "As soon as I thought the harvest would be finished, I went over to have an interview with David Fullerton, who was grieve to the late Lord Panmure at Brechin Castle, when the famous polled bull Panmure was calved. David states that he was out of the cow Black Meg ; that his sire was a black bull very like the calf himself, from / THE SIRE OF PANMURE 51. 97 the farm of Feniyflatt, parish of Kinneff, at that time farmed by Eobert Hector. David mentions that during the seventeen years he was grieve at Brechin Castle, there were none of the Shorthorn cattle ever there. Their dairy cows were pure Ayrshires, and were always kept strictly separate trom the black polled cattle. He also tells me that Panmure was ultimately bought by Mr M'Combie of Tillyfour, and remembers well that, previous to that pur- chase, the Forfarshire breeders always beat the Aberdeen- shire ones, but after that, vice versa." We may explain that it was Mr Farquharson Taylor, Wellhouse, Alford, who bought Panmure 51, after he had gained the first prize at the Highland Society's show in 1843. Steps were taken in 1876 to rectify the errors in these pedigrees in the ' Herd Book.' Mr FuUerton wrote a letter, dated 20th October 1876, to the editor of the ' Herd Book,' making a short declaration similar in substance to that given in the foregoing ; and breeders possessing vol. i. of the * Herd Book ' were requested to delete the asterisk pre- fixed to the entry of Black Meg 766, as well as the words signifying that she was the dam of Panmure 51. As regards the bull Panmure, it was ascertained from Mr John Collier, Hatton, Arbroath, that he purchased his dam in the year 1839 for Lord Panmure. The purchase was made from Mr Silver of Netherley, and " it was understood that the cow was bred in Buchan." The sire of Panmure was certified by Mr Collier to have been a bull named Hector, bred by Mr Hector, Fernyflatt. This ball does not seem to be entered in the ' Herd Book.' It was decided to regard Black Meg 766 as the cow that belonged to Mr Fullerton, and that produced his Queen of Ardovie 29 ; and to hold that the dam of Panmure 51, Black Meg, belonging to Lord Panmure (of whom Mr Collier testified that she had not a drop of Galloway blood in her), had not been registered. 6 98 NOTES ON SOME EAELY POLLED CATTLE. These very unfortunate inaccuracies have thus been corrected since the appearance of vol. iv. of the * Herd Book/ but the facts are made still more clear by the pub- lication of Mr Fullerton's and Dr Simpson's interesting correspondence with Mr Jamieson. I i The Keillor Jocks. Mr Hugh Watson's herd at Keillor was one of those that, in the period that elapsed between the inception and the actual publication of the first volume of the * Herd Book,' had been scourged by pleuro-pneumonia, and had been finally dispersed. To the causes we have indicated as explanatory of the confusion that occurred in many of the entries in vol. i. has to be added, in the case of the Keillor herd, a defective system of nomenclature, most of Mr Watson's animals having been called by the same names. There was a series of Jocks, distinguished merely by the prefixes "Tarnty," "Black," "Old," " Grey - breasted," " Young," " Second," &c. Then the females went under the common names of " Grannies," " Favourites," or " Beau- ties." It sometimes happened, too, that these names were applied indiscriminately to different animals, and it would also seem that some at least of the Keillor entries were made from recollection without the aid of documents. Eeference to such easily accessible authorities as show and sale catalogues would have prevented several inaccuracies that have occurred. The chief errors in the Keillor pedigrees are those that have crept into the entries of the bulls Old Jock 1 and Grey-breasted Jock 2. The pedigree of Old Jock 1, as given in vol. i., is very meagre. It simply states that he was bred by Hugh Watson, Keillor, and was the sire of certain animals. A footnote mentions that he was " de- scended by sire and dam from the old stock of Keillor doddies, a herd which obtained celebrity so far back as THE KEILLOR JOCKS. 99 de- 1800. Old Jock gained the Highland Society's first prize in 1844, and was sold for one hundred guineas." We shall here only state that in 1844 the Highland Society gave no prizes for polled breeding stock. The pedigree of Grey-breasted Jock 2 is thus printed in vol. i.: "Calved, 1840. Bred by Hugh Watson, Keillor. Sire, Old Jock 1 ; dam, Favourite 2." The footnote adds, "Grey-breasted Jock obtained the Highland Society's first prize at Dundee in 1843, and at Inverness in 1846, and was afterwards sold to Mr Kirkaldy, near Ballinasloe, and exhibited by him at Londonderry in 1847, where he carried off the first prize of the Eoyal Dublin Society. In 1852, at thirteen years old, he gained the sweepstakes over all the bulls in the yard at the Highland Society's show at Perth." One inaccuracy in this entry is as to the dam of Grey- breasted Jock. The dam is said to have been Favourite 2. In the pedigree of Favourite 2 her sire is given as Grey- breasted Jock 2 — an evident impossibility. Then the footnote mentions that Grey-breasted Jock 2 gained the first prize at the Highland Society's show at Dundee in 1843. According to the date of birth given in the * Herd Book,' Grey - breasted Jock would in 1843 have been three years old, and if exhibited at Dundee must have competed in the aged class. It is well known that the first prize aged bull at Dundee in 1843 was Panmure 51. It is next stated that Grey -breasted Jock was sold to Mr Kirkaldy, near Ballinasloe, and gained for him the first prize of the Royal Dublin Society at the show at London- derry in 1847. The Ptoyal Agricultural Society of Ireland held a show at Londonderry in 1847, but the first-prize bull was not exhibited by Mr Kirkaldy, and was not Grey-breasted Jock. The first prize bull, shown by Mr Watson, was an animal (erroneously entered in the catal- ogue under the name of Strathmore) " calved in March 1842 ; bred by the exhibitor." It will strike most people as singular that if Grey -breasted Jock was sold to Mr Kirk- 100 NOTES ON SOME EARLY POLLED CATTLE. rii aldy in Ireland in 1847, he should have again turned up in Mr Watson's possession in 1852, and gained the sweep- stakes at the Perth show of the Highland Society that year. In the foregoing analysis of the recorded pedigrees and statements in the ' Herd Book ' as to Old Jock 1 and Grey-breasted Jock 2, we have hinted at several obvious contradictions. We have made minute inquiries into the facts, and have compared the entries in vol. i. with — (1) published letters from Mr William Watson, son of Mr Hugh Watson; (2) letters addressed to the authors, in response to applications for information, by Mr Thomas Ferguson, Kinnochtry, Coupar-Augus, a contemporary of IVlr Hugh Watson, and well acquainted with his stock ; (3) Mr Hugh Watson's sale catalogue at Auchtertyre in 1853 ; (4) catalogues of the early shows of the Eoyal Agricultural Society of Ireland; (5) extracts furnished to us by the recorder of the Highland Society, Mr Thomas Duncan, of the original entries of the Keillor bulls exhibited at the shows of the Highland Society ; and (6) the private cata- logue of the Tillyfour herd, dated 1850. We annex a summary of the information gleaned from the evidence of these authorities. It has been deemed advisable, so as to make the statement as clear as possible, to give all that we have been able to ascertain regarding the whole of the bulls known as Jocks that were at Keillor, and to arrange them in chronological order : — (1.) The first Jock used at Keillor was the bull Tarnty Jock, calved in 1806, and purchased by Mr Hugh Wat- son at the Trinity Muir market, Brechin, in 1808. He ii. not entered in the ' Herd Book.' (2.) The SECOND Jock was after Tariity Jock, and out of one of the cows which Hugh Watson received from his father, William Wat.so.. " i 1808. This bull is not entered in the ' Herd Book.' (3.) The third Jociv. iiamed Black Jock, was after Jock • GREY-BREASTED JOCK 2. 101 No. 2 ill this list, and out of a sister of his own. This appears to have been the bull that gained for Mr Watson the first prize at the Highland Society's show at Perth in 1829. He is not registered in tho ' Herd Book.' (4.) The fourth Jock was Grey-breasted Jock (No. 2 of ' Herd Book '). He was calved in 1839. His sire was Black Jock (No. 3 in this list), and his dam was a cow closely inbred to himself, and not entered in the * Herd Book.' Grey -breasted Jock, of whom Mr William Watson and Mi' Ferguson have a distinct recollection, gained the first piize at one of the shows of the Highland Society : it is uncertain which. In 1843 he was exhibited at the show of the Eoyal Agricultural Society of Ireland, at Bel- fast, in the catalogue of which he is entered as " Jock, four years and six months old." He there gained the first pre- mium of forty sovereigns and the medal. After the Bel- fast show he was sold to Mr G. D. H. Kirkaldy, Hearnes- brook, Eyrecourt, near Ballinasloe, and never returned to Scotland. He is described by Mr William Watson as hav- ing been " of immense length, short on his leg, elegant in his gait, and masculine-looking : he was grand and mas- sive all over, as Avell as a most kindly feeder." (5.) The fifth Jock was Old Jock (No. 1 of the 'Herd Book'). This bull was bred by Hugh Watson, in 1842. He was got by Grey-breasted Jock (No. 2 of the ' Herd Book '), and was out of Old Favourite, — the dam of Favour- ite 2, and also of Angus 45. Old Favourite was lot one of Mr Watson's sale in 1848, when she was bought by Mr Bowie, Mains of Kelly. In Mr M'Combie's private cata- logue, dated 1850, Angus 45 is stated to have had for dam " No. 1 at Mr Watson's sale." Old Jock gained the first prize as a yearling at the Highland Society's show at Dun- dee in 1843, and the first prize in the aged class at the Highland Society's show at Inverness in 1846. The only information given in the entry of the bull at the latter show was, that he was " aged four years and six months, ') ? 'i. ■4 102 NOTES ON SOME EARLY POLLED CATTLE. and was bred by the exhibitor." He was also the bull exhibited by Mr Watson at the show of the Royal Agri- cultural Society of Ireland at Londonderry in 1847, when he gained the first prize. The name under which he was entered at that show was Strathmore ; and the confusion of names is still further increased by it being said in the catalogue that he was after Old Jock— this designation having apparently been applied to the various Keillor bulls in the order of seniority. The age of Old Jock is placed beyond dispute by the entries in the show-catalogues. Thus he wins the first prize as a yearling at the High- land Society's show at Dundee in 1843 ; at the Hishland Society's show at Inverness in 1846 he is entered as "aged four years and six months ; " at the Royal Irish Society's show at Londonderry in 1847 he is described as having been " calved in March 1842,"— these three separate entries strictly corresponding on the point of age. Old Jock also gained the sweepstakes for bulls at the Per^^^h Highland show in 1852, when he was about eleven years old, although he is entered in the catalogue as four- teen years and four months old. A somewhat noteworthy reference to Old Jock was made in the report of the ' Perth- shire Advertiser' on the show at Perth in 1852. The re- port was evidently from the pen of a gentleman who had acted as a judge at the Londonderry show in 1847, and went on to say : " In the class of old bulls, Mr Watson showed his celebrated bull, Jock, for the sweepstakes ; he being disqualified for competing for the premium, having obtained the Society's first prize at Inverness in 1846. This bull is confessedly the best animal of the polled breed ever exhibited in a showyard. Four years ago, at the meeting of the Irish Agricultural Society at London- derry, we assisted in judging Jock with his competing brethren. He was not only the best bull in his own class, but he stood second for Mr Purcell's 100-guinea cup for the best animal in the showyard ; and it was our opin- OLD JOCK 1. 103 ion then, as it is now, that Jock should have stood first. Being sei/nd, however, in such circumstances, was high merit, there being thirty -two Shorthorn bulls, many of them first-class, independent of all the other breeding animals in the showyard." A striking confirmation of the accuracy of the remarks we have made about Old Jock is furnished by the catalogue of Mr Watson's sale at Auchter- tyre, in 1853. Nearly all the cows and heifers at that sale are stated to have been after Old Jock, — thus proving, apart from other evidence, that it was this bull that was used by Mr Watson from 1843 to 1852. Mr Dixon, in * Field and Fern,' says Old Jock was one of Mr Hugh Watson's favourite bulls. He was, observes Mr Dixon, " the most stylish of the lot, and showed, as his owner never scrupled to say, much of the Shorthorn superiority in hair and touch." Mr Ferguson says : " Old Jock was the best polled bull I ever saw ; and he never looked better than when he was taken in at 180 guineas at the Keillor sale in 1848, at which Mr Wetherell officiated as auctioneer, using the sand-glass." Mr William Watson says : " My father used to think Old Jock the best bull he ever bred ; and, as a sire, he has never been surpassed in the annals of polled stock. He was a grand grazier, iron in constitu- tion, and of superlative quality." (6.) The sixth Jock was Black Jock (No. 3 of the • Herd Book '). This bull, calved in ^848, was after Old Jock 1, and out of Old Grannie 1. He was purchased by Mr Ferguson, Kinnochtry, when three months old, for seventeen guineas, and was used in his herd. (7.) The seventh Jock was Young Jock (No. 4 of the ' Herd Book '), calved in May 1849 : he was also after Old Jock 1, and Mr Ferguson says he was out of Octavia 331. He gained the first prize at the Highland Society show at Perth in 1852, at which he was entered as " 3 years and 4 months old." Young Jock was acquired by Mr Ferguson, Kinnochtry, in whose herd he was afterwards used. 104 NOTES ON SOME EARLY POLLED CATTLE. I ! i: .'I It is, we think, clearly established by the foregoing, that in vol. i. of the 'Herd Book,' the identity of Grey- breasted Jock 2 and Old Jock 1 has been confounded. It appears evident that Grey-breasted Jock 2, who was the senior and not the junior, as would be gathered from the ' Herd Book ' entries, never returned to Scotland after his appearance at Belfast in 1843, and that he was succeeded as stock sire at Keillor by his son Old Jock 1, whose fame excelled that of Grey-breasted Jock, and who continued in service in Mr Watson's herd until x853 or 1854. It fol- lows from this, that most of the animals credited in the ' Herd Book' to Grey-breasted Jock 2 were really got by Old Jock 1. We will only mention a few of the more cele- brated—viz., Black Jock 3, Young Jock 4, Stratlimore 5, Angus 45, &c. The most important link in this chain of evidence is perhaps the fact that Grey-breasted Jock was sold to Mr Kirkaldy of Hearnesbrook in 1843, and remained in Ireland. It should also be added that Mr William Watson and Mr Ferguson agree in stating that Old Jock 1 was the bull exhibited at Dundee in 1843, Inverness in 1846, and Perth in 1852. The Keillor Favourites and Leauties. From our remarks as to the Keillor Jocks, it will be seen that there were two cows belonging to Mr Watson named Favourite. Old Favourite (the dam of Old Jock 1, of Angus 45, and of Favourite 2) was not entered in the * Herd Book.' She was a famous show cow, and was sold at Mr Watson's sale in 1848 to Mr Bowie, Mains of Kelly, for 40 guineas. Mr Ferguson, Kinnochtry, bought her daughter. Favourite 2. There has been a great deal of confusion regarding the cows at Keillor called Beauty. Three, at least, of the Keillor cows were named Beauty. One of these, Beauty of Buchan 5, passed into the possession of Mr Ferguson, KEILLOR FAVOURITES AND BEAUTIES. 105 Kinnochtry. Another was Beauty (not registered), best known as the dam of Emily 332, from whom springs the famous Ballindalloch Ericas. In the volumes of the ' Herd Book ' published prior to 1879, Emily was said to have been out of Beauty 96, bred by Sir James Carnegie. In the notes supplied to us by the Honourable Charles Carnegie on the Kinnaird herd, this inaccuracy is fully dealt with, Emily 332 was bought by the Earl of Southesk for £37 at Mr Watson's sale in September 1853. She was lot 20 of the sale, and her pedigree was printed in the catalogue as follows — "Angus, heifer: by Old Jock, dam Beauty — the dam of Sir T. Burnett's famous bull." We are in- formed by Mr Ferguson, Kinnochtry, that this Beauty, bred at Keillor, the dam of Emily 332, became the property of Sir Alex. Burnett, and that Mr Hugh Watson bought her and her yearling bull, The Baronet 339, back from Crathes in 1856. Another Beauty bred at Keillor was Beauty of Tillyfour 2nd 1180, after Young Jock 4, and out of Favourite 2. She was a very good cow, with a large lump on one of her fore legs, and was bought by Mr M'Combie of Tillyfour at the Keillor sale in 1860 for £64. At Tillyfour she produced Ruth 1169 and Jilt 973. At the Keillor sale in 1860, Mr M'Combie also bought the daughter of Beauty of Tillyfour 2ud, named Miss Wat- son 987, for £34 or £37. Miss Watson, who was sold at the Tillyfour sale in 1867 to Mr M'Combie of Easter Skene, is erroneously entered in vol. ii. of the 'Herd Book' as out of Beauty of Buchan 5. The error is re- peated in the pedigree of Miss M'Combie of Fyvie 1519, a daughter of Miss Watson, and purchased by the late Colonel Gordon at the Tillyfour sale in 1867 for 61 guineas. It also occurs in the pedigrees of the bulls Derby 377, Disraeli 401, Eeforni 408, and Taurus 410— all of whom were descended from Beauty of Tillyfour 2nd 1180, and through her from the Keillor Favourites, and not from Beauty of Buchan 5, whose dam was Old Grannie 1. 106 NOTES ON SOME EAKLY POLLED CATTLE. Monarch 44 and the Tilly four Victors. The pedigrees of the bull Monarch 44 and the three Victors— Victor 46, Victor 2nd 47, and Victor 3rd 193— who figure prominently in the records of the early Tilly, four cattle, have been imperfectly registered in vol i of the 'Herd Book.' We are enabled to supplement the information given in the ' Herd Book ' from the private catalogue of the Tillyfour herd, dated 1st January 1850, for the use of which we are indebted to Mr E. C. Auld,' Mr M'Combie's nephew. Monarch 44, calved 1843, and bred by Mr Fullerton, Ardovie, was after Panmure 51, arid out of Julia 671. These facts are stated in the ' Herd Book.' Of Julia 671, however, no particulars are given in the ' Herd Book ' entry, except that she was bred by Mr Fullerton. She was got by Panmure 51, and was out of Susanna, whose dam was Black Meg 766, and sire Cap- tain 97. Mr Fullerton remarked that Susanna did Black Meg no discredit. The three Victors were full brothers all bred by Mr M'Combie, after Monarch 44, and out of Jean Ann 206. "x^ictor 46 was calved in 1846, Victor 2nd 47 in 1848, and Victor 3rd 193 in 1850. We are aware of other incorrect entries in vol. i • but as they are not of so vital a character as the foregoinir' we shall endeavour to rectify them as we refer to tlfe various herds in whi.oh the animals were produced or principally used. 'II i 107 CHAPTER VII. EXTINCT HERDS. (1) The Keillor herd : Old Grannie 1-Her remarkable career, and list of her calves-The Kimioehtry Princesses, Baronesses, and Emilys-Mr Watsons cows Old Favourite and Favourite 2-The Kinnochtry Favountes-Beauty of Tillyfour 2nd 1180-the Wellhouse Euths and Ballmdalloch Jxlts-Mr Watson's Beauty and the Ballindalloch Ericas- Lord Southesk's Dora 333-Mr Harry Shaw's Jane of Bogfern 540-The Portlethen Pansys-List of families descended from Keillor cows-Fam- ous bulls bred at Keillor._(2) The Ardovie and Ardestie herds : Black Meg , 66-Panmure 51-The Tillyfour Queui tribe-Families tracing to Ardovie stock-Earl o' Buchan 67-Mr FuUerton's losses by pleuro- l>neumonia.-(3) The Tillyfour herd : Cows owned by Mr M'Combie in 1850-Queen Mother 348, and her illustrious offspring-Mr M 'Combie's system of breeding-Table showing descendants of Queen Mother 848 -Ihe Pride of Aberdeen family-Remarks on famous animals at Tilly, four -Mr M'Combie's unparalleled success in the show-yard- His public sales. '' The history of the origin, building up, and composition of extinct herds has an important bearing not only upon the leading existing herds, but likewise upon the position which the breed generally has come to occupy We shall therefore present some details relating to those herds that, although now dispersed, have m the greatest measure con- tributed to the improvement of the breed. Keillor. As already noticed, Mr Hugh Watson, Keillor, Forfar- shire, was the first to establish a regular herd of polled 108 EXTINCT HERDS. II: I: M '"Cum tf " r'' ^« p™«'»% kept. i?trw.:fi ' Herd Book ■'^T .""* ""'^ ''''gistered in the year and tvifr ®''" ? '"'"''""e '" »""■ 'wenty-ninth awa.d«, t,e So.e,^ Z.S ^ :iz^z;:z:z had n» ?"?''^ ^''" "*"'«™='° (J^'"'^^ Thomson) who had attended her all her lifetime, and had been in^, ! "otection d r^ ^"'"""'? "' "° ^™"<=^ ''y the "Society de P^. .^? ,"'""'"'' •^"'*''='' ^' Compassion Hygitee "« th Tf ''"', ^'"^'"'y- ^'^- ^""■-- A photo! »>-aph of the old cow, taken two days before she died was P LcedTnT' 1,'''^ ''"^^' "'S""^^^ "- I"""- C n o' ; fn October %"-'"n? ?' '""''' Photographs at Balmora pearst vn, 1'.^ ^'"' ^^'"''Sr^P^ an engraving ap- a.? ex raid T, /,f"'' ''°°'''' *™'" -hich^these facL Old r™' r "°""°S »'■<' «>« names of the calves Boo^-. 7 T,""i; ?' P"^'"'^^^ "« '«^<»'d^d i" the 'Herd 115 si e bII r'^tT?. '' ^^'^'^'* ^^°1 = 0'°'«'J. bred in 186. J.lt 973, and m 1865 Euth of Tillyfour 1169 both after Black Prince of Tillyfour 366. We need say noth ng here about the descendants of these animals, further than to remark that with the Kinnochtry Favour tes the Ball rndalloch Jilts the Wellhouse Eu[hs, and t^^ Aboy "e Madges, Mr Watson's grand strain of Favourite blood "s in no danger of extinction. The Favourite tribe is furth r presented by the offspring of Miss Watson 987 pur chased at Kedlor in 1860 by Mr M-Combie of Tillyfour bv th! Bnl , ,r? '-^ ^^° maintained in the female line by the Ba hndalloch Eneas. Emily 332, bred at Keillor and ou of one of Mr Watson's cows called Beauty was 18o3 for 39 guineas, Octavia and Emily having been the Erica l43?r"'r™^'^ "' "" '''''■ E"'"/3 daughter dalloch MP f ^^fP''^--^"" G'-ant, Bart, of Ballin- Erlla trite ■ "* ^'' ^' ^°"'*'' h'' "^"-known A very superior cow called Dora 333, bred by Mr Wat- son, was bought by the Earl of Southesk. She founded a valuable nbe, now extinct in the female line, but st 11 potent m the male line, through the bulls D uid 225 Damascus 495 Don Fernando 514, Delaware 457, and OKene, and Ardhuncart respectively Mr^w?"'^ ®i:™' ^°Sf«™' "btained two heifers from Mr Watson. From one of them, Jane of Bogfern 540^ most'To; r''? '""l '■ *''^" "^ ^™- descendant the mulL 1701."' ^^' ''"^ ^"'^ ^''''' «"« ™^ Corrie- Po!iiT '"'^"''' i^"'"""' '=°"' "^^d I'anmure 278, the Portlethen Pansy family springs. y *>*— KEILLOR FAMILIES. Ill The following shows at a glance the leading Keillor strains of which female representatives exist, as well as those that are extinct in the female line: — KEILLOR FAMILIES. Old Grannie 1, bred by Hugh Watson. Beauty of Buchan 5 Lady Clara 4 Young Favourite 61. Edinbureh 64 (extinct). (Easter Skene). | j Prizie 586 Emily of Kinnoch- . (Kinnochtry Princesses try 588 '• and Baronesses). (Kinnochtry Emilys). ' Old Favourite, bred by Hugh Watson. Favourite 2. Octavia 331 (extinct). Kinnochtry Jessie 590 (Kinnochtry I Favourites). Beauty of Tillyfour 2nd 1180. /r,'If^*F,? , Ruth of Tillyfour 1169 Miss Watson 987 (Balhndalloch (Wellhouse and (Easter Skene, Jilts). Strocherie Ruths and &c. > J- Aboyne Madges). Beauty, bred by Hugh Watson. Emily 332 1. (Balliudalloch Ericas). DOEA 333, bred by Hugh Watson (extinct). Jane of Bogfern 540, bred by Hugh Watson (Collithie, Gavenwood, Burnshangie, &c.) Panmure 278, bred by Hugh Watson ^ (Portlethen Pansys). I! I : I i i 112 EXTINCT HERDS. There is scarcely a herd of polled cattle in which the blood of the Keillor bulls is not present. For informa- tion regarding the Keillor Jocks we would refer our readers to the chapter immediately preceding. Another celebrated bull b»ed by Mr Watson was Angus 45, after Old Jock 1, and out of Old Favourite. He was the first prize two- year-old at the Highland Society's show in 1848, and the judges on that occasion reported of him "that he may with justice be classed as the most perfect animal of the breed ever exhibited." Angus was bought in 1846 by Mr M'Combie of Tillyfour for 36 guineas, and his subsequent career is noticed in connection with that herd. Another and scarcely less impressive bull bred at Keillor was Pat 29, after Old Jock 1, and out of Favourite 2. He was the sire of Cup-Bearer 59 and Hanton 228, whose names are found in numerous pedigrees. Marquis 212, also a son of Old Jock 1, proved a most useful sire in the Port- lethen herd ; as did also Fyvie 13, who, although not bred by Mr Watson, was after Old Jock 1, and out of a cow bred at Keillor. The bull Craigo 260, whose name figures prominently in connection with the Ballindalloch, Mont- bletton, and Mains of Advie herds, was out of a cow bred by Mr Watson. Several of the early Kinnochtry sires, in addition to the Jocks, were bred at Keillor, notably Hugh 130, the last calf of Old Grannie 1. We may also mention, among the sires bred at Keillor, Strathmore 5 (used in the Crathes herd), Adam 39 (the sire of President 205), Protec- tion 49, Maynooth 58 (whose name appears in Balwyllo pedigrees), Old Windsor 115, Emperor 128, First Memus 582, The Baron 134, Wattie 135, Deeside 168, &c. Mr Watson sold large drafts in 1848 and 1853 ; and in 1860, after a most successful and distinguished career, the Keillor herd was dispersed. Times were bad then, and the herd was not in good order, having shortly before passed through a heavy ordeal of pleuro-pneumonia. The prices were accordingly comparatively low. It has. how- THE ARDOVIE AND ARDESTIE HERDS. 113 'Inch the inform a- ir readers elebrated I Jock 1, I'ize two- 848, and ■that he b animal in 1846 and liis lat herd. Keillor i 2. Pie le names , also a le Port- lot bred f a cow 3 figures , Mont- 3\v bred sires, in y Hugh lention, 1 in the Protec- alw}41o Memus and in ier, the in, and before , The 3. how- ever, been sufficiently well established that the Keillor doddies, the dispersion of which occurred under these adverse circumstances, exerted a most powerful influence on the improvement of other herds ; and happily there is no likelihood of those interested in polled cattle overlook- ing or underestimating the services of Mr Watson, con- tinued without intermission for more than half a century, in developing the merits and spreading the reputation of the breed. Ardovic and Ardestie. Mr William Fullerton, who farmed at Ardovie, and latterly at Ardestie, commenced to breed polled cattle in 1833,^ his first important purchase being the cow Black Meg 766. The famous bull Panraure 51 was added to the herd in 1841. For particulars respecting the breeding and appearance of Black Meg 766 and Panmure 51, whose descendauts are now held in high favour, we would refer our readers to the exhaustive statements respecting them contained in the preceding chapter. In a letter written in 1876 to Mr Bowie, Mains of Kelly, with a perusal of which that gentleman has favoured us, Mr Fullerton remarks: "When I purchased the bull Panmure 51, late in September or early in October 1841, he was a year and six months old, so he was three years old off in 1843 when he gained the first prize in the class of aged bulls at the Highland Society's show at Dundee. He cost me £17, 17s., a price which a calf would not likely have brought." ' Pan- mure became one of the most impressive bulls in the his- tory of the breed. In vol. i. of the 'Herd Book' there are eleven of his calves registered, but that is only a small number of his produce. The calves got by Panmure, whose pedigrees are printed in vol. i., are : bulls— Pichmond 6, calved in 1844, and who passed into the possession of Mr Ruxton, Farnell ; Earl Spencer 24, calved in 1844, and well known in connection with the Mains of Kelly herd ; H 114 EXTINCT HERDS. and Monarch 44, calved in 1843, bought by Mr Euxton, and sold by him to Mr Arklay, Bowhill, Brechin, from whom he was acquired by Mr M'Combie of Tillyfour : cows- Princess 47, calved in 1843, the dam of the celebrated Balwyllo sire President 205 ; Lady Panmure 59, who be- longed to Mr Ferguson when in Ashmore ; Eliza 65, who also belonged to Mr Ferguson ; Jean Ann 206, calved in 1844, from whom Mr M'Combie's Victors were bred; Miss Taylor 230, calved in 1853; Queen Mother 348, calved in 1843 (out of Queen of Ardovie 29), the found- ress of the renowned Queen tribe; Queen of Scots 72, and Eppy 73, bred by Mr M'Combie of Easter Skene ; Queen of Kinnochtry 572, belonging to Mr Ferguson; and Princess Daughter 832, who was bred by Mr Hugh Watson. As we have said, there is not the slightest doubt that Pan- mure left many more calves than those that have found a place in the ' Herd Book.' In 1843 he was sold to Mr Farquharson Taylor, Wellhouse, Alford, and was used ex- tensively, and with splendid results, in his herd, and also in the herds of many others in the Vale of Alford. Of his numerous progeny in Aberdeenshire, however, there is little record further than that contained in the pedigrees of the animals purchased at Mr Fullerton's sale. This sale was held in 1844, and the event may be truly described as a starting-point in the annals of the breed. We treat at length, elsewhere, of the principal descendants of Mr Ful- lerton's Queen Mother 348. Mr M'Combie has placed it on record that — " It is to Mr Fullerton I owe my success as a breeder. I shall always look up to him as the founder of my stock. From the cow Queen [Queen Mother], bought by me from Mr Fullerton, has sprung a race of females that have driven competition before them in Scotland, England, and France. Although it is chiefly in the descendants of Black Meg 766, the dam of Queen of Ardovie 29, who produced Queen Mother 348, that Mr Fullerton's fame as a breeder is pre- EARL 0* BUCHAN 57. 115 served, these were by no means the only animals of celebrity bred by him. Susan of Balwyllo 422, and Isa- bella of Balwyllo 423, who established tribes at Balwyllo, were bred by Mr Fullerton, as were also Lively 256, the foundress of the Portlethen family of that name ; Flora 70, the foundress of a family of Floras at The Thorn ; Guinea Pig 120, who went to Mains of Kelly, and from whom jVfr Bowie's Gainsborough bulls are descended; Ardestie 1183, the progenitrix of the Mains of Kelly Ardesties ; and others of lesser note. Isabella of Balwyllo 423, Susan of Balwyllo 422, and Lively 256, bred by :Mr Fullerton, were after the bull Earl o' Buchan 57, first prize winner in the aged class at the Highland Society's show at Glasgow in 1850. We are able, by reference to the letter from Mr Fullerton to Mr Bowie, already alluded to, to furnish a few interesting- particulars regarding Earl o' Buchan 57. Mr Fullerton says : " I bought a bull from the late Mr Cooper, Hillbrae, Buchan, and I fearlessly called this bull Earl o' Buchan.' I found out the bull in this way. His mother was a great big cow, with splendid back and hooks, and plenty of hair; she had a 'snod' rather short head, and had a tap hanging down over her forehead. If you could have found a fault° she was thin on her thighs, but on the whole a wonderful cow, and of great substance. I saw the cow and her calf in the showyard at the Highland Society's meeting at Aber- deen in 1846. The cow, I think, calved in the yard, and it was fancying the calf that made me buy the cow. It was lying covered up with grass at its mother's head, and I only saw its head at first sight. Its face was all glazed like, as you have seen a calf's face when the mother is like to drown it with milk. I made the man take the grass off the calf and set it on its feet. It pleased me much. Mr Cooper would not sell, he said ; but by the help of Mr Paterson, Mulben, Mr M'Combie, and others, I at length bought cow and calf. I won at Glasgow with the bull. 116 EXTINCT HERDS. < I It is a mistake to say the mark of the blistering was then on his side. He did not take pleuro when my beasts died. I suppose I saved him by keeping him in an end of tlie straw-barn." The last observation as to Earl o' Buchan recalls the disastrous fate of Mr Fullerton's fine herd, which is one of the most melancholy incidents in the records of the breed. Here is Mr Fullerton's own pathetic statement : "My herd was swept . ff by pleuro in 1859, when in five months I buried 100 head of, I believe, the best herd of polled cattle in Scotland at the time. I reckoned my loss was not under £2000 ; but had this [1876] been the date of my loss, the figure would have to be raised a little. How my beasts caught the disease, I could never say. I had more polled cattle than my farm would keep, and I had animals on several other farms, both on grass and turnips, which had, I suppose, brought home the fell disease. I had again got a considerable length to recoup my old position, but three times my herd — of nearly thirty at one time, and twenty head or thereby at other two times — was carried away." But for the sales made by Mr Fuller- ton in 1843 and 1844, it is possible that his choice cattle would now be without representatives. Thanks, however, chiefly to Mr M'Combie of Tillyfour, no families of polled stock are more numerous or more valued than the de- scendants of those cultivated forty years ago by Mr Fuller- ton at Ardovie and Ardestie. f Tillyfour. In other portions of the work, we refer to the position and proceedings of Mr M'Combie of Tillyfour, as a breeder of polled cattle. Here we shall endeavour to furnish a sketch of the material of which his herd was composed, his system of breeding, and notes on some of the more remarkable animals reared at Tillyfour. The Tillyfour THE TILLYFOUR HERD. 117 I lierd dates from 1830, Ut M'Combie having about that time succeeded his father in the farm. We do not think it is possible to convey a more accurate description of the stock with which Mr M'Combie first acquired his fame as a breeder, than by quoting from the j nyate catalogue of his herd, dated 1st January 1850. In a short prefatory note to the catalogue, Mr M'Combie says most truly, that " he had directed his earnest attention to the improvement of the Aberdeen or Angus polled breed, with respect to size, symmetry, fineness of bone, strength of constitution, and disposition to accumulate fat, sparing no expense in ob- taining the finest animals from the purest stocks." The following is a list of the cows that were in the Tilly four herd in 1850 : 1, Young Charlotte 103, bred by Colonel Dalgairns of Balgavies, sire Black Hugh 316, dam Char- lotte ; 2, Lady Ann of Balgavies 102, bred by Colonel Dalgairns of Balgavies, sire Black Hugh 316, dam Lady Ann; 3, Jean Ann 206, bred by Air Fullerton, Mains of Ardovie, sire Panmure 51, dam Queen of Ardovie 29 ; 4, Princess, bred by Mr Fullerton, sire Panmure 51, dam a pure Angus cow ; 5, Lady Scott, bred by Mr Scott, Balwyllo, sire Albert, dam belonging to Mr Scott; 6, Cleopatra, bred by Mr Scott, Balwyllo, sire Albert, dam' belonging to Mr Scott ; 7, Balwyllo, bred by Mr Scott, Bal- wyllo, got by the first prize two-year-old bull at the East- ern Forfarshire Society's show in 1843, dam May Eose ; 8, Queen Mother 348, bred by Mr Fullerton, Ardovie,' sire Panmure 51, dam Queen of Ardovie 29 ; 9, Victoria^ bred by Mr Watson, Keillor, sire Second Jock (Old Jock 1), dam belonging to Mr Watson ; 10, Clara, bred by Mr AVatson, Keillor, sire Second Jock (Old Jock 1), dam belon^T. ing to Mr Watson ; 11, Violet, bred by Mr Watson, Keillor, sire First Jock (Grey-breasted Jock 2), dam a pure Angus cow; 12, Matchless, bred to the owner, sire Panmure 51 dam Matilda; 13, Duchess, bred by Colonel Fraser of castle Fraser; 14, Matilda, bred by the late Mr William- tftf- ^ABMWft 118 EXTINCT HERDS. 4 1^ i li son, St John's Wells ; 15, Diana, bred by the owner, sire Monarch 44, dam Georgina; 16, Maiy, bred by Mr Wilson, Netherton of Clatt ; 17, Jenny Lind 27, bred by Mr Pirie, Colithie ; 18, Georgina, bred by the owner; 19, Amelia, breeder unknown; 20, Susan, bred by Mr David Watt, Kintocher, sire Rory ; 21, Lola Montes 208, sire Monarch 44, dam Queen Mother 348 ; 22, Young Jean Ann 144, sire Monarch 44, dam Jean Ann 206 ; 23, May Rose, bred by the owner, sire first prize bull at Eastern Forfarshire Agricultural Association's show, dam Balwyllo ; 24, Fair Maid, bred by the owner, sire Monarch 44, dam Lady Scott ; 25, Sophia, bred by the owner, sire Monarcli 44, dam Georgina; 26, Young Mary, sire Mon- arch 44, dam Mary ; 27, Annabella, bred by the late Mr Walker, Wester Fintray. The bulls in the Tillyfour herd in 1850 were Victor 46, bred by Mr M'Combie, sire :M on- arch 44, dam Jean Ann 206; Angus 45, bred by Mr Watson, Keillor, sire Second Jock (Old Juck 1), dam No. 1 at Mr Watson's sale (Old Favourite) ; and Victor 2nd 47, bred by Mr jM'Combie, sire Monarch 44, dam Jean Ann 206. The bulls referred to, as most intimately con- nected with the herd at the time, were I'anmure 51, and his son Monarch 44. In order to provide sufficient in- formation to enable the reader to identify the cows and bulls in the Tillyfour herd in 1850, we have filled in the ' Herd Book ' numbers where possible. We have also in most cases omitted Mr M'Combie's description of the variety to which the animals belonged. His practice ap- parently was to refer to animals bred in Forfarshire as " Angus ; " to those bred in Aberdeenshire, and uncon- nected with the Forfarshire stock, as " Aberdeen ; " and to those bred by himself in which the "Angus" and "Aber- deen " blood was mingled, as " Aberdeen and Angus." The strain with which Mr M'Combie's name is most closely identified is that of the Ardovie Queens, and to the members of this tribe we shall now Darticularlv i m THE QUEEN IKIBE. 119 allude. The notes in a former chapter on famous polled cattle, and our remarks on the herd of Mr Fullerton, Ar- dovie, convey details, so far as known, as to the breeding and characters of Black Meg 766, and her daughter, Queen of Ardovie 29, whose sire was Captain 97, bred by Mr Sim, Panlathie. Mr M'Combie was present at the Ar- dovie sale in 1844, and purchased a yearling heifer out of Queen of Ardovie 29, that he afterwards called Queen Mother 348, the name having been suggested by the con- troversy then raging in reference to the Spanish marriages. Queen Mother was after the celebrated bull, Panmure 51, and the price paid for her was only £12, 10s. The cow proved somewhat obstinate as a breeder. Mr Dixon, in 'Field and Fern,' says: "As she turned from her few first services, she was put for a penalty to draw wood, and did all the ridging-up of thirty acres of turnips as well." It was not till 1847 that she had her first calf Queen Mother gained numerous prizes at the national and local shows, being, when thirteen years old, the second prize cow in a very strong class at the Highland Society's meet- ing at Inverness in 1856. She was then sold to Mr Bowie, Mains of Kelly, and died on 20th August 1858, apparently from old age. The ' Herd Book ' records four calves out of Queen Mother— Lola Montes 208, Bloomer 201, Windsor 202, and Victoria of Kelly 345. The first three were bred by Mr M'Combie, and the last was bred by Mr Bowie after he obtained the cow in 1856. In Mr M'Combie's book, ' Cattle and Cattle-Breeders,' he enunciates opinions as to breeding which it will be useful to quote here. " In-and- in breeding," he says, " may be pursued for a time, until the type is developed ; but to continue for any length of time to breed in-and-in is not only against my experience, but, I believe, against nature." In the breeding of these three daughters of Queen Mother, the principle on which Mr M'Combie proceeded is illustrated. He desired to 11 ■ff r 120 EXTINCT HEEDS. " develop the type," and for that purpose resorted to the mating of animals very closely related. He put Queen Mother to Monarch 44, bred by Mr Fullerton, and ac- quired by Mr M'Combie shortly after tlie Ardovie sale in 1844. Queen Mother, as we have already mentioned, was after Panmure 51, and Monarch was not only a sou of Panmure, but also out of Julia 671, a daughter of Pan- mure. Moreover, Julia was out of Susanna, a daughter of Captain 97 and Black Meg 766. From this mating of Queen Mother and Monarch came, in 1847, the heifer calf Lola Montes 208, while another mating of Queen Mother and :Monarch resulted, in 1849, in the production of Bloomer 201. Mr M'Combie then slightly varied his system, only, however, in the direction of still greater concentration of blood. Queen Mother was, in 1849, put to Victor 46. Victor was a son of Monarch 44,' and out of Jean Ann 206, a full sister of Queen Mother 348. Thus Queen Mother, Monarch, and Jean Ann were all by Panmuie. Those acquainted with such matters will recognise that, by these alliances, the blood of Pan- mure was nearly as much concentrated in the Tilly- four herd as was that of Favourite 252 in the early Shorthorn pedigrees of Charles and Eobert Colling. There was certainly no degeneracy in the produce of this very close cross between Victor and Queen Mother, for the cow Windsor 202, who resulted from it, was one of the most handsome as well as one of the best breeding animals at Tillyfour. Notwithstanding her excellence*, however, Mr M'Combie evidently thought he had gone far enough in the direction of in-breeding. In ftict, it would appear as if he had considered that he had gone too far, because, instead of, as might have been expected, following up the use of Monarch and Victor on the closely bred Panmure cows with a slightly diluted out-cross, he next introduced into his herd a bull that, so far as the * Herd Book ' shows, had no connection with THE QUEEIi TRIBE. 121 his own stock. This was the celebrated Angus 45, bred by Mr Watson, Keillor, after Old Jock 1, and out of Old Favourite. In taking this step, Mr M'Combie proved, what was frequently manifested in his career as a breeder, that he was not influenced by jealousy of any rival. When he discovered a really good and pure-bred animal, he did not care, provided it suited his purpose, in whose herd it had been produced, but bought it if he happened to be in want of it. Mr M'Combie had already " devel- oped the type" of his Queen tribe, and had proved its excellence by its capacity to produce within itself such stock as Lola Montes, Bloomer, and Windsor. He could therefore afford to disregard any suggestions that he was in danger of compromising his reputation as a breeder by going to Keillor for a stock sire. Angus joined the Tillyfour herd in 1848, having been bought at Mr Wat- son's sale that year for the comparatively small sum of £36.^ In our notice of the Keillor herd we quote the opinion of the judges at the Highland Society's show at Edinburgh in 1848 as to the merits of Angus, who there won the first prize, Mr M'Combie's Victor being second. Angus was used for a considerable time at Tillyfour, but it is a singular fact that only three calves after him, and out of cows descended from Queen Mother, are entered in the 'Herd Book.' These were— Charlotte 203, out of Lola Montes ; The Belle 205, out of Bloomer ; and Beauty of Morlich 2072, out of Windsor 202. It is from Lola Montes's calf Charlotte that the most valued branch of the Queen tribe has sprung. Charlotte, who was considered one of the best cows bred at Tillyfour, had a most distin- guished show-ya-d career, on which we will only remark here that her winnings included first prizes at the High- land Society's show, and at the Paris Exhibition in 1856. Angus was succeeded at Tillyfour in 1854 by Hanton 228, purchased from his breeder, Mr Bowie, Mains of Kelly, for £105, after he had gained the first prize of f 122 EXTINCT HERDS. I i the Highland Society at Berwick. Hanton was got by Pat 29, bred by Mr Watson, Keillor (a son of Old Jock 1 and Favourite 2), and out of Lizzie 227, whose sire, Spencer's Son 154, was a grandson of Panmure 51. Mr M'Combie in using liim, therefore, was able, at the same time that he continued the blood of Angus 45, to infuse more of the Panmure blood among his stock. Hanton got a great many excellent calves, and he was used v-ith especial success on the Angus 45 cows, the most :,-•' rthy pro- duce being Charlotte's three daughters — i'.. invincible Pride of Aberdeen 581, Empress of France 578, and Daisy of Tilly four 1165. It is very instructive and interesting to observe Mr M'Combie's next step in breeding. Hanton gave a diluted reinfusion of Panmure blood, and so satisfied does Mr M'Combie seem to have been with the result, that lie altered in practice the principle he had laid down — that in-and-in breeding should be abandoned after the type is developed. We have stated that the cow Windsor 202 was the closest of the in-bre.^ daughters of Queen :Mother. Mr M'Combie bred from her in 1856 the splendid bull Windsor 221, after Hanton 228. He was not then in need of a stock sire, Hanton being still in use, so Windsor 221 was sold to Mr Brown, Westertown. In 1858 the cow Windsor 202 calved, to Hanton, Piob Eoy Macgregor 267, and this full brother of Windsor 221 was the animal Mr M'Combie selected to succeed Hanton. It will have been gathered from our remarks that Ptob Pioy Macgregor had not the violent Angus 45 cross. He was used in the herd with much success, and was followed by his son Black Prince of Tillyfour 366, who was out of Maid of Orleans 580 (a daughter of Bloomer 201 and Hanton), and also without the Angus 45 cross. We believe Black Prince oi' Tillyfour to liave been one of the most impressive bulls bred by Mr M'Combie. By the successive use of Hanton, his son, Kob Eoy Macgregor and Ptoy Eoy Macgregor's son, Black \ m 111 i THE QUEEN TRIBE. 123 r m \ m Prince of Tillyfour, Mr M'Combie had again gone as far m the direction of line breeding as his opinions on the subject would permit him; and he then thought it advis- able to have some more fresh blood. Mr M'Combie's next clioice of a sire was in every respect most judicious. He attended the Kinnaird sale m 1861, and purchased the bull calf Don Fernando 514 bred by the Earl of Soutliesk. Don Fernando was a son of Windsor 221, of Mr M'Combie's own breeding, and his dam, Dulcinea 334, was out of the Keillor cow°I)ora 333, her sire Cup-Bearer 50, going back to the Keillor and Ardovie blood, so skilfully blended at Mains of Kelly As a successor to Don Fernando, Mr M'Combie boucrht President 4th 368, bred by Mr Leslie, The Thorn. His show-yard achievements alone— he having been first prize yearling and two-year-old at Highland Society's shows- would have entitled him to a place at Tillyfour, but in ad- dition to that, his breeding was very fine. An analysis of his pedigree discloses a strong infusion of Panmure and Ardovie blood, mixed with Keillor strains. Bright 454 after Black Prince of Tillyfour 366, and out of Mi^Collie's Normahal, was next used. In Mr M'Combie's subsequent selection of sires there was not perhaps quite so much method displayed, although most of the bulls were more or less intimately connected with the Panmure and Queen sorts. It should be borne in mind that it was in 1868 that Mr M'Combie was chosen to represent his native county in Parliament, and during the time he occupied a seat in the Legislature of the country— from 1868 to 1876, when he retired— he was necessarily unable to exercise so much personal supervision as formerly over the management of his herd. It will be convenient and useful to introduce here a table showing the principal descendants of Queen Mother 348, discontinuing the list with the names of animals that have formed families, and noting the lines that are without living female representatives :— til (I 124 EXTINCT HERDS. ^ I . ;p M - t. a >; ^ a -! P ."W-S-g to R c = £ ^a^ c^ o / CHARLOTTE 203 AND PRIDE OF ABERDEEN 581. 125 '11 Of the descendants of Queen Mother, Charlotte 203, and her daughter Pride of Aberdeen 581, were the most illustrious. After tlie i^recediiig remarks we need say nothing here regarding the celebrity of the animals em- braced in their pedigrees. Nor is it necessary at present to enlarge on their individual merit. Sufficient proof of their excellence is found in the fact, that these two cows were considered about the best of any breed exhibited at two great international shows— Charlotte at Paris in 1857, and Pride . of Aberdeen at Battersea in 1862. Mr M'Combie paid special attention to the development of the branch of the Queen tribe founded by Pride of Aberdeen. She bred exceedingly well, and the family of polled cattle in which occur the names of Mr M'Com- bie's favourite cows, Pride of Aberdeen, Charlotte, and Queen Mother, is held in very high esteem by breeders. It ought to be noticed that at Mr Fullerton's sale in 1844, Mr M'Combie purchased Jean Ann 206, a full sister of Queen Mother. From her he bred his three Victor bulls, as also Young Jean Ann 144, who was the dam of the Highland Society's first prize cow Fair Maid of Perth 313, by Angus 45. The strain is now extinct in the female line. Hitherto we have confined our remarks on the Tilly four herd to the members of the Queen tribe bred there. Although that was the family to the rearing of which Mr M'Combie devoted his chief attention, he also owned and bred several famous animals of other strains. Among these we may mention Beauty of Tillyfour 2nd 1180 bred at Keil- lor, and of Mr Watson's Favourite tribe. Besides several good bulls, Beauty 2nd bred Miss Watson 987 by President 3rd 246 ; Jilt 973 by Black Prince of Tillyfour 366 ; and Euth of Tillyfour 1169 also by Black Prince of Tillyfour. We need not at present dwell on the distinguished descend- ants of this branch of the Keillor Favourite tribe. Of other celebrated animals owned or bred by Mr M'Combie, a few <^' «*>1 126 EXTINCT HERDS. ■ I; inay be noticed as follows : P.aniston 352, the foundress ot the Drumin Beauty and the Mulben Caroline families • Young Jenny Lind 207, the foundress of the Mains of Kelly Jennets ; Kate 12, foundress of the Kinnaird Kath- leens ; Young Charlotte 103, foundress of the Montbletton Charlottes; Bess 1181, foundress of the Tndego Graces; Bracelet 1010, by Black Prince of Tillyfour ;>66, foundress ol the Melville Bracelets; Mayflower of Montbletton 614 foundress of the Montbletton Mayflowers; Mr Collie's prize cow Mayflower 314; >.^ormahal 726, and Zara 1228 from whom sprung the Ardgay Zaras; Nightingale 262,' foundress of the Portlethen Nightingales ; Heiress of Bal- wyllo 461, from whom descends the Balwyllo Isabellas now at Montbletton ; Lady Clara 4, and Mariana 622 from whom sprung the Easter Skene Lady Claras ; Youno- Lady Ann 307, foundress of the Westertown Lady Anns^ Matchless 390, representing the very old herd of Mr Williamson, St John's Wells, from whom Mr Brown Westertown, bred the dam of President of Westertown o54, &c. Some years before his death, Mr M'Combie added to his herd from Mulben and Aboyne a good many descendants of Pride of Aberdeen. He also bought mem- bers of the Sybil and Halt families from Baads, and these became very distinguished in his hands. Purchases were lurther made at Eothiemay, Easter Tulloch, Melville, and elsewhere. It affords us pleasure to be able to give a few ren.arks descriptive of some of the most famous of the Tillyfour cattle. These we have been favoured with by Mr William Joss, now residing at Blairshinnoch, near Banff, and who had^charge of the Tillyfour herd in its palmy days, from 180/ to 1868. Mr Joss's remarks are so interesting, and his sketch is so graphic, that we take the liberty of pre- senting his statement in his own words : " I am somewhat at a less what to write about the polled cattle, as, after a lapse of twenty-four years, it is no wonder although their DESCRIPTION OF TILLYFOUR CATTLE. 127 foundress families ; Mains of ird Kath- )ntbletton ) Graces ; foundress itton 614, r Collie's ara 1228, gale 262, 5S of Bal- Isabellas ana 622, 1 ; Young ly Anns ; d of Mr Brown, :sterto\vn I'Combie od many ;ht mem- nd these -ses were ille, and ren.arks rillyfour William lud who ys, from ing, and ' of pre- mewhat , after a jh their characteristics are fading from my memory. I have tried to bring them in view again, and shall begin my descrip- tion with the bull Hanton 228. He was a bull of great constitution. As an evidence of this, I may state that after his return from the Paris Exhibition in 1856, where he got foot-and-mouth disease, he lay for a week in an old smithy not able to rise, but he ate three cakes of oilcake a day (each cake generally weighs 7 lb.), and a feed of bruised oats, and during that time he took on three inches in girth. He got boots made, was shipped to Inverness, and took the first prize. Hanton was very lengthy, and handled like a glove. The only thing bad about him was his head, on which were loose scurs, which made the head look a little square. He was serviceable to the end, and had the nse of himself, although of great weight — he usually scaled a ton. When in condition, he was as play- ful when seven years old as a yearling, but with strangers he got crusty. No wonder he did so, considering the ex- posure to which he was subjected at shows, travelling by sea and land. He had also to be thrown now and again to have his feet dressed, as they never recovered the dis- ease. As everybody was poking and punching at him, he was always ready for 'war' if he thought any one was meddling too much with him. He had a great fondness for travelling in the cattle-van, and ran into it whenever he saw the door let down. He was a very sure stock-getter, and taking him altogether, few better have appeared. Standard-Bearer 229 (the first prize bull at the Highland Society's show at Aberdeen in 1858) was of another type — low standing and smaller in size, but very sweet. He had immense fore-end, but was not proportionable in the hind-quarters. He was not a good breeder ; and I knew of only one calf by him when at Tillyfour, out of a small dairy cow ; but I believe he had some after he went to Carron on Speyside. As I have said, this bull had an extra fore-end, fur I well remember tying him in his stall 128 EXTIXCT HEEDS. at Aberdeen in 1858, with his head out to the alley, and the people remarking that I was making the most of him. Among other bulls I particularly remember when 1 was at Tilly four, were Don Fernando 514, Lord Clyde 249, President 4th 368, Bright 454, Champion 459, Eob Eoy Macgregor 267, and Black Prince of Tillyfour 366. As to the last two, I think they were kept on for stock — not so much for the merits they had, but because they were good useful bulls, with good pedigrees. During the time they were stock bulls at Tillyfour, I think the number of cows was heavy, and they were never fed for show-yard purposes, consequently they were very useful in serving, and had good crops of calves. Turning to the cows at Tillyfour, I may first mention Charlotte 203. Like her fellow-traveller Hanton 228, she possessed an excellent constitution, as was proved by her coming through all the diseases that the bovine race is heir to — foot-and-mouth, pleuro, &c. &c. She was all over a sweet-looking, level, nice-touching cow, with fine temper; and when in her summer dress, the letters E. U. I.— burnt into her neck when she gained the first prize at Paris in 1856, and which came in in white hair — looked like a medal round her neck. I consider Charlotte the best cow of the breed I ever saw. It made no difference lean or fat, she was always level - looking, without patchiness of any kind about her. She was an excellent breeder to the last, and generally had better heifers than bulls. Bloomer 201 was larger than Charlotte, but not so level and sweet, nor so fine in the bone. She was an excellent worker in any kind of harness, worked her ten hours the time of the turnip laying down, and brought up twin calves. This was to get her to keep to her service, and keep her down in condition. " Writing about that brings it to my mind that Daisy 1165 and Fancy 1195, who both came to be Highland Society first-prize cows, vvlien two years old were not DESCRIPTION OF TILLYFOUK CATTLE. 129 alley, and ost of him. hen 1 was :Jlycle 249, , Eob Eoy 66. As to ik — not so were good time they 31 of cows show-yard ^n serving, le cows at Like her L excellent igh all the ind-mouth, :ing, level, en in her i her neck 1856, and sdal round ■ the breed ,t, she was any kind e last, and ;r 201 was 3et, nor so er in any me of the ves. This I her down hat Daisy Highland were not 4 4 like to keep to their service, and were fed on barley straw and water the most of a summer season, and yet maintained condition rarely met with. I mention this to show the good constitution of the race. Crinoline 204, out of Charlotte, was a sweet cow, and had white legs, but was not quite so robust as some of the others. Lola Montes 208 was an old cow before I saw her, and was losing her shapes with a rheumatic leg. The cow Windsor 202, like Bloomer, was a worker, and threw some excellent stock. Pride of Aberdeen 581 was a verv small calf, and was not thought much of when a calf, until she was weaned, as her mother, Charlotte, was not a great milker. I had always a favour for the calf. One day when Mr M'Combie and I were looking over her, he made some not very favourable observation about her, and I said I should not wonder although she were the Pride of Aber- deen, which she was, at the summer show. Hence the name and origin of this distinguished tribe. As she grew, she turned the nearest to perfection in animal I ever saw, but, like her mother, never was a great milker. She was a good breeder of heifers, and a fine feeder, which was one of the principal things I had to look to at tliat time. ]\rany of the rougher cows in the herd were far better milkers, and some of these rough cows produced grand bullocks. One cow, Lady Agnes, a big, rough, large- quartered beast, was the mother of the celebrated ox, Llack Prince. Fair Maid of Perth 313, Kate of Aberdeen, two Mayflowers, Nightingale 262, Beauty of Tillyfour 2nd 1180, and Jenny Lind, all run in my mind as first-class cows. The Belle 205 was an instance of a free-martin breeding, as she was a twin with a bull. She was a sweet cow, and came out of the pleura" It has sometimes been remarked that Mr M'Combie's fame as a breeder rests chiefly on the fact that he was able to send out a wonderful lot of females, and that he had but little success as a breeder of bulls. This observation -JK*^!" 130 EXTINCT HEEDS. 'r( ) 1-' bv mVm^'''""'^'^-/' '^ •>""' '™'' *^* ""^ ''""^ bred by Mr M'Com'oie did not figure so prominently in the Show-yard as the females reared at Tillyfour. That was perhaps Que mainly to the fact that the male animals were 00 valuable to force for showing purposes. Any one who wishes to estimate accurately the merit of the Tillyfour bulls shou d look at the accounts of the Westertown, Kin- naird. BaUmdalloch, Mains of Kelly, Easter Skene, Urumin, Rothiemay, Castle Fraser, Montbletton, Kin- nochtry, Tullochallum, and numerous other herds A ew ot the bulls bred at Tillyfour n,ay be noted. First there were the three Victors ; then Windsor 221 ; Alford 231 ; Young Panmure 232 ; Napoleon 257 ; Eob Eoy Macgregor 267; Black Jock of Tillyfour 365- Black Prince of Tillyfour 306; Sir James 369; Derby 377 Defiance 397; Marshal 399; Garibaldi of Haughton 707 ^r Ik ";''-l" *"' ^™J^" ^02; Eeform 408; Sqmre 436; Bright 454; Champion 459; Scotsman 5^7 : PI "k''p ^'f'J^'^J'"^ of Tillyfour 509; Clova Sliah 680 *a""" "' "^'^^ ''"• ^'"" "' «"-'- ^^^^ Mr^^fp"",™' '"?'P' '° «""™«'-«te the prizes won by Mr M Combie in the show-yard, which, from the first premium won at Alford in 1832 to the crowning victory HT:" \f'' '""'"'"^ ^ """>'■'' °f suecess°withou^ p.ecedent in the annals of stock-breeding. A remarkable leatnre connected with Mr M'Combie's slfow cattle"^ S neaily all his prize animals were of the Queen tribe If tliere were lew of this tribe in the champion group at Paris the reason is not far to seek. Mr M'Comble. as we aheady mentioned, was unable so carefully to supervise he management of his herd when he was in ParlianLit I when lie could devote his whole attention to it. But for this, we feel satisfied he wouhl not have allowed so many of his best animals to be sold in 1874. Had not this sale takeu place, it might not have been necessary for him to *■: MR M'COMBIE'S sales. 131 5 bulls bred itly in the That was limals were ly one who e Tillyfour town, Kin- der Skene, tton, Kin- herds. A ;ed. First 11 ; Alford Eob Ptoy io ; Black ^rby 377 hton 707 3rm 408 Scotsman '9; Clova nter 491; s won by the first ig victory i without markable i was that tribe. If group at •ie, as we mpervise anient as But for so many this sale r him to '^■f XI have included representatives of other families than his own in the group which won the highest honours that have yet been bestowed on the polled breed. Mr M'Combie held numerous sales of breeding cattle. The first of these took place in 1850, and the dispersion sale was in 1880. Altogether about 350 breeding ani- mals were sold publicly from the Tillyfour herd for up- wards of £14,000. The influence of the herd has been widespread. There is not a breeder who has not profited by the lifelong exertions of Mr M'Combie towards the improvement of the breed. 132 I . K ! ; CHAPTER VIII. EXTINCT HERDS— COXTINUED. (1) The Westertown herd : Families reared by Mr Brovvn-Sires used fall of Panmu.e 51 aud Queen blood-Mr Brown's method obreedt^- sho^.X'd "r2?Th:^"^~frf f ''^ ^^^^-^-^^^ success t"fhe 7 >'\\^-— (2) The Junnaird herd : Its antiquity— Description of tl,^ early polled cattle at Kinnaird-Cows in the l.erd in 18 0- el k on tnbes cul t.ated at Kinnaird-Old Lady Anne 743-The pToras li.::^:; s rr h'T '^^tr ^--^^ tribesextmct ■ r is Dora 333 k1 1 . ^''''l''^f\-\^^ 1"« herd-His important purchases- vard vieLt IH 1^ P f "'^-" ^SQ-Cup-Bearer 59, and his show- jarii victoiie._I ride of Angus 176-Octavia 331-Einilv 332 and her S;;2rT::7?r '"'/ ^"'"'^^^ ^^^-^^^^^ - *'- -Se r^i iwnnaud-rhe f^atal rinderpest, and extinction of the herd -(3) THa Ai^dgay herd : The Zara tribe-Fair Maid of Perth 313. a^d M^^flol^ 3U-lhe Honourable Charles Carnegie's recollections of the Irdgay I '• Westertown. Ar Westertown, Fochabers, a herd of polled cattle was owned by the late Mr George Brown's fether about haW a century ago, and animals exhibited from it gained prizes at the early shovvs of the Morayshire Farmefs' Ch,K T, IJrmtn tl ." ' ^""^ "^ '° '"« ^'»'' M'' «eorge i>iown, the entire management of the farm. The Wester town herd may thus, for all practical purposes, be said to date from that year When the herd was dispersed in 1874, ,t consisted of five families. These were the Eoses tracing from Marion 308 (calved in 1855, by the 'I'l yfour' THE WESTERTOWN HERD. 133 bull Uncle Tom 90), bred by Mr James Fraser, Lhanbryde, Elgin; the Victorias, tracing from Victoria of Aiichinbo 127, bred by Mr Gordon, Auchinbo, who for many years owned polled cattle ; the Lady Anns, tracing from Young Lady Ann 307, bred by Mr M'Combie of Tillyfonr, calved in 1850, by Victor 46, and out of Lady Ann of Balgavies 102, bred by Colonel Dalgairns of Balgavies; and the Duchessrs, iracing from Duchess of Westertown 927, bred by Mr M'Combie of Tilly four, calved in 1860, and bought as a calf in 1860 for 19 guineas. Duchess was got by Bob Eoy Macgregor 267, a son of Windsor 202, of the Queen tribe, and out of Favourite 1237, also of the Queen tribe, and, like Windsor 202, after" Hanton 228. The remain- ^"ng family was the Violet, from Clara 89, bred by Mr Brown. Among other cows in the herd, but extinct in the female line for many years prior to 1874, were Paris Kate 309, calved in 1850, bred by Mr Bowie, and purchased in 1857 at West Scryne for £41 ; and Matchless 390, calved in 1849, bred at Tillyfour, after Monarch 44, and descended from the St John's Wells herd. The first sire of importance used by Mr George Brown was Victor 46, calved in 1846, bred by Mr M'Combie of Tillyfour, after Monarch 44, a son of Panmure 51, and out of Jean Ann 206, a daughter of Panmure 51. Then followed Uncle Tom 90, another bull bred at Tillyfour, but whose pedigree is not recorded. Next came Earl Spencer 3rd 26, from Mains of Kelly, a great-grandson of Panmure 51. In 1856 Mr Brown bought a bull calf from Mr M'Combie, which proved the most valuable and po- tent animal introduced to the herd. The bull was Windsor 221, calved in 1856, after Hanton 228, and out of Windsor 202, who was a daughter of Victor 46 and Queen Mother 384, being thus very closely bred from the Panmure and Queen blood. Windsor was sold in 1858 to the Earl of Southesk, and his doings at Kinnaird and in the show-yard are fully noticed in couuection with that herd. On the I r"^ Of i 134 EXTINCT HERDS. sale ofWmdsor 221, King Charles 236. bred by Lord South- esk, and descended on the dam's side from a danghter of Monarch 44, was transferred to Westertown. The chief sires afterwards used were all bred at Westertown. They 221 and Maid of Moray 310; President 354, calved in 18o9 a son of Windsor 221 and Elizabeth 391 by Victor Ca J l^t^" 'It"'" ''■''"'"'^ ^^"^ Matchless Stat Eo e 3rd 92o by Prince Albert 237; Success 469, calved in 1865, a son of Captain 468 and Duchess 927 by Eob Ley Macgregor; March 355, calved in 1867, a son of Sue cess 469 and Lady Ann 926 by Prince Albe t 237 -Ba™. Settrington 356, calved in 1869. a son of Duchess 27 an March 355; and Duke of Perth 357, calved in 1870 a seen that all the sires used by Mr Brown (with the ex- the blood of Panmure 51 and the Ardovie Queens. o.m .f '""' """ P"''"*?'' °f ^U breeders of polled tie, the most systematic. There was no haphazard n b lod and 1'"^' ^' ^""'^ "P°" '^ ^''rtain strain of blood and a certain type of cattle, and he laboured to leahse a distinct aim with such skill and method as had been displayed by the Messrs Booth and Mr Bates in breeding Shorthorns. His cattle were bred from 1 affinities, but the dangers of excessive in-breedin" we e guarded agamst by keeping a large number of stock bulls As the result of Mr Brown's rare tact and jud.mena thoroughly characteristic herd was built up. His^rnlmlls possessed a uniformity of type and style that was ouUe unmistakable. In the show-yard the her,' had reacC h eminence for several years previous I. I860, when U < tamed a serious reverse. At the Hi.,l,land sIcWv ! .now at Dumfries that year, Mr Brown exhibited £e THE FIRST KIXNAIED HERD. 135 animals. Tliey all won prizes, but the victory was dearly bought. The cattle caught pleuro-pneumonia at Dumfries, and communicated it to the rest of the herd, which,' before the plague was stayed, was reduced to seven animals. Mr Brown courageously, and with renewed energy and determination, resumed breeding with this remnant of a previously splendid herd. Showing was abstained from until 1868, when the bull March retrieved the laurels of the herd ; and until Mr Brown's death in 1874, show-yard honours again fell thick and tast, The new herd had thus been actually in existence for only about fourteen years, a period too brief for the maturing of Mr Brown's plans. Had his life been spared a few years longer, it was confidently expected that Mr Brown would have made Westertown the scene of as wonderful achievements in cattle-breeding as Warlaby or Kirklev- ington. But this was not to be. Mr Brown's death in 1874 abruptly terminated a career that was full of promise. At the dispersion of his herd in 1874 the animals fell into good hands. They enriched many already valuable stocks, and specimens of the Westertown families still exist in considerable numbers. It is to be regretted, however, that no one has attempted to complete the half- finished, work commenced so systematically and success- fully by Mr Brown. Kinnaird. The Honourable Charles Carnegie has kindly favoured us with a long and most interesting communication re- garding the first herd of polled cattle at Kinnaird Castle. This herd occupied such a prominent position, and animals bred in it have so largely contributed to the improvement of herds into which they were introduced, that informa- tion regarding it is of much importance. The extinction of the herd by rinderpest in 1865 was a calamity to the Dolled breed. ^T ijf ■I I ' t n { w 136 EXTINCT HERDS. It IS, Mr Carnegie says, impossible to trace the ori-in of tiie Kmnaird stock, which has probably gone on from generation to gei. iion from a very remote period. At the time of the minority of the late Sir James Car- negie of Southesk, which lasted from 1805 till 1821 the home farm of Kinnaird was farmed by his mother. Lady Carnegie, and then all the cattle were polled Ancrus- indeed, probably there was no other breed in the dis- trict Lady Carnegie frequently spoke to the Honourable Cliarles Carnegie about her cattle and their splendid nnlking-quahties, also of her system of rearing calves. This system consisted in feeding the calf with a mixture of skimmed milk and boiled turnips-her secret of get- ting the calves to take to it kindly being to put some of the boiled turnips into the very first milk that was given to the calf, as, if the calf had ever tasted pure mi?k, it would have been very difficult to induce it to drink the mixture. As far as known to Mr Carnegie, no stock but polled Angus was at Kinnaird until about 1834, when one or two Ayrshire cows and an Ayrshire bull were got. The best ot the Angus cows were then sent to the bulls in the neighbourhood, there being polled stock at that time at every one of the adjacent farms. The use of the Ayrshire bull was discontinued in 1840, though some of ihe Ayr- shire cows continued to be kept till 1849 ; and Mr Car- negie remembers some most excellent stock got by the polled bull from these remaining Ayrshires. They were generally black and polled, and some of them might easily have been taken for pure Angus. tinfnf'n ^'r «f.^^r Carnegie's first personal recollec- tion of the Kmnaird herd, there were about seven pure Angus cows, besides the cows belonging to the servants, all of which were polled. The prevailing colour of the Kinnaird hei.1, as of all the cattle in the county was black; but there was hardly a herd which had^iola THE FIEST KINNAIRD HERD. 137 brindled cow in it, and, in many, a dun or a grey. Those of the latter colour were called "droners," and were sup- posed to have a strain of Dutch blood in them, by descent from some cows brought over by a Dutch company that attempted to reclaim the basin of Montrose. Mr Car- negie remembers, especially, grey cows belonging to the late Mr Lyall, Old Montrose; the late Mr Euxton Far- nell ; and the late Mr Mustard, Leuchland. The' Kin- naird herd in 1840 had no grey cows, but the brindled cow Brandy is one of Mr Carnegie's earliest recollections, fehe was a very great favourite of the late Sir James Carnegie, who used to say that she was the handsomest Angus cow in the byre, except Lady Anne. She was of a regular brindled colour, red striped with black, and had very large hairy ears. A daughter of hers was pure red, but not being a good milker, was not retained. There are no traceable descendants of this cow. In 1840 there were the following polled cows in the byre at Kinnaird : Old Lady Anne 743, of whom more afterwards: Lucy 670 (misnamed "of Craigo" in the ' Herd Book,' she having nothing to do with that place), bought as a calf from the ate Mr Lyall, Old Montrose, then at Carcary; Brandy, the brindled cow mentioned above ; Charlotte, Margaret, Jane, and Mary. Jane died in 1840, and the other ones, without 'Herd Book' numbers, have left no traceable descendants. The cattleman, however, had a dun-coloured cow called Beauty. She was the dam of Beauty 96, also of a dark-dun colour, and of a black cow entered in the Herd Book ' as Angus 95. The only addition made to the herd by Sir James, except the descendants ot the above, was in 1846, when the cow Sarah 140 was bought from the late Mr Lyall, Old Montrose The bulls used were Colin 35, calved in 1840, after the Old Montrose bull Wattie 135, and out of Lucy 670 As a yearling, he beat the celebrated Panmure 51 at the local ii i #1 show ; but the style of keeping he afterwards got was not 138 EXTINCT HERDS. ''• i« likely to make a show-yard animal of him, and he was un- successful at the Highland Society's show at Dundee in 1843. Colin was succeeded by his son, Southesk 34, from Old Bell 98 ; and just before Sir James Carnegie's death in 1849, a young bull was purchased from Mr Euxton, Far- nell This bull was a son of Adam 39, and his name appears in some pedigrees. He was used only for those cows that were too closely bred to Southesk, as he turned out to have scurs, being the only beast with scurs Mr Carnegie ever saw at Kinnaird in the late Sir James's lifetime, except a cow bought for one season for milk. At the time of Sir James Carnegie's death, the following pur.> animals were in the herd : of the Lady Anne tribe- Old Bell 98, SmutePa 329, Lady Anne 97 (miscalled in 'Herd Book' "of Craigo"), Nelly, Bell of Kinnaird 328, Fanny of Kinnaird 330, Meg 708, and Violet 327, the last four being heifers; of the Sarah tribe — Sarah 140, and her daughter, Mary of Kinnaird 326; of the Beauty tribe— Mona 325, and a sister of hers not entered in ' Herd Book ; ' the cow Angus 95, of the same tribe, be- longed to the park-keeper. The oldest and most important tribe in the herd was the Lady Anne tribe. The cow Old Lady Anne 743 was a very old cow at the time of Mr Carnegie's earliest recol- lections, and she must have been calved about 1820. She was said to have been a prize-taker in her time. Mr Carnegie believes Old Lady Anne to be the oldest cow recorded in vol. i. of the 'Herd Book.' Old Lady Anne and all her descendants, even to the present time, have been most excellent milkers. They had the especial property of continuing to give a large quantity of milk till close on the time that they were due to calve, and, if allowed, they would continue to milk on till their calving. The old cattleman used to say that he believed that, from one year's end to the other, Old Lady Anne and her descendants gave more milk than any of the Ayrshires, ■■■'>'■* -Te\'if,-:Ti. _-...- THE FIRST KINNAIRD HERD. 139 though they might not give so much just after calving All the members of the tribe at Kinnaird were also very docile. This family is now represented by three strains • one through Flora of Portlethen 244, one through Formosa 186 (inadvertently entered in vol. i. of 'Herd Book' among bulls)— both descendants of Fanny of Kinnaird 330 -and one through Lavender 1007, a grand-daughter of Lady Anne 97. The Sarah 140 tribe is extinct, except in the male line the bulls Kinnaird 224 and Mariner 148 of that tribe having, however, left a good many noteworthy animals. The Beauty 96 tribe is probably extinct, as the Erica family is descended from another Beauty, as must also be the son of Beauty 96, given in some pedigrees. Beauty 96 had only one calf, and that a heifer, Mona 325. Sir James Carnegie died in 1849, and was succeeded by his son Sir James, now Earl of Southesk. No addition was made to the herd till 1851, in which year were pur- chased the bull Baluamoon 36 from the late David Carnegie Arbuthnott, and the heifers Charlotte (not entered in ' Herd Book ') and Dora 333 from Mr Euxton, Farnell. These heifers were both bred by Mr Watson' Keillor, and the latter was the foundress of what was generally considered the best family in the Kinnaird herd. So little, however, were fancy stock prized in those days, that Dora was (being supposed a doubtful breeder) bought for £19, 5s. She gained many prizes, and Lord Southesk was offered 100 guineas for her at the great show at Paris where she took the second prize. In 1852 was bouoht from the Crathes herd Kate 12, together with her heffer calf, Kathleen 339, by Strathmore 5. Kate 12 was bred by the late Mr M'Combie of Tillyfour. A more import- ant purchase, however, took place at the Highland Society's show at Perth that same year— namely, that of the bull Cup-Bearer 59, from Mr Bowie, Mains of Kelly. Cup- Bearer was then two years old, and had won the lirst !| ■r 140 EXTINCT HERDS. prizes at the Higliland Society and local shows. He proved a most valuable acquisition to the herd— leavinf' a great number of good stocic ; and it is curious to note that Mr Carnegie is aware of only one calf out of the very large number that he got that had any trace of scurs. Th.3 portrait of Cup-Bearer is in vol. i. of the • Herd Book,' and a representation of his head is on the binding of that volume. The price paid for this magnificent bull was £60. In 1853, Pride of Angus 17G, the first-prize two-year- old heifer at the Eoyal Northern Society's show, was bought for £100 from the late Robert Scott of Balwyllo. In the same autumn, at the Auchtertyre sale of the late Mr Watson, Keillor, the cow Octavia 331, and the year- ling heifer Emily 332, were added to the herd. The for- mer was a prize heifer, and was entered in the catalogue as by Old Jock 1, dam Old Favourite. She turned out, liowever, not to be in calf, and was put to Cup-Bearer 59. The issue was Odin 153, who was sold to Mr Morison of Bognie, and whose name appears in so many of the Bognie and Montbletton pedigr'^es. The heifer Emily 332 is entered in the same catalogue as by Old Jock 1, dam Beauty, "the dam of Sir T. Burnett's famous bull." There was, as already stated, some confusion re- garding the various Beauties in the ' Herd Book,' and Mr Carnegie believes that there are three, if not more, separ- ate animals of that name, all bred by Mr Watson, Keillor, and probably all nearly related. None of these had anything to do with Beauty 96, who was, as mentioned before, of a totally different strain of blood. Mr Fer- guson, Kinnochtry, informs us that Beauty, the dam of Emily 332, was sold by Mr Watson to Sir Alexander Burnett. Mr Watson bought her and her yearling bull, The Baronet 339, back from Sir Alexander in 1856. Emily 332 became noted as the dam of Erica 843, whose blood is now so well known. She was a cow^ of fair but not LORD SOUTHESK'S PURCHASES. 141 very large size, witli a most perfect head, and splendid quality She was, however, always a little dipped in the back' which prevented her from taking high honours in the show-yard. She was a most valuable dairy cow, and besides breeding Erica 843, had several other fine calves two of them having gone to Denmark. The next addition was made in 1857, by the purchase of the cow Caroline of Kinnaird 5G2, and the heifer Thetis . o68 from Mr Bowie, Mains of Kelly. The former was rather an unfortunate cow, as her calves generallv died bhe was, however, the dam of Columbia and Clarissa, both Highland So.ciety prize-winners. The prices were between £60 and £70 for Caroline, and over £30 for ihetis. In 1858, Lord Southesk bouglit the heifer Prin cess Philomel 269, from the late Mr Walker, Portlethen. Ihe price was 37 guineas, as it was thought doubtful if fcihe was in calf. She was a very fine cow, and throu-h her daughter, Perdita 848, by Druid 225, is ancestress'of the celebrated Palmerston 374. In the winter of the same year, Lord Southesk bought from the late Mr Brown Westertown, the cow Irene 311, and the bull Windsor 22l' The price of the cow was £50, and that of the bull was i:i50 in money and the bull-calf King Charles 236 (by Druid 225, out of Kathleen 339J, whose name appears in many pedigrees. Windsor was a very fine bull, with grand fore-end and back, and he left a great many good stock, both at Westertown and Kinnaird. In 1859, at the sale of the late Mr Scott's (of Balwyllo) cattle, the following were bought : BalwvUo Queen 445 price about 50 guineas ; Topsy 447, price over 40 guineas'; and the heifer Eosebud 460, price about 70 guineas. At the same sale the Honourable Charles Carnegie bought Keep- sake 427 and Charlotte of Balwyllo 470 ; but as he relin- quished his then intention of taking a farm, these animals were added to the Kinnaird herd. Balwyllo Queen 445 was a very fine cow. She took prizes both at the Highland 11 } 142 EXTINCT HERDS. I Society and local shows, and was the dam of Jupiter 471 and Quadroona, both winners of first prizes at the Hi<,di- land Society's shows. In 1861, Empress of France 578 was bought from Mr M'Combie of Tillyfour for CO guineas. She was a full sister of the famous Pride of Aberdeen 581, whom she greatly resembled, except that she was rather dipped in the back. She was, when purchased, in calf to Lord Clyde 249, and the produce was Julius Ciesar, the third-prize bull at Battersea as a yearling, and second at the Highland Society as a two-year-old. The next addi- tion, and the last before the fatal rinderpest, was in 1863, when the cows Heather Bell 717 and Gem 719 were bought for 60 guineas and 40 guineas respectively at the dispersion of the Balwyllo herd. During the years between 1849 and 1865 many ex- cellent animals were bred in the herd. It is of course un- necessary to mention every animal, but some of the most noteworthy were as follows : In 1851 was calved Ada 338, by a bull bred at Leuchland, and out of Dora 333. Ada had not a calf till she was over four vears old, and was one of the largest cows of the breed Mr Carnegie ever saw. She was honourably mentioned at the Paris show in 1856. In 1852 and 1853 were caived F'avia 376, Flora of Port- lethen 244, liarbara 337, and Lavinia 336, all by Bal- namoon, and of the Lady Anne tribe; and Dulcinea 334, by Cup-Bearer 59, out of Dora 333. The first three all took prizes as heifers at the local shows, and Barbara 337 was a very excellent type of the Angus cow, a splendid milker, and a very steady breeder. Flavia 376 and Flora 244, though not so large, were both very neat ; and the late Mr Walker, Portlethen, informed Mr Carnegie that Flora brought up three calves at one time. Dulcinea 334 was, however, " the pick of the basket," and was one of the best cows of the breed. She was not shown as a heifer, being a late calf, but as a cow she was first at the Eoyal Agricultural Society's show at Chester. She was THE BULL DRUID 225. U3 578 twice Inrd at the Highland Society's shows, and won many local prizes. She did not milk well her first two years, but developed into a good enough milker rearing twin-calves one year. ^^inio In 1854, Dora 333 produced Druid 225, and Mary of unnau-d 326 Mariner 148; and the same' year tTv a o31 produced Odin 153,-all by Cup-Bearer 59. Odin 153 was sold to Mr Morison of Bognie, and was the ances^ of r 'The P "^r^' " ^^ ^'''' °^ ^^- countr;. hL son. The Ear 291, won the first prize at the Hiohland Show ior he late Mr Walker, Montbletton, and he seems to have thoroughly made his mark. Mariner 148 was sold to Mr Lyell of Sheilhill, and was the father of T^m l^ipes 301 and Prospero 302, both Highland Society first- pnze winners. Druid 225 was, however, the most dis- niguished of the three. Owing to his being a late calf and his liaving been obliged to be fired in one of his lens he was not formidable as a yearling; but as a two-year-oici theie have probably been few finer specimens of the breed He combined large size with fine quality and a most excel- lent temper; and, admirable as is his portrait by Gourlav Steele, It hardly does justice to the perfection of\is quai- ters. He carried everything before him as a two and three year old, and was only beaten when four years old for the Dutrone prize at Aberdeen, at the somewhat memorable show of 1808 ; and at Battersea in 1862, when eight years old, he was placed second to Prospero 302, the reason alleged by the judges being that the younger bull would be the niore serviceable animal. Druid 225, however, with all his show-yard excellences, had a grave defect-he was not a very useful bull. The stock that he did get were all very good, but there were very few of them. Throucrh his sons Iving Charles 236 and Eaven 270, and his daughters, I erdita 848 the granddam of Palmerston 374, and Thalia 12o3, the dam of Theodore 393, his blood flows in the ^1 veins of many of the best beasts in tlie country. xllu 144 EXTINCT HERDS. same year was also calved Poppy, by Cup-Bearer 59, out of Pride of Angus 176. She was second as one of a pair at the Eoyal Northern as a yearling ; first as a two-year- old ; second at the Highland Society's show at Inverness as a two-year-old ; and won first prizes at the Angus Agri- cultural Society's shows at both ages. She was sold to Mr Collie, Ardgay, for about £60, and he changed her name to Empress 312. She had only one calf, a bull. Kitty, by Cup-Bearer 59, out of Kate 12, was shown with her in the pair that took the first prize as yearlings at the Angus show, and second at the Royal Northern. Kitty was sold to Lord Cawdor. In 1855, in the whole herd there were only two heifer calves. One of these, Oriana 378, by Cup-Bearer 59, out of Octavia 331, was a very late calf. She, however, won the first prizes at the Eoyal Agricultural Society's show at Chester as a heifer, and at Warwick as a cow ; also two first prizes at local shows as a cow. She was one of the neatest animals in the herd, though not big. She was sold to the late Mr Goodlet, Bolshan, in 1861, for 40 guineas. She left very good stock ; but it was almost all kept at Kinnaird, and was exterminated by rinderpest. Her blood is, however, to be found in some pedigrees, through her son Orestes 273. The bull calves in 1855 were a good lot, but few of them appear in modern pedi- grees. Mark, afterwards called Kinnaird 224, by Cup- Bearer 59, out of Mary of Kinnaird 326, a hand-reared calf, was bought by the late Mr Collie, Ardgay, and be- came a celebrated bull. He was first at the Highland Society's show at Glasgow as a two-year-old, and carried all before him at local shows. He was a very heavy bull, which was somewhat remarkable, as his mother was a very small cow — in fact, the smallest cow in the herd. He had a grand fore-end, but wanted a little at the top of the tail. His name appears in m-riny pedigrees, and his stock were uniformly good. A good young bull, ", "^' CALVES AT KINNAIRD IN 1855-57. 145 • 59, out f a pair vo-year- iverness us Agri- d to Mr iv name Kitty, li her in 3 Angus vas sold heifer 59, out '^er, won r's show ilso two ! of the )he was , for 40 almost derpest. idigrees, In 1855 :n pedi- ly Cup- i-reared and be- ighland carried vy bull, was a le herd, the top ses, and ig bull, Dictator, by Cup-Bep.rer 59, out of Dora 333, was sold to Mr Sproat, Borness, in Kirkcudbrightshire ; and Epicure 114, by Cup-Bearer 59, from Emily 332, went to Sir J. S. Forbes of Fettercairn. The bull Fortitude 28, by Bal- namoon 36, was also calved in 1855. On the last day of 1855 was calved The Admiral 227, by Cup-Bearer 59, out of Ada 338. This was a very good young bull, but he was of course too old for showing. He was taken into the herd, but was not a very useful sire. Fusilier 226, by Cup-Bearer 59, out of Fanny of Kinnaird 330, a very neat little bull, calved in 1856, was also kept, and got some very good stock, though nothing celebrated came from him. In this same year, 1856, Emily 332 had a bull calf named Erebus, that was sold to go to Denmark. There were only four heifers this year, one of whom. Blossom of Kinnaird 565, by Cup-Bearer 59, from Barbara 337, was a prize-winner at local shows ; and another. Dahlia 569, by Druid 225, out of Dulcinea 334, who, although rather a poor yearling, developed into a fine young cow, but died of quarter- ill whilst nursing her first calf. This was the only death from that complaint that happened in the herd. ^ It is curious that it should have attacked a grown- up animal— one, moreover, in not very high condition. The year 1857 was more of a heifer year than the two previous ones had been. Deodora 1232, by Captain Cook 143, from Dulcinea 334, was a day or two too old to show. She, however, distinguished herself as a breeder— Delaware 457, Damascus 495, and Sultan 477 being all from her. The two former were by Windsor 221, and were sold to Mr M'Combie, Easter Skene, and Mr Tayler of Glen- barry respectively. The ' Herd Book ' records many prize- winners got by them. Sultan 477, by Prince of Wales 453, was bred by the late Mr Paterson, Mulben, to whom Deodora 1232 was sold. He seems to have got some good stock at Mulben. Mr Tayler informed Mr Carnegie that he parted with Damascus 495 only on account of his K I jS Ml .^/^ Mi* wmmmM 146 EXTINCT HEEDS. 11 1 it l« bad temper. This is somewhat remarkable, as Deodora 1232 was, with perhaps the exception of her half-sister Dahlia 569, the tamest cow at Kinnaird. She and her sister would either of them come from a long distance if called, and would follow like a pet dog any one they knew. Florence of Kinnaird 1274, by Druid 225, out of Flavia 376, of the old Kinnaird stock, was a very taking heifer. She won a prize at the Eoyal Agricultural show, and some prizes at local shows. She was sold to Lady Dunmore, and lived for many years at Dunmore as a pet, though by no means a useless one, as she, like the rest of her kind, was a fine dairy cow. Dolores 1285, by Cup- Bearer 59, out of Dora 333, was a rather late calf, but was shown as a two-year-old, and at the local shows stood second to her more celebrated neighbour Erica 843. Dolores 1285 proved a very good breeder, and she and most of her stock were retained at Kinnaird, unfortu- nately to perish with the rest of the herd. She had one bull calf, Draco 338, by AVindsor 221. Mr Walker, Ard- huncart, Mossat, bought him as a calf, and he did most excellent service in his herd. Last but not least of the heifers of 1857 must be men- tioned Erica 843, by Cup-Bearer 59, out of Emily 332. Xot being either an early or a very strong calf, Erica 843 was not shown as a yearling. In the autumn of 1858, the late Mr Collie, Ardgay, paid a visit to Kinnaird, and was so much struck by her beauty, that he begged Lord Southesk to make her up for the shows next year. This was done, and at the local show she was first, and very much admired. Unfortunately, however, at the Higliland Society's show she was, from certain reasons, out of condi- tion, and consequently looking at her worst, her fault, a slight tendency to slackness in the back, showing very prominently— so much so, that the judges put her out before either of her companions Dolores 1285 and Flor- ence 1274. That Erica would have been beaten, on her ERICA 843. Deodora -If-sister and her [listaiice ne they ), out of taking il show, .0 Lady IS a pet, 3 rest of .y Cup- alf, but shows tea 843. she and mfortu- liad one ir, Ard- d most )e men- ly 332. :ca 843 f 1858, rd, and }d Lord . Tliis d very ghland ' condi- fault, a ig very ler out l1 rior- on her 147 ■1 merits at that show is, however, quite certain, as her suc- cessful rival was the celebrated Tride of Aberdeen 581 probably the best heifer of the breed yet seen. She would, however, if in good condition, have probably been TT\ "^^ ^^f ^' ^' ^ ^^''^' ^'^^^ ^^^ ^^as placed third at the Highland Society ; but one of those before her was disquahfied, so that she was actually second. She was also first at the local show. In that year she was sold to Sir George Macpherson Grant for 50 guineas, the hi-hest price at the Kinnaird sale. It is needless to remark here on the many excellent animals that now trace de- scent from this valuable cow. Erica 843 herself was not a very large cow, but was almost bigger than what is eal ed « a big little one." She stood on very short le-s and had a lovely, fenJnine head, and splendid quality! Lord Southesk remarked, that after the sale he much re- gretted he had sold her, but tliat now he was glad, as otherwise her race might have been also extinguished. Ihe only bull calf of any note in 1857 was Eaven 270 by Druid 225, out of Rebecca 340. Eaven 270 was used in the herd, and got one or two good animals. He was a air but not lirst-class bull, and w n the first prize at the local show as a yearling, beating the bull Youn- Pan- mure 232, who subsequently beat him at the Highland Society s show, where Raven was not placed. iqJ^ ^^^^ ^^'^ ''''^^^^ altogether were not equal to those of 1857. 01 the heifers, Dorotliea and Olympia 1300 were perhaps the best. They were both by Fusilier 226-one Irom Dora 333, and the other from Octavia 331. Doro- thea who had a little more wliite than was desiiable, won tlie first prize at the Royal Agricultural Society at War- wick as a yearling. She was subsequently sent out to Canada along with a young bull, Orlando, by Raven 270 out of Octavia 331, as a present to tlie late Sir Geor Flavia 376, the ancestress of the numerous Floras and Fancys of East Tulloch, was also calved in 1858, but was never exhibited. The most noteworthy of the bull calves of 1858 was King Charles 236, by Druid 225, out of Kathleen 339. As a calf he went to the late Mr Brown, Westertown, as part payment for the bull Windsor 221. Mr Brown afterwards sold him to Sir George Macpher- son Grant. At Ballindalloch he seems to have done good service, as many first-class animals, both there and at Advie, have his name in their pedigree. King Charles 236, when seen at the Highland Society's show in Edin- burgh in 1859, was a bull of immense size, girthing more than the Shorthorn bulls of the same age. He also had a very good head, and fine quality. He was, however, not quite a true-made bull, and Mr Carnegie was somewhat disappointed with him, as, when a calf, he promised to be very superior. A good bull calf by Cup-Bearer 59, out of Emily 332, called Ethelred 272, was sold to Sir J. S. Forbes ; but we ai-e not aware if he has left any living descendants. In 1859 the most prominent bull calf was Black Douglas 311, by the Balwyllo bull President 3rd 246, out of the cow Barbara 337, of the old Kinnaird stock. The late Mr Collie, Ardgay, took a very great fancy to this calf, and offered 80 guineas for him, which, as Windsor 221 had lately been added to the herd, and consequently two in- fusions of fresh blood were not wanted, was accepted. Black Douglas 311 never quite fulfilled the promise of his youth. He had from the first a complete aversion to oil- cake; and though he got some good stock at Ardgay, he did not turn out the wonder Mr Collie expected when he bought him. Another bull calf of the same year was Domino, a rather late calf, by Eaven 270, out of Dora 333. He had small scurs, and was sold to Mr Morison of Bognie. As tlie pedigrees in the Bognie herd were not well kept, it is impossible to say if there is any of his stock left ; but from CALVES AT KINNAIRD IN 1859 AND 1860. 149 1 his breeding he ought— bar the blemish before mentioned— to have been a valuable bull. The best heifer of the year was Kalliope 1234, by Eaven 270, out of Kathleen 339. She grew into a cow of very fine quality, but was never better than local-show form. She proved a very good breeder, the two bulls Commodore 490 and Cavalier 411, and the heifer Clio, all by Windsor 221, being far above average, the heifer especially having carried all before her both as a yearling and two-year-old; and the bulls having left good stock, Commodore 490 in the Castle Fraser herd"^ and Cavalier 411, first with Colonel M'Inroy at The Burn! and afterwards at Easter Tulloch. A very perfectly shaped heifer calved late that year was Iris 844, by Windsor 221, out of Irene 311. She was sold to Sir George Macpherson Grant at the same time as Erica, but unfortunately she died in calving. The year 1860 was a good year for heifers, Ophelia, by Windsor 221, out of Oriana 378, was calved a day or two too soon to show ; but she was probably the best of the lot, and was intended to have been the show cow in 1866, along with Esmeralda, a daughter of Druid 225, and Emily 332, who was calved in October or November the same year. These two beautiful cows were very good speci- mens of the get of their celebrated sires. Mr Carnegie says Ophelia was a large-framed, upstanding, Juno-lil'^l^'^/'^ain of blood is now abso- lutely extinct, except through the male line. bre? W if r5"f ^-7^!'^ ''^ I^^'bella of Balwyllo 423, '■as at the fi r r- ^''^''^''' "^"^^ ^'^ «' Buchan 57 Sltw!, h ?™' '"^^ ''^^' " ^'""^''hat aged cow Done, and with a good head. At the time of the sale in IfeSclr °T/""'''-» y-- old, and was bongl b? and et^f/jf ?^" g>™^-- S^e was a regular b?eede.- On» !? I h^-- caives were recorded in the ■ Herd Book ■ himself fTl I "■'"• ""^ 8°' ^'^'■y g°od stock. He mselUhongh large and fleshy, had rather rough hard liair and a very big belly, which somewhat disfigured hhn Another son of Isabella President ^,vl <>ar f""™.' ""; 2ad 54, was a far Hner animar'S^w s'a' 'I'jf v~ Wbl T "" "^ "^'^ ™^ "«' » 8-" - " ™S once at !Toc.f ."'' ', '"'"'^ P^^e-taker, but was, except was sold n 7' ''^''^'' ''"'""' '" ^'i"''«o'' 221. He Ke ll" fl flT2f' " ^^''' '" M^ ^^'^'-^ of r: !', ' ^ *'""'^' 4" guineas. Ho <-ot „ood stn,.l- both at Balwyllo and Keilkr, and many of°tl e best of ht present race of cattle have his blood L thei ve as Of two other sons of Isabella, Eaglan of Balwyllo 247 by Stanley 2nd 198, and Eobert the Bruce 309, by Noble 245 ■Cd ZT-^'f'"''; ^°" '"^'^-^ "^ entered irtt inte 4iO .'' ^""'^'^r °f '^^^'^"■■'- ^"'-yl'o Night- Zvfla t " ; "•'" '°''' ■''' *'^<' ^""•'•' ^^■'^ '0 M'- Gkimie, mo7of tl ;T -f ""'7 T" ''^^^'' "^«°gh not so big a most of the family; but Heiress of Balwyllo 461 and Peer "li of ;> ' '^ ""t"^ '''■ ^•'^■•^ ™"8"'«-'t l-lers, a l' So ietv Th'e T" ''''-"""' ^^"^""S^ "' ""^ HisW-d M^ombie of liUyfour for over 70 guineas and 0,» afterwards passed into the possession" ' "" Walker, Monf " r ' ^tton: find X uni rj lad to say tint this tine . 1 160 EXTINCT HEEDS. I S- I - strain of blood is in no danger of being lost, there being several descendants of this heifer worthy of their au- cestiy. Peerless 711 was to my mind the finer heifer of the two, but was not so fortunate. In 1862 she had a calf, Eglantine, by Sir William Wallace 308. She was a very nice one, and was bought by Mr M'Combie of Tilly- four for 45 guineas, but I do not know what became of her. She had twin-calves in 1863 (bull and heifer), and being a doubtful breeder, was sold to me for £30 at the sale. She proved not to be in calf, but afterwards bred one calf. She was slaughtered at the rinderpest time, and her calf died. There was a calf of Isabella's, called Rosabella, sold to Mr Goodlet, Bolshan, at the sale, for 22 guineas. She, I believe, also died of rin- derpest. Another daughter of Isabella's is given in the ' Herd Book ' — viz., Lucy of Balwyllo 830. She is only mentioned there as the dam of a bull, Napoleon of Bal- wyllo 113, and I know nothing of her or him. The Victoria Family. — Of this family the foundress, Victoria 45, a prize heifer, seems to have been of an old Balwyllo strain. She was got by Joseph 53, out of Tibbie of Balwyllo 46, both of whom have no record except that they were Balwyllo-bred. Victoria 45 was the dam of Prince Edward 55, by President 205, a bull that was much used in the herd, and of Victoria 2nd 428, also by President 205. Victoria 2nd, who took prizes both as a heifer and cow, was a large, fleshy, handsome animal, but (lecidedlyfpatchy. There are three daughters of hers en- tered — viz., I'rincess Eoyal 444, by Cup-Bearer 59; Topsy 447, by President 2nd 54 ; and Eugenie 458, by Bob Boy 56. Princess Iloyal 444 was not much to look at, but was a most wonderful breeder. She was a good deal smaller than most of the Balwyllo cattle, and had a little white on her hind-legs and tail. Her first two calves were Lord Clyde 249 and The Doctor 307, both by Bob Boy 66, and both winners of first prizes at the Highland Society as Iff I. "! I THE VICTORIA FAMILY., igj fi,m'"l'ff J'" '''"■'""■ "*' '"''^ '0 ^I'' M'Combie of Tilly- W T.^ > ;3 "'"'' ^'"^"^'^ "''■''' ''^■f ^™^ Alice Maud 724 by Black Prince of Balwyllo 248. She grew into a very laige fleshy cow, a little wanting perhaps in beauty, but of grand substance. She was sold for 63 guineas at the sale m 1863, to Mr Walker, Portlethen, and h-as left a numerous progeny. A yearling bull, Wellington of Bal- Herd Book, was sold to the late Mr Erskine, Wemyss for 40 guineas; and the bull calf Balwyllo Eclipse 781 b,' M: ^^ ' Mo,'"" M '■ "" '°"°"" '"' 23 guineas' by Mr C,an, Morhch, and his name appears in almost every pedigree in that flourishing Iierd. Princess Eoyal 444 herself was lame at tlie sale, and was bought by me for 20 guineas. She and her heifer Helena, 'an aifinTal „ great beauty, died of rinderpest, but her calf Princess Bomsa, by Legislator 489, survived, and was sold at the Arratsmill sale in 1868 to Mr Paxton, Broomknowe, for £35. A yearling named Lorelei, and a calf, Laura were sold at the same sale to Lord Clinton and Mr Lindsay Duninald respectively, but I am not aware that they have left any descendants. Topsy 447, Victoria 2„d's second daughter, was a large beefy animal, but though a prize- taker, was decidedly deficient in style, her head being rather clumsily set on. She was bought at the Powis sale for Lord Southesk, who, however; sold her af he Kmnaird sale ii, 1801 for about half the money he ^ave for her Eugenie 458, the third daughter, was a large^ut somewhat rough cow. She was bought at the sale in 1863 by Sir Thomas Gladstone; and though there is some doubt in the ma ter, owing to the pedigrees not havin" been accurately kept, I have every reason to believe that she was either the dam or granddara of Eugenie of Fasque 3910, and she has left goodly descendants I ^i ii i 162 EXTINCT HERDS. fcf if II I i HI i 'I The Keepsake Fa milT/.— Keepsake 427 was bred at Bal- wyllo. She was got by President 205, dam Mapsie 76, who seems to have been of old Balwyllo blood, and to have been also the dam of the l)nll Tresident 2nd 54 Keepsake was the broadest- backed cow for her height I ever saw. This at first made her look a little out of pro- portion, but she was (though perhaps wanting a little in sweetness, and a trihe hard in the hair) a cow that you always came back to, and her history shows that good judges were not blind to her merits. Being lot 1 of the .Powis sale, she was sold very cheaply to me for 21 guineas. I then transferred her to the Earl of Southesk, having, as has already been explained, decided not to form a herd at that time. She was sold at the Kinnaird sale two years afterwards to Mr Collie, Ardgay, for 30 guineas. He after- wards sold her to Mr M'Combie of Tillyfour for £40, and in her seventeenth year she was sold in 1868 to Sir George Macpherson Grant for 27 guineas, with a bull calf at her foot. With Keepsake's numerous descendants since she left Balwyllo, I need sa> nothing here. At Balwyllo she had three daughters— Trial 228, by President 205, of whom I know nothing; Edith 2nd 464, by Bob Roy 66, sold at the Powis sale as a yearling ; and Ruby 713, by Noble 245, a large but somewhat rough cow, sold at the sale in 1863 to Mr Walker, Portlethen, for 22 guineas. A son of Ruby 713, named Rudolph, by The Doctor 307, was sold to Sir T. Gladstone for 24 guineas. He was a fair animal, and probably some of the Fasque stock are descended from him. The Annie Zaicrie Family. — Annie Laurie 424, by President 205, out of Jessamine 66, seems to have been of the old Balwyllo strain, and I have some recollection of seeing her as a good useful sort of an old cow. There is one bull entered as out of her — viz., Prince of Devon 315. She is also entered as the mother of three daughters. Rosa of Balwyllo 438, by President 2nd 54, was an euor- I THE EMILY AND OTHER FAMILIES. 163 rZlS TftV"'" " '""^ P^'^I-y --• Alice of l.aiwyllo 463, by Rob Roy 56, was sold as a yearling- at ihp pLr^f ^ . ' ^"^ *"' '^ Sreat milker. A daughter of 49ft fr''^ f -^"'"'2'"'' ^«'»%— Emily of Balwyllo 421, by the Ardestie-bred Richmond 6, from old Balwy sicient 205. This bull was taken to Ireland bv T/ivd Present ^nd^sl' thTll^; nt^S 1^1.'.^ any first-rate stock, but the latter was a pri.eriiner al or'::^d' :to r"°' ^f"^ '^^■^'"O' ^^ f'- "^e "-^ lorward a most magnificent cow. Lady Jane hid nnp daughter Rosebud 460. by Rob Roy 56^ who much e «embled her dam, though rather worse in frlntanT better" behind^ Rosebud 460 was bought by the Ea of S uthesk at the Powis sale for about 70 guineas; but though she Id ants. Lady Jane had two bull r- ' -g entprpd ir. f i • Herd Book,--vi., Sir William Wallace 308 by Presid't 3rd 246 and Pioneer 326, by Noble 245. The latto bu was in the possession of Mr Whyte, Spott. 18^ tL*'"'"'^' '^^ «■"" "f ">« •'■i^P'^-'don sale in 1863, there were several good animals of other famihe^ cept peihaps the , ,y eat cow Gem 719, bou"h bv the Earl of Southcsk for 40 guinea., and l„eUv (.Tiant. There were also the old Kinnai^d-bred cow 4da Jr daughter Adela 849. and H,„tensia ■ a'- 338 - ..- - . J.:v ,* • 164 EXTINCT HERDS. nice cow, Celardine, by Diodorus (son of Windsor 221 and Dora 333) out of a daughter of Princess Philomel 269. This heifer was bought by tlie Duke of Buccleuch for 32 guineas. Mulhcn. The late Mr Alexander Paterson became tenant of the farm of Mulben, near Keith, in 1839, and shortly after- wards began to collect a herd of polled cattle. The herd was maintained until his death in 1875. His first pur- chase was at Mr Thurburn's sale at Drum, Keith, in 1842. He then bought a calf out of a cow bred in Buchan. This calf was the dam of Madge IGl, the foundress of the Mulben Mayflower ..r Queen INIary family. Other ac- quisitions were made from time to time, but we shall notice only those that have left living descendants. At Mr Bowie's sale at West Scryne in April 1 857, the cow Lady Ann, entered in the 'Herd Book' as Ilaniston 352, was bought for £37. Eaniston was bred by Mr M'Combie of Tillyfour, and was descended from the old herd of the Earl of Aberdeen at Haddo House. From her sprang the Caroline family at Mulben. In September 1857, at the dispersion of Mr Patrick Davidson's herd at Inchmarlo, there was secured the cow Jean of Inchmarlo 522. She was after a bull bred at Portlethen, and had gained the first prize as one of a pair at Aberdeen. The price was £34, 15s.; and Mr Paterson also bought her dam Calder, after a bull bred at Tillyfour. From Jean of Inchmarlo 522 the Ellen family at Mulben were descended. From tlie Castle Eraser dis- persion in 1870 came Fred's 2nd Darling 1045, of the Ballindalloch Sybil family, for 37 guineas. At the Tillyfour sale in 1871 a very fortunate purchase was made in the heifer calf of Pride of Aberdeen 5th 1174, after Jim Crow 4th 352, for 29 guineas. The animal,' of the Pride of Aberdeen family, was named Pride f ac- ( THE MULBEiV HERD. jgg of Mulben 1919, and tlie sale of her and h^v nfP • cl,e1 ' fiS " "? ''''" "' ^^"1^- --« M*o"n of Bod e Slow at leith in 18C1; Prince of Wales 453 bred at Vestertown, got by a son of tl,e Queen ballAVi dso 221 es K,tl ? ' ;'|;''"'/^^' ^'■^'1 '^y t''« ^=•'"■1 of Sontl,- 18 W A ,o '^, ^^""'''"' -21. a''d first at Glasgow in 1807 ; Arthur 478, bred at lialwylio • Sultin 477 , " WhTdl "^f T f'^L". '°" ""-^ ""' °' " daughter uuidsoi 221; Lochiel 723, after a son of Windsor- and J^ioic / 2. J he principal p.nnts about these sires we,e .e.r close relationship to the Queen bull Wi.^ Ir ""l h 1 r' r"""'' ;"."'' ^''°^^-^'''"'^'- ^^'l'"" "'« Mulben obtained by welUknown breeders. Sir George Macnhci ;^n Grant bought I'ride of Mnlbeu 1919 for^gS ' r e oti.er members of the Pride family were bou^ W Mr M Conibie of Tillyfour, and Mr Adamson, Ealq. a™ at hjgb prices. The Earl of Stratlin.ore made his fint pnrdiases at this sale, and among the other bu vi .v the Larl of life, the Earl of Aberdeen, Sh- W. 6 Go don Cunimiii. Part of Altyre; Mr Argo, Cairdtt, 1™ >>iedt DarUng 1056 and Fred's 2nd Darling 1045 each establi ed a t„be a Mountb airy and Mulben ; and Mr I>i„ ' aii Fordyce obtained Blanche 1117, who bred Bella Marylso" -who afterwards became the first-prize cow at the Inter national show at Paris in 1878. Mina 1009 and Lily 114 rberrtv:r ^^' ''- -"^-^-^ °^ -'"'^'^ -"■- Ahoyne Castle. The interest displayed in the polled breed by the Marquis of Huntly was suitably recognised by histoid slnps appointment as first President of the Polled Cattle bociety. lord Huntly commenced to breed polled ca t le Lv vn6f\ Tf '^"'''™"° "'^ two-year-old heifer Lnely 1164, who had won prizes at the Highland Society's and Eoyal Northern Society's shows as a yearling and f^W"* ■ \i 168 EXTINCT HERDS. two-year-old. Slie was the highest priced animal at Colonel Eraser's sale, costing 67 guineas, and the piice was justified by the excellent breeding qualities which she developed. At Tillyfour in 1871 was purchased Dora 1282 of the Daisy branch of the Queen tribe. She also proved a good investment, and besides breeding well, gained the first prize of the Highland Society at Glasgow in 1874. Her most notable produce were the bull Dragon 1178 used for some time in the Tillyfour herd; and the heifers Dorinda 2575 and Dewdrop 2581. In 1872 three animals were bought from the late ^Ir George Brown, AVestertown. They were the bull Pluto 602 of the Vic- toria family, and the heifers Duchess 3rd 943 and Duchess 4th 944 of the Duchess branch of the Queen trib(3. The sum paid for the three was 200 guineas. At Portlethen in March 1873, a pair of two-year-old heifers were acquired for 150 guineas: they were Cherry Blossom 901 and Flower Girl 895, the former of the Queen tribe, and the latter of the Kinnaird Fanny tribe. From Westertown, the same year, came Ducbess 7th 1197 of the Duchess family, and Eose of Aboyne 1596 of the Eose family, the price of the pair having been 120 guineas. At Mr Walker's sale at Portlethen in 1873 two cows were bought, and at Drumin that year Gem 1595 of the Pride family and Beauty of Drumin 939 of ]\Ir Skinner's Beauty family were bought for 131 guineas. At Mr Walker's disper- sion at Balquharn, in 1874, was secured Madge of Port- lethen 1217 of the Tillyfour Paith family, full of Keillor blood. She herself won the first prize at the International show at Kilburn, and her son Monarch 1182 was a first- prize Highland Society winner, and gained the cup pre- sented by Her Majesty the Queen at the Tarland show. Madge and five c ^er family carried off the prize awarded to the best group 1 -.oiled cattle at the lioyal Northern show in 1878. From Mr Ferguson, Kinnochtry, the Princess cows, Princess oi Vboyne 1st 2572 and Princess 1 "^^W^M :im'' 1 ilE ABOYNE CASTLE HEKD. 169 -ud 2o ,, ere obtaiiied for 120 guineas. The bull Duke TJ \. I/'" '"'"'"^ ^^ ^^'^ Westertowu dispersion in !«/ 1 At Mr Haun; v's sw^' at Corskie in 1877 the bull Warr. >r 1291, of the Rothiemay Victoria strain, was pur- chasec. for 155 guineas. r. tlie first-prize yeailing a.^ the Higi.land Society show, and his dam sold for 111 guineas and his sire Young Viscount 736 for '>'^5 guineas. S.vera^ animals were bought at the Indego f"f7".;/f^-^,^i--^' --^ Eotlnemay sale.s. In 18,8 at lillyfour, Pnde of Mulben 2,id 2359 was bought for 91 guineas and Vine 9th 3256 for 72 guineas ; and at the lillyfour dispersion in 1880, Charmer 3rd 3251 of the (»>ueen tribe was obtained f 50 guint'as The herd was thus based on the very b.-t obtainable material, and was collected at an expense of about £2000 Showing was rarely resorted to, the object having been to keep a class of regular and useful breeding animals. A number of first-rate bulls were bred in the herd and several of these were sold to the Marquis's tenantr'y on lavourable terms. In this way, as well as others, the herd exerted a most beneficial influence. When specimens from the herd were exhibited they obtained high honours at the national and local shows. Thus Lord Huntly had the rare fortune of gaining the Highland Society's first prizes for aged bulls and cows at CJlasgow in 1875, with Duke 01 1 erth and Dora. Monarch was also a first-prize bull at the Highland Society, and his dam Madge, as already mentioned, was the first-prize cow at Kilburn 1.1 18/9. Ihe chief distinction of the herd, and one that perhaps afforded its owner more satisfaction than any other was the rearing of the Madge family. Madge proved a first-rate breeder, and her offspring were uniformly good A large draft was sold from the herd in 1879 when 37 head averaged over £44; and in 1881 the herd was dis- persed, the average for 32 head being over £50 Tlie total proceeds of these two public sales was over £3200 r v; f^l V!I! i i I.! IMAGE EVALUATION TEST TARGET (MT-3) h A /^Jl^ A*^ Q. :/. i/. . >^.^ !> A ^' Ua % 170 EXTINCT HERDS. At the 1879 sale, Mr M'Combie of Tillyfour bought a good many animals, chiefly representatives of the various branches of the Queen tribe. Lord Tweedraouth also made several important purchases. At the sale in 1881, old Madge 1217 fell to the bid of Mr Smith, Powrie, for 100 guineas. Charmer 3rd 3251 was taken by Mr Wilkeu, Waterside, for the Honourable J. H. Pope, the Canadian Minister of Agriculture, for 100 guineas. Mr Burdett- Coutts bought Cowslip 2nd 3004 for 100 guineas, and Mr Greenfield of Beechwood secured Vine 9th 3256 for 115 guineas. Luff House, Few herds of polled cattle have had a more distinguished career than that which belonged to the Earl of Fife at Duff House, near Banff. For several years it occupied a leading position in the national and local show-yards, and during its short existence was instrumental in effecting considerable improvement among the live stock of the country. The bulk of the herd was taken over at valua- tion by Mr Hannay, Gavenwood ; and as we shall have occasion to give an account of the polled cattle at Gaven- wood, it is unnecessary here to enter minutely into the breeding and history of Lord Fife's stock. It is desirable, however, to indicate briefly the materials of which the Duff House herd was composed, and to record a few of its principal performances in the show -yard. Lord Fife founded his herd by the purchase, at Colonel Fraser's sale at Castle Fraser in 1870, of the cow Fanny of Corskie 1014 by Priam 467, for 53 guineas, and the bull-calf. Lord Ornoch 445 out of Fanny 1014 and after Jamie of Easter Skene 367, for 40 guineas. At the Easter Skene draft sale the same year was bought Beauty of Easter Skene 996, a member of the Keillor Favourite tribe, for 35 guineas. At Mr Tayler's sale at Eothiemay in 1872 was purchased Linnet 1706 of the Drumin Lucy family, for 23 guineas, THE DUFF HOUSE HERD. 171 and the very fine heifer, Heather Blossom 1189 of thfi Kothemay Victoria family, for 30 guineas. In 1872 here the valuable Lnca cow. Erica 4th 1697, for 60 cuineas ot Corskie 1932 of the Drumin Eose family, for 40 guineas and Cowshp 1709 of the Drumin Lucy sor for 30 fZeas The cow Corskie 23rd B. 1062 was added at the ZnTe aspersion in 1874. for 37 guineas, and Major of BoS e t^ 7TJT, "■' '""'« P'^«« «' « «™il« price, me splendid Pnde heifer. Lilias of TiUyfour 1795. out of Pride to ;i,„ it! ^^ ^"""''- ^» ""'«' «°™al was added to the herd from public sales. In addition, however to and value were enhanced by private treaty. In fact a feature ,n the collection of this famous herd was the addmons made to it privately. We shall mention ol he more .mportant of these transactions. Palmerston 374 land Sn"r? 'n "'f .P"^'' '" *« ^«^ <"*^« «t the ffii ' Mr W^r V «T^™' '^"^ '" 1870, was bought from T„^ Sreat many animals were bought in the Alford and Tarland d.stncts from Mr Shaw, Bogfern: Mr Hunter Confunderand; Mr Farquharson, East-T w^and Mr Strachan, Wester Fowlis. Among these may be nan"d Wd tirre. f""'^'^ ''"'■ '^''''^'^' ^™'" 'he KeTor aT J n "''"""d-pn^e cow at Stirling in 1873 From Mr Walker. Montbletton; Mr Morrison. Auchlin atd made" B^' ?^""'f ™' ^ '"''' -""'-■ "^ P-'>ases' we e made. The animals got from the Montbletton herd were exceedingly fortunate. They included Jinny 1017 the dam Iiines 1934, the first-prize cow at the Hiji'land i/Ui, the dam of the first-prize cow at Perth in 1879 ; and ' iJ If 11 '\ 172 EXTINCT HERDS. others of note. In 1873 a very important addition was made. la that year a bull-calf was bought from Mr Duff, Hillockhead, Glass. The bull was called Young Viscount 736, and his fame has travelled wherever the polled breed is known. A specimen of the Ballindalloch Erica family, he was shown as a yearling at the Highland Society's show at Inverness in 1874, as a two-year-old at Glasgow in 1875, and in the aged class at Aberdeen in 1876, and on each occasion he gained the first prize, He subsequently gained the challenge cup and the M'Oombie prize at the Eoyal Northern at Aberdeen, and having been sold to Sir George IMacpherson Grant for 225 guineas, won for him the first and champion prizes at the International show at Kil- burn in 1 879. He was used in the Duff House, Gavenwood, and Ballindalloch herds with excellent results. In 1874, at the Inverness show of the Highland Society, the bull Gainsborough 596, who had won the first prize there, was acquired from Mr Bowie, Mains of Kelly. The second- prize bull at this show, John Bright 642, bred at Bognie, was also used in the herd. With such fine material, and under able management, the Duff House herd came rapidly to the front. From 1872 to 1877 it supplied many of the Highland Society's prize-winners. The greatest success was achieved in 1876 at the National Society's meeting at Aberdeen, where there M'as an unusually grand display of polled cattle. Lord Fife M^as then first for aged bulls with Young Viscount 736 ; first for two-year-old bulls with St Clair 1160 ; very highly commended for the yearling bull Gladiolus 1161 ; first for cows with Innes 1934 ; .fourth for cows with I*a- tieuce 1932; very highly commended with Blackbird 1704; commended -with Crocus 1400 ; and second for two-year- old heifers with Maria 2nd 3015. As we have said, the herd was valued over to Mr Hannay, Gavenwood, and a notice of its subsequent progress will be found under the heading " Existing Herds." 1 t 5 n S n fi; al 11 I THE BALQUHAEN HERD. ■Balqitliarn. 173 Ml Henry D. Adamson, who went to the north „f Scotland to learu farming under Mr M'Combie of TO, foun naturally had his attention early dTe'llf /" =::?^!Strear ^H f^^i^^^^'^ polled ani.a..,,tt"tri:.d^S ti hT 'Z:J7 became associated was not actually started un«7/ f Cort' T'T ™P"'"'' P"'-^'-' "' ^-d Tri e-s s le at Cortachy, Kirriemuir. From that year till ss, t paid great attention to the collection ofl^ c oicf h f Mr Adamson's main aim appears to have bee to 't together some of the best specimens of the Pride of °I deen am.ly in order to demonstrate that fo usefnt '" c\"l b: ty"Xr'''''"^^' " '^^ '-' nl oft'X^ ceiebnty. In consequence of the owner's ill-heahl, 7i th'nTreSr lifr '"" "^^ ^^'i'slT at a publiclrof'ilSl^^ ridTr '^71 Mr Adamson's purchase at Cortachy, to wMch re et has been made, was the Pride co/kec^Turl ? I Pride of Aberdeen • out of "i aueiaeen Jicl 1168 and after Jim Crow '^r,! well known in fha v^t-u- , ^^^e Fyvie herd was dispersed n ,«'/^"'^^«"^ay herd. - averaged £30, 7s. 4d ThTZ, . ^1' ^^'^ '^^ head superior milking-cows of the F ^^"'^'^^ ^^"^^^ ^^^^o guineas each. ^^' ^^^^^^' ^^^% at 89 and 88 FiUlochallum.—M.v Gordon t n , „ herd of pure-bred cattle fb^it imf^' ^'"'^-^ ^ hull and five heifers from Mr II ' ''^ P^ohasing a hull was Drumin 744 after th^P ,'"""'' ^™'""'- ^he out of Ruby 951 of Mr 'Ji f"^' '"^ ^^--o 400, and -xtbullnsed wi; Iw of' Till ; "^r^ ''"»"^- ^he family, being out of Pride of Ih ^^' 1°^' "^ «'« ^^de brother of Hero 400 Then nt'" ^^^' "'"' ^ half. of the Queen tribe, '01^^ ITL^X t ^T '''■ Drumm ; Prince Albert 2nd 74^ , ' '"'"' '"''^d at of Baads 1947, and L^d ptovo'sfllo/",""! t ^""^ Hannay. Among the temJ^JJi' '"'"^ "^^ Mr TiUyfonr 2nd 1799, of a^ Pride f, ""\ ''""''^ "f daughters were sold privatelvlq- ,S' ''^°'^ twin- Cwming; Miss MacX o„ Ms '' ?^ .' ^^ ^'"■-^°- out of Erica 3rd 1249 f! 17% ""^ ^""^ family 124J, from Mr Duff, HiUockhead ; ^ 176 EXTINCT HERDS. Sybil from Ballindalloch ; a Duchess and a Rose from Westertown, &g. The herd was dispersed in 1877, when 32 head averaged £34. The highest-priced animal was Miss Macpherson 1252, sold to Mr Adamson, Balquharn, for 90 guineas. From the TuUocliallum herd were sent out some splendid commercial cattle, and it supplied Mr M'Combie of Tillyfour with a noted prize-ox at the Smithfield and Birmingham shows. Brucklay. — The Brucklay herd that belonged to the late Mr Dingwall Fordyce was established in 1870, by the purchase at Castle Fraser of Blanche 1117, from whom was bred Bella Mary 1503, who gained for Mr George Bruce the first prize for cows at the International show at Paris in 1878. Tillyfour, Portlethen, Fyvie, Westertown, Rothiemay, Easter Tulloch, and Drumin furnished the other female additions to the herd. The chief sires used were M'Combie 430, bred at Tillyfour, after Bright 454, and out of Miss M'Combie 1118; and Knight of Aven 775, bred at Drumin, both of the Queen tribe. The herd was dispersed in 1876, when 38 head averaged £31. Indcgo. — The late Dr Robertson of Hopewell had a herd of polled cattle at Indego, Tariand — animals from which were successfully exhibited at the shows of the Royal Northern Agricultural Society. The females in the herd were descended from the Tillyfour, Bogfern, and Haddo House herds. The best family, perhaps, was that tracing to Bess 1181, a daughter of Mr M'Combie's Rob Roy Macgregor 267. Bulls belonging to Mr Farquharson, at the adjoining farm of East-Town, were used, and at the time of the dispersion the stock sire was Sir William 705, after President 4th 368. This bull won the challenge cup at the Royal Northern show at Aberdeen in 1873, and was used in the Baads herd. Bognie. — Mr Morison of Bognie M'as most energetic in BOGNIE A.VD FMNVFLATT HEMS. j- f'e ".■ed, white, andln-t °' P""'"* '='''"''^ ^ »d of Mr Bates of Ki kl viZ^ ''^.P""'^f «'>r, guineas cow Pride of Mulben Srri ^'>aq ^ I 7 125 ffuinpna Ti,„ Av ,,. *^^*'^- *"« bought for in thf how varf„Ar°'"''. ''"''' '''^ fi'^' '^Pre««"t^ocn, Idlyfonr, Westertown, Ardgay, Bognie, and 1i1 I "■f«j^-sW.-,»f 18-1 EXISTING SCOTCH HERDS. Drumin. The herd took a high place at the shows of the Spey, Aven, and Fiddichside Farmers' Club, instituted in 1856, two of Mr Eobertson's pri?:e heifers at these shows going to Drumin, where one of them, Princess 950, founded a valuable family. In later years much of the Erica blood was infused by the use of males of that strain, and at the Garline sale in 1874, Mr William Eobertson acquired two Erica females, Ella 1205 and Editha 1737. Apart from these Ericas, the most valuable family in the Burnside herd was the Honestys, a branch of the Drumin Lucy family. These were remarkable milkers, old Honesty 1690 having yielded as much milk as any other two cows in the herd. On leaving Burnside for Aberlour Mains, Mr William Robertson sold the bulk of his herd in May 188C, when 31 animals averaged £28, 7s. 8d., 16 cows making an average of £32, 7s. A new herd was begun at Aberlour Mains. The herd, of which the nucleus was descendants of the Ericas bought at Garline, and Honestys bred at Drumin, now comprises Georgina 3893, descended from the late Mr Robertson's cow Princess 950, sold in 1862 to Mr Skinner; Delilah 3894, bred at Inver- allan, of the Drumin Lucy family, and her three-year-old daughter Rose of Aberlour 4845, by the Erica bull Egbert 1443 ; Honesty 3rd 3754, Helena of Aberlour 4849, Hon- nesty 6th 4848, and Hetty 4844, these four of the Honesty branch of the Lucy family; Jewel 1413, of the Jilt family ; Edma Erica 3759, of the Erica family ; Heatherbells, of Drumin blood ; Young Favourite 3rd 3533, of Kinnoch- try blood; and Duchess of Burnside 3762, descended from Old Grannie 1. Several other good families are represented, and the younger stock are after the Erica bull Whig 1867; Souter Johnny 1615, bred at Drumin; Moraystown 1439, a son of Adrian 2nd 622 and Forget- me-not 1685 ; and the Erica bull Egbert 1443. One of the sires now in use is Paris 1473, the first-prize two-year-old at the Paris Exhibition. In collecting his new herd, Mr >- ALTYRE HERD. 183 extra trouble it ii Isibl! T^^' '' "^'"' "^ ^^^^ '='«« the breed in beef InT ^ ' t^"""^ ^-^crificing the merits of U»'nZ thlv Stevenson, Blairshinnoch, for 100 Esther 4843 was bou-hffnM ^^ ?"•"*" ' *''« E""" -^^^ -. to M,o;^';tc^ -:s;s ^««^ -^ Altyre. years to populaH e ae^oledbCd o" "'"=', " ""™' animals from Altvrf \T.-1 " '^''"*' oeeasions theSmithfiedratSoH " "T *■" ®"'""'' <=^'«« at Sir William td'hetitelint; T""'"' ^'^«'"'-«' the Scotch cup but also fhr^i, ^''""°8' ""t ""'y oxen, and the ■.'«"! rbbln"ofT"? ^^^ '''^ '"'^^''^ """l •nals at London last year t1 k '''7' ^'* P""'^'^ ani- has not hithe to atpeCd nml t '??'"'*' ^''^''^ but it is of high merit Ind Z} ^ '° ''-■■'^^^. Jfooi The h^rdrCn^ :;:ce^rce\l7l^t d v^°r.lrr ' ^^^"-r °^ «" -^' ^ot someofrPaTe onrMw?""'*^- ^' ^ulben, in 1875, heifer O.VxZX^l^^^XZV^'^'^T- . ^"« Bothiema, that .eal. f^ /^gtr tMrs It^ „1 Altyre dl26, of the Kmnochtry Princess family. From 1 ii / I 4: 184 EXISTING SCOTCH HERDS. ! ( ! Mr Gordon, Tullochallum, Pride of the Findhc-n 3243, and Pride of Altyre 3244, were bought privately. They were twin daughters of Fancy of Tillyfour 2nd"' 1799, a granddaughter of Pride of Aberdeen 581, and were after Talisman 640. Of the Daisy branch of the Queen tribe, representatives were obtained from Mr Mackessack, Earn- side, for whom the cow Dido 3257, and Flora of Earnside 2113, had been secured at Tillyfour in 1871. The Kin- nochtry Favourite heifer, Favourite of Altyre 3127, was bought from Mr Ferguson. Banshee 2981, by Jester 472, was also added to the herd. The sires used have been Senator 863, bred at Ballindalloch, out of the splendid cow Sybil 974; Black Watch 1242, bred by Viscount Macduff, after Gainsborough 596, and out of Lilias of Tillyfour 1795, of the Pride tribe ; and Dustman 1667, bred at Aboyne,' after Warrior 1291, and out of Dandelion 2569, of the Duchess branch of the Queen tribe. The herd thus com- prises members of the following families : Pride, Daisy, Princess, Favourite, Westertown Eose, Mulben Mayflower! &c. Surplus females are sold privately, and the bull calves are in demand at the public sales. Ardhuncart. When Mr Walker's father entered the farm of Ard- huncart, Kildrummy, in 1811, he commenced breeding what was at that time considered pure Aberdeenshire cattle. About the years 1826 and 1840 he obtained fresh strains of polled blood from Wester Fintray, through Mr Eoss, Oldt.-wn, Tarland. Stock from the Crathe°s and Mains of Kelly herds were also introduced. That splen- didly bred bull, Draco 338, after the Queen sire Windsor 221, and out of the Dora cow Dolores 1285, was bought at Kinnaird in 1861, and improved the herd very much. Cows and bulls were obtained from Tillyfour, Clova, Archballoch, and Reekie in Alford. The herd has never AUCHORACHAX HERD. jgg been pampered or fed for show purposes but hn, ol -^uchorachan. fo7ntdla"'mrt''t,*: '"■ ^^"»"'' '™'''> «™>*' -- erine fa„n,. Bella's fi^'tlfBlirirS'l" t, '"?- Pride bull Thane 1243 is stil in t , ,^^01 by tl,e otlier four heifer calw' »,1 V\ ""'■ ^''^ ''^^ '''-"l 4754, calved in sqn^ *"" ''"<'■ ^-™^P' B^^ara Mr WiCC't^ ;To ^nirT''^'- ^'^^ '» breeding family snip' i;j .?,'"°e''S- They are a fine Another^url^"; fS, T1 '^■'^; ''■■'^ large - framed. of the liey f^m J tult "'"m^ ^^ "' "'> "^ 2-"' for «8. She only left one Iff T .'""f ' '''*^ '" ^^^ was the dam of Linne 47^1 i ^ ^ ^""^^ ^^^2, who has turned out a verv nrlfil K, "°''^ "' ^^ guineas, she the Eriea Cl^ZZt^'^Sr'T'- ■ ^'" '^'^''^^ 411. She has breTH r , ''^'' ''"'" '^ ^y Cavalier heifers a,e a 1 reWne 1 T"' T """^ '™ '"'"^- The kept strafn T e bu Is w ° " u " """""" ^"^ ^-"^"y superior stock. Nose" t 2 55 b . f T'^'^' ^"^ '^" Phersou Grant, warrdld'^f ' llf h^^-f L^^sT "^^■■ U ' r teTy .I'l^ '^^^''": '''' -" '° «- b.i .^ and only one h ,Ter' T rb"r"'1 "' ''"'" ''"" -'-« Victoryls64,tdbyjLS;:^^ '" /«^«' S«' "y the herd, and has pr^^ure;:!^.^ Vhf ist 186 EXISTING SCOTCH HERDS. big lengthy cow, with fine hair and quality, and has a heifer calf at foot, after the stock bull Viscount Duff 1365. The cow and calf are among the most valuable and best- looking animals in the herd. Silvia 3073, of the Sybil family, bred by Sir George Macpherson Grant, and pur- chased at Mr Gordon's sale in 1877, was the next addi- tion. She has bred bulls which have been sold at good prices, one this year bringing 40 guineas at the Aberdeen joint sale. In 1877 was purchased from Mr Duff, Hillockhead, Glass, the heifer Erica 8th 3550, and the bull Vis- count Duff 1365, bred by Lord Fife. For the two a high price was paid. Erica 8th— herself, as her name im- plies, an Erica— was sent to the fine Erica bull Elcho 595, and produced in December 1878 a heifer calf, Erica 10th 3957. In October 1880, Lord Southesk, who was then laying the foundation of a herd, wishing to get back some of his old Erica family, went to Auchorachan and bought from Mr Grant ilie cow Erica 8th, at the handsome price of 100 guineas. Erica 10th is still in the herd, and, like her dam, promises to be a first-rate milker. She had a bull calf last year, which was retained, and this year she has a fine heifer calf, after Cupid 2nd 1925. At the Mar- quess of Huntly's sale in 1879, the cow Bellona 2579 was bought. She belongs to the Drumin Beauty family, and is a cow of good substance and superior milking-qualities. She has had two bull calves, which were sold privately, and this year she had a fine heifer calf by Viscount Duff 1365. At the same sale was bought Guitar 4749 of the Pride family. She has improved considerably, and has a bull calf after Viscount Duff. From Mr Eobertson, Burn- side, was acquired the cow Honesty 1690, bred by Mr Skinner, Drumin, of the Lucy family. She had a bull calf, and is one of the best milkers in the herd. At Mr Adamson's sale at Aberdeen in 1881, Mr Grant bought for 105 guineas the cow Eegina 1179, a granddaughter of BAADS HERD. 187 Pride of Aberdeen 581, and noticed elsewhere as the dam of some capital stock. In calf when Mr Giant boIhM she produced in Mav 1«S1 « /'"/'^^/'lant bought her, Knight of the Shire 1699 TI if- ^^ '^' ^'''^' ^^^^ hrar} T> • 1 ,. /"^^ -^^yy- This calf IS one of the curest Co2 Mfi ^ ^f ^»^g'"'' i>i«i a bull calf, after Youn« «™^- I*— " . how received thlf ^ J i^ ' "'^ ™provement of the herd lead r. nnl ^"-^it ""''""°" ^'"'='> ™'«'^ i' t-ke the dd isT!rr„f'" .' •'"""''y -hich it soon afterwards Zv.dlV '""' ^'""^^y *■>« herd has been im- riSBI o" , r' r^'- " "''^ •'^ '"^■'«o»ed that, whUe m 1861 only four first and two second prizes were kinld ttiZZ::^ fr™' \'"^^ with VeJntZro' herd f 1870 .n^' ,«^o"""'"'' "^ P"'=^^ g*''°^'l ^y the nerd in 1879 and 1880 was as follows : 42' first prizes sectdtr ."r ■'""^•^^ ""^^ ^"<^ ^ -^«'^. b-Merfs son^'^Grfnf """"'iJ •^"'"''"'"'^ ''^ «'' «oorge Macpher- son Grant was Erica 843, acquired at the Earl of Sonthesks sale at Kinnaird in October 1861 for ^0 mTclw r" "" ''"' P''^--' «PPo--oe orthi most celebrated cow, and her performances before she left ttt hl'rd ^Zti "'"."™ '''''''' '» *•>« ---to HSat-^y^s^rall,^-^^^^^^^^^^^^^^ good addition was Svbil Q^d r.. I j , ^"^^^^^ -i?„ 1- ".""^» oyou y74 purchased at the Oacsflo Fraser dispers on in 1871 for fiq r,,,- ''' ;^^ ^^stle almost overprize suZtJ^jr^'J^LT^:^, eiy. Ut the Pride family, valuable additions have t! Jil '^f ■ JH M ' r^B ''£l^^S HJaB i ^r^^H 192 EXISTING SCOTCH HERDS. D Iff * , been made in Kindness of Ballindalloch 1412, bought at Drurain in 1873, and that grand cow Pride of Mulben 1919, purchased at Mulben in 1876 at 91 guineas, the highest price that had been paid up to that time for a female of the breed at a public sale. Other additions have been made as follows, the whole having either been prize- takers themselves or the dams of prize stock : Rose 3rd 925, purchased at Westertown in 1874; Maid of Orleans 2nd 1177, bought at Tillyfour in 1874; Nymph 972, who came from Tillyfour in 1864; Madge 2nd 4180, bought at Aboyne in 1879; Kate Duff 1837, bought at Eothiemay in 1881 for 155 guineas ; and Blackbird 3rd 3766, bought at Gavenwood, &c. The closest attention has without intermission been be- stowed on the selection of sires, in the belief that as to a great extent " like begets like," the stock sire should be of the very best breeding, combined with the best shapes that can be obtained, and in no case without good form in every point. Craigo 260, got by a Balwyllo bull, and out of a cow bred at Keillor, was followed by King Charles 236, bred at Southesk, and got by the celebrated Druid 225, dam Kathleen 339. The next sire introduced was an animal of exceptional excellence. Tiiis was Trojan 402, purchased at Tillyfour in 1865 for 50 guineas. Out of the Paris cow Charlotte 203, he was after Black Prince of Tillyfour 366. An analysis of his pedigree shows no fewer than twelve terminations in Panmure 51. A half- brother of Pride of Aberdeen 581, being out of the same dam, he had by his sire Black Prince of Tillyfour 366 (out of Maid of Orleans 580 and after Rob Roy Macgregor 267) more of the Queen and Panmure blood than even his celebrated sister. In fact there have been few, if any, better bred specimens of the Queen tribe. Trojan was also individually of very superior character. He won the first prize as a yearling at the Newcastle show of the Royal Agricultural Society of England, the second prize BULLS USED AT BALLINDALLOCH. 193 "did more good to t^^ 11 n'"^ ''""^^ "'*' Trojan any other bu'lUhau":bl?Ll"V"' ''''''^' "'- the first bull tlmt cave tTf , ,^^ ""^ undoubtedly at Till r ' "^ fifst-pnze bull Scotsman ata 1 j at Tillyfour, out of 2ara 7 99s "" f.'="t™au 474, bred the Erica bull Elohies 563 I 4 '^™ ^^^ ^'^ 350; the Erica bull Elcl 59 '"?"/■'' f ' '"'^ J"'-y">» Judge 1150, who won thrjd^™; f '' T J"^^"'"" -dam Jilt 973, aire Scotsmu Oft " "'' '" ''^« valued in the herd mav bl J . [ "''"' '"''^' "'« most tor. Elchies, El ho 2~"^ *.° 'r"^ ''^«'' ^''^J-- Wie- the first four were charZr ' !'f "^"^S"- ^''^ ^tock of bone, excellent head for S^ '''"""''''' '""''"''' "^ did quality, and grand "b,/" "'' ^f'^ '' '"»«" > ^P'en- valuable msting^parts Th! 71 ^I'f^ "^"^''^ "" «>^ had rather moreLe clhi" ^ *1 °^ "^"' ''''"' '^''^^ ties. One of tl s reHowt '1 """'^ ^""^ k * 208 CHAPTER XL ! )l EXISTING SCOTCH HERDS— CONTINUED. CAiRPSEAT-CLiNTEUTY-CoLLiTiiiE-Mr Tirie's early herd-Mr Bruce's hcrd-CoNSLASS-CeleLrated breeders iu the Garioch forty years ago — Mr Stephen's champions at fat stock shows— Cortachy— Lord Airlie's purchases at Mr M'Combie's sale in 1874-The magnificent heifer Pavilion 3772— Three animals acquired at Tillyfour in 1878 at an average of £93— The Ballindalloch bulls Juryman 404 and Elcho 595 used— Lord Airlie's elforts to develop the milking qualities of the breed-DRUMFEKGUE— Established thirty-five years ago, but records lost-DRUMiN— Mr Skinner's Lucys and Beautys— Marshal 399, gave the herd its characteristic of size-Mr Skinner's success in the show- yard- Earnside— East Town— The herd commenced prior to 1822— Longevity of the Patricia family-EASTER SKENE-Mr M'Combie lays its foundation forty-two years ago- Another testimony to the impres- siveness of Panmure 51— Show-yard victories with his descendants- — Over 300 prizes won by the herd-EASTER Tulloch— The largest herd in existence- Superiority of the blood contained in it— Fasque _A noteworthy breeding cow, Eugenie 3910-Fintray-Gavenwoou —Mr Hannay's efforts towards the improvement of the breed— The Highland Society first-prize winners. Young Viscount 736, Innes 1934, and Blackbird of Corskic 2nd 3024 -Large and successful sales- Glamis— An excellent herd of six years' standing. Cairdsccd. Mr Argo's herd at Cairdseat was founded by the pur- chase in 1874, at Mr M'Combie's sale at Altbrd, of Sophia 1978, by Derby 377. Her daughter Suowflake 404U, by Ballot of Wellhouse G34, and her gvauddaughter Sunshine 2nd 4383, by Wellhouse 1311, are now in the herd. Caro- line 3rd 3581, by the Erica bull Emperor 396, came from CLIXTERTY HERD. 209 ??^oS^i'''S'^^r^" '•>--'-"'- ing 2363, of the Ball Sybil's Darling 3rd. Sybils Darl en dispersion 4384 of Fred's" '5^1, no ^■"'° "'"' ""^"''^ -leaning 40o0, out ol iti 00 „d t'"iru"" '" "'' '^"'^°»' Waterside ".ental Farm Ko,t^l«f ."■""' '" '^' ^"'ario Experi- i.erd ; La."- of 't ,/e ,^1^^'^^, ^'™' ,"- f-P"'"^ Gi-annie 1, witl, her ifelfe L? it f?"^ 5™'" '^''^ 3559; Lamina, out oi'LiSl'S 2nd 4 SsTft^ Fyvie Flower ffl mil., n ^i ^, -^^^^^ ^"^i 4083, of the are never fprl fr^^ oi • , ^cxu oociecy. 1 he females oond ™n Mr aIo r^^' " "'' ^'^' '" """^ "''^^"ing bulls u "d i' hif ifer „d s"! T f l""^'^ "^ '•^S-'^^ «'« p^.nues to tui'iti;:^^: tt xnf:;;ttn' Clinterty. Mr George Reid of Little Clinterty, J>aads, connnenced a herd ut Sniiddyhili son of Mr Eeid, , Tarland, in 1872,' )^ f '' ' 11 it 5*' ?1 ' \m ti Hiita>iiaW(AB 210 EXISTING SCOTCH HERDS. by the purchase of a cow named Livy 2nd from Mr Bowie, Mains of Kelly, and the bull Prince Albert 2nd 745, by Sir William 705, dam Kate of Baads 1947, from Mr Eeid, Baads. Several other fine animals were added, but pleuro- pneumonia broke out, and they nearly all succumbed to it. After coming to Climerty in 1876, Mr Eeid determined to make a fresh start, but again he was cleared out by pleui-o in 1878. The present is therefore the third herd begun by Mr Eeid. The bull Duke of Edinburgh 979 had been added from Baads, and the chief purchases since have been —Waterside Queen 2nd, of the Kinnaird Fanny family, bought at Mr Wilken's sale in 1878 ; Hope 3895, of the Drumin Lucy family, and Flossy 5027, of the Westertown Victoria family, at Mr Eobertson's sale at Burnside in 1880; Craigellachie 3882, by Warrior 1291, at Lord Airlie's sale ; Bella of Baads 4375, Spott of Baads 4378, and Clara of Baads 5025, from Baads. In February 1881, Black Prince of Greystone 1850 was bought from Mr Eeid, Greystone. He was a most promising bull, and a first-rate stock getter, but unfortunately he died of splenic apoplexy in July of the same year. In October 1881, Lord Chancellor 1782, after Sir Maurice 1319, and out of Crocus 2nd 3765, of the Balwyllo Isabella family, was ac- quired at the Eothiemay sale, and is coming on well. The number in the herd at present is thirteen, representing chietiy the Lucys of Drumin, the Westertown Victorias, and the Livies of Mains of Kelly, &c. The only animal sold from the herd was Prince Albert 2nd, who went to Mr Gordon, Tullochallum. He gained a number of prizes, including first at the Eoyal Northern, and second at the Highland Society. Duke of Edinburgh was a prize-winner at Tarland. Collithie. The farm of Collithie is a somewhat celebrated place in the annals of polled cattle. The present tenant, Mr James COLUTME IIEKD. 311 r.ruce, has in his possession an oil-painting of the cows itr,f,. " 'V"" "'^ •'"'"^^^"'^ ''• the former t %tr' ^ ■''"= f ""^ ^'sWand Society's show in ibi/. ihese animals were bred by Mr J, Pirie, Collitliie a> d were very much admired by tlie late Mr M'Combie .me or oftf ''7' ''"f "' ' '"8'^ l"'-' -^ ^"e be- came one of the matrons of the Tillyfour herd. Mr Brnce a tec a herd of polled cattle in 1875. when he pnrch sod eight heifers, bred by Mr Morrison, Knockiemi 1, TurTff We need not enumerate them, as seven of them ^ere so J shortly alter wards. The animal retained was Fai y qIu 306o. after IJector 2nd 734, and descended from tlie old If 1,: M " t,°"h "™- ^'"^ '"'' ''^' p-™n^», „ ,. °*' ™" » ^ ere all purcha.sed n 18/C. In 1877. Fasl,icn 982, of the Ballindal och Lady la,,ny family, was bought from Mr Brnce, Burnsidc iochabers, and Princess Dag.nar 2nd 3021. of he Matil.la branch of the Qaeen tribe, from Mr Hannay, Gavenwo llie sires used have been: Ha.uy 3rd 6C1, h.ed at Boi- ler,,, and descended Iron, the Keillor herd ; Hero of Miil ben 61, bred by Mr Paterson, of the Mulben Mn.lot a„,ily; khedive of Ballindalloch 1153, bred by S Georg^ Macpherson Grant, of the Pi ide fa„,ily and after the Erica bull Elchies 5G3 ; Keillor 2nd. after Kei lor 37o\, ' out of Kate 3rd of Easter Tulloch ' ) K I ^ >f^ I i 1 35 G2 ; uud Lord IJ UIl- m 212 EXISTING SCOTCH HERDS. dreary 1495, bred at Tillyfour, of the Kinnaird Rebecca family. T]ie herd numbers about thirty females, repre- senting the families we have mentioned. In 1877, a heifer, Eosebud, was sold to Mr Henry Haynes, Drayton Basset, Tamworth ; in 1878, Queen of Fernyflatt 2nd 2424, and Alicia 3980, were sold to Mr Anderson, Boghead of Cob- airdy ; in 1878, four cows and four heifers were sold to Mr Brown, Link wood ; in 18' r-,, yth 3670, Julia of Collithie 3671, and Vine 4507, ^ . dcld to Mr Mackenzie of Portmore, at £33 each ; in 1881, Lulu 4526, Pauline 3672, Princess Dagmar 5th 4526, and Fair Lady 4525, were sold to Mr Wilken, Waterside, at about £40 each, for exportation to the Hon. J. H. Pope, Canada; in 1881, Mr Wilken bought Pearl of Springbank, dam Pearl 3013, for Mr J. r. Foote, New Jersey, and Fair Flower 4726 for Hon. J. H. Pope; Princess Dagmar 6th 4827, sold to Mr Wilken a short time previously, also going to Hon. J. H. Pope. As to the longevity of the breed, Mr Bruce men- tions that two years ago an old cow died at Collithie that in her seventeenth year produced twin calves for the fifth time in succession. The cow was kept solely for rearing calves, and they always did well, with the exception of those of the last year, when she was thoroughly exhausted. Latterly, however, the calves were more difficult to bring up and worse to feed. Conglass. Mr Stephen, Conglass, informs us that the Aberdeen- shire breed of cattle has been on that farm beyond his recollection. Upwards of forty years ago his father had several of them, yellow as well as black, and some with horns, but he always bred from a polled bull, and the horns gradually disappeared. The late Mr James Walker, Wester Fintray ; Mr Morrison, Balhaggardy ; Mr James Collie, Middleton of Fintray; and Mr Stephen's father, were the principal prire-winners at the local shows at CONGLASS HERD. „,„ that time. Mr Stephen bought a bull frou, M,- J-Con.bie ntrt H-^'] , , ** '''■"°"'' P"='« '" "« Class of acred bulls an "i nfj o ""' 'rT ^""' '" ^^^^^ Malcfln. w the CI nil! n "'^ ^'"^ ^^ ^^' St-'Phen which gained when f ='' "P,"' "'" ^'">''''' ^'""'«"' ^I'o- in 1864 let „i fi / ? ""'^ "' ^''"'='"^^' ^™^ "'« !">■'' bull for th Z t " ■''"* ^l' ''^P'"" ^™^ •^-'l- He wa vhe f ™"' °"' "f "'"'^'' """"^d 'he second prize elc „ ml-'t? °\ ' "' ^'"-»S'-. and first at sLtt bo Tt K, '■ ' "■ f ' '" '^'^''' «"">«' "'« fi''«t prices asses twel n P"'' '^ ""^ '"'^' »-^ '" «'« Scotcl' Classes, as well as the extra prize offered by Mr iiatcliffe .liiese oxen fetched sn o^ri 7- • ' xiaLuine. "''=" ";«-"ea bll and 7o guineas respectivelv niui each carcass vvei<'hed Ifil ^wf i\r c. ,P'='-'"'-'y. anu atelv sent Ar.,I„ I o /. - , ^^'' Stephen unfortun- va ue '"" f °'" 2nd to the butcher before h6 knew his value Heifers got by him also turned out first class animals. AtChristnnsfn 1«71 ir c., , nisc-ciass „i T- ■ , "^l*"l^l''Stephenanainexhiliitpd Mafc'Z "tram; T '"T' ^^^''^ "'". ^hose^danrwls by caught foot-and-mouth disease at BirnHn..ban, -uid ,1 ,1 eontrturr" ^' '?""'™^ ^^ ''' StephllHar ot cess the r f"""^ P,"'" "^'"■'•'- ^'''« ^''""■■ya.d s„e- Tears 1 e ° T' "' ' '' ^'""'"""^ ^■'"^«' f"'' several >ears the cows slipped calf, and the bulk of the anim.k fTmilv rf "' '" "" '^"'^"^'■- '^''>« ''- of e H which Mr M'Combie of Tilyflu'r Gained thelt "■"'"' Poissy in 1862, and the folW c.^ It sLubfi T." "' bred at CoutI^.^ „.,.! ..... ,r.. o ° .^^'". "' *>nnthfield, was ass, and was, Mr Stephen infoi than the renowned ox Black I 'iince. ■nis us, heavier t N 3 1'^ K^^msmsi-mm 214 EXISTING SCOTCH HERDS. Cortachy. The late Earl of Airlie commenced the breeding of polled cattle more than twenty years ago, but it was not until about 1865 that he began to devote special attention to the formation of a herd that rapidly came to the front. Among the early purchases were Delia 1533, New Year's Day 1124, and Jessica 2nd 3231, from Mr Whyte, Spott. Victoria of Kelly 345 was acquired from Mr Bowie, Mains of Kelly, and additions were also made from the Port- lethen, Aldbar, Spott, The Thorn, Easter Tulloch, The Burn, and other herds. At the sale held by the late Mr M'Combie of Tilly four at Alford in 1874, Lord Airlie secured four of the best-bred cows and heifers disposed of on that occasion. They were — Eegina 1179, of the Pride family, purchased for 40 guineas ; Sylph 2nd 1787, of the Queen tribe; Salvia 1781, of the Zara tribe, who cost 60 guineas; and Diana 1782, of the Daisy branch of the Queen tribe, who cost 76 guineas, being the highest price paid at the sale. Miss jNIacpherson 1252, of the Erica tribe, who had been bought at TuUochallum for 90 guineas, was secured by Lord Airlie at a very long price. At TuUochallum, in 1877, Tord Airlie purchased the heifer Dwina 3081, of the Eothiemay Georgina family, for 60 guineas. In the same year, at Mr Hannay's sale at Cor- skie, was purchased Erica 4th 1697 for 101 guineas, and some others of lesser note. At the Montcoffer sale in 1878, Lord Airlie paid 46 guineas for the calf Pavilion 3772. She turned out a magnificent heifer, and it was a great misfortune that she died when under three years old. A few good animals were bought at Rothiemay in 1878, but the most important purchases were made at Tillyfour in 1880. At that sale three animals were ac- quired at an average of over £93 each. They were— Pride of Aberdeen 5th 1174, at 135 guineas; Sybil 1st of Tillyfour 3524, at 110 guineas; and the calf Pride of CORTACIIY HERD. 215 Aberdeen 23rd, at 35 guineas. Tride of Aberdeen 5lh was the only daughter of the original Pride offered at the sale, and although in her thirteenth year, she looked fresh and useful. She had bred some of the finest members of this fashionable family produced in recent years, among them Mr Ferguson's national prize bull Shah, Mr Hannay's Lihas of TiUyfour, and Sir George Macpherson Grant's Pride of Mulben. Sjbil 1st, who was bred at Baads, won among other honours, the first prize as a cow at the Hicrh- and Society's show in 1877, and the first prize and Ciral- lenge Cup for the best animal of the breed at Aberdeen the same year. Her daughter, Sybil 2nd, after a very distinguished career, was sold to Lord Southesk for 180 guineas. Among other animals added at various times we may note Pride of Tarland 3148, Fair Lady 2159 Frances of Airlie 3050, Constance 4196, Nosegay 4th 2974 Lady Eegula 4200, &c. ^ j , In the selection of sires, equal discretion has been dis- played. Bolshan 420, bred by Lord Southesk, a local prize-winner, after Jupiter 471, a son of Windsor 221 and out of Ehoda 566, a daughter of Cup-Bearer 59, was followed by the national prize bull Juryman 404 of the Ballindalloch Jilt tribe. Belus 749, a son of Juryman, and bred m the herd, was next used. Potentate 1199, bred at Kinnochtry, after Shah 680, and out of Princess 3rd 1771 of Mr Ferguson's Princess tribe, proved a very useful stock sire. Logie the Laird 6tli 1623, from Mr Bowie's herd after Gainsborough 3rd 598, and from the same Lizzy family as produced the renowned Hanton 228, was secured at a long figure. Pontiff 1497, a son of Potentate, and descended from the Keillor herd, and Prince Chase 1454 of the Zara tribe, got by Challenger 1260, were also in service. The sires more recently used have been tl e Erica bull Elcho 595, the Pride bull Provost 1259, and the Erica bull Erison 1624— the two first-named bred at Bal- lindalloch, and the last bred in the herd. I ■•f 1 I i I i ■JA^.i -II ? 216 EXISTING SCOTCH IIEIJDS. 'f ! ( H It was expected that by tlie end of this year's calvinr. season the herd would number about 105 head The principal families represented are the Pride of Aberdeen Jirica, Sybil, Delia, Jessica, &c. Among the show-yard honours won by the Cortachy T70 ^T. ^J"" '"'^"^ ^'''^' ^^ ^^'^ Highland Society in 1879 with Pontiff 1497 and Pavilion 3772 ; two first pLs at the Highland Society's show in 1880, with the heifers Pavilion 3772 and Miranda 4204 ; a first and a second prize at Carlisle, with Ericson 1624 and Pavilion; and the first prize for two-year-old heifers at the Highland Society in 1881, with Miranda, descended from Colonel lAPInrov's d stock at The Burn. A large number of prizes have also been gained at local shows. Two public sales have been held. At the sale in 1876 26 head averaged over £35 ; and at the sale in 1880 43 head averaged over £30. At the sale in 1876, the Pi'ide cow Eegina was bought by Mr Adamson, Balquharn, for J. rJT.l- ^^ ^^' Adamson's sale in 1881, Ke^ina mi /.9i ^"'ITI' "^^ ^'' '^""S'^'^^'^ ^'^'^' of Aberdeen 18th 4321, and Pride of Aberdeen 25th 4331, 160 -uin-^as and 50 guineas respectively-P.egina and her two^alves thus averaging £110. A feature of the Cortachy herd is its superior milking, qualities Lord Airlie was careful to select animal, of noted. milking strains, and he was able to produce lecords which somewhat surprised those who disparaged the milk ing properties of the breed. To his lordship's efforts in this direction reference is made elsewhere. Brumfcnjue. The ' Herd Book ' entries of the cattle belonging to Mr Wi ham Wilson at Drumfergue, Gartly, scarcely do justice to the breeding of the animals composing the herd. It was lounded by the late Mr James Smith, Drumfer« »»'- -"Oh gained a VrlJlVZuVJr'-r ""'''' '^ ''''^ Th,s occu,.redbefo,.e the' Herd Pn"^"" '" l^^ft therefore it is i„,po,3iWe To five ""' ''"^"^''^''' •'"■1 herd l,as been kept pure siuee te co^'"'" ^'"'°"S'^ "'e long prices were paid hvZ, °°'""'«™eme„t, and very ".e best l.reede..s'i;'t';fe ; tl W-!" '" ^'"^ '™'" the farm, was unable to tra.e 7' ,''""■ °" ""tering - than to cows by MoonraLe r'oT ''"^''''^^ f-'ther back bred by Mr Tayfer of G e„tr 'v «!" f ''''"'""' '^°' ""'h •i5.a,ui descended from the rV« f '""' ^^er Elector after lio.i Accord 446 and 1 'f ^"''^' ""'' «'e latter herd. The sire in u^'e ,t n^ ! ^™'" ""^ ^^^''e Eraser by Sir Willian, Forbes Ba,.t^nT,''- ^'^■*"''" '''^' bred and of the Mains of k^ 'w f T''"""""'' *"' "25, Viously used by Mr Wilo„ .vl t Z'^- ^'"^ hulls pre- tha M^indsor b™,cl> rf he n, Iw -t '''™""°" ^^^S °f a son of Palmerston 374 ? L f^' ""<• ^iinon 1205. breeding, and left stock of.'' """^ «" "f good 'attened. The ^^.Jlt^ZZ T'^'Z' T' ^^'"^ are descended from the old Dr, r ' ^""^ °^ them addition having been Lit ^TfT<' «tock, the chief -ting the Wrndsorltroflt-^u^rtl"^^' ^-^ ■ . -Driinwi. f'tne^SilL:;::,^^:—' ^•'-' ^«^« ^^thelate M. Skinner. Mr Skinner H ^"''"'' °""«''' Mr W f-m Morayshire, the pedlrerof'^b" T^" ''''" "-^'f-^ t-ned. From them spr, SXef fTn n' "? "^^ °h- ^ o t-nee icimiliys, of which the 218 EXISTING SCOTCH HERDS first recorded members are Fortune 945, Grace 946, and Eliza 900. In 1802 there were bought from Mr Bowie, Mains of Kelly, the heifers Young Lucy 047 and Young Iianiston 948. As these are the animals that established the families that have mainly raised the reputation of the herd, it is desirable to furnish a brief analysis of their pedigrees. Young Lucy 947 was after Young Panmure 2:52, bred by Mr M'Combie of Tillyfour, the first-prize aged bull at Dumfries Highland Society show in 1860. He was got by Hanton 228, and out of Crinoline 204, one of the closest-bred Queen cows at Tillyfour, a daughter of the celebrated Charlotte 203. Young Lucy's dam, Lucy of Portlethen 287, was after Fyvie 13, a son of the Keillor bull Old Jock 1. Lucy of Portlethen 287 was out of the same cow as Eaglan 208, who was in the prize-list at tliB Paris Exhibition in 1856, when Mr Walker, Portlethen, his breeder, refused an offer of £230 from the Emperor Napo- leon. Young Pianiston 948 was after Alford 231, a son of Hanton 228 and the Queen cow Fair Maid of Perth 313, a first-prize winner at the Royal English and Highland Societies' shows. From these two heifers, acquired from Mr Bowie, are descended the Lucy and the Beauty fami- lies. In 1862, two heifers were purchased from the late Mr Piobertson, Burnside. One of these died, but the otlier, Princess of Burnside 950, has left a good family. At the Tillyfour sale in 1867, the cow Dandy 949 was bought. Her breeding was very fashionable, she being out of Empress of France 578, a full sister of Pride of Aberdeen 581, and after Rob Roy Macgregor 267, a full brother of the famous Kinnaird bull Windsor 202. At the same sale in 1867, the heifer Pride 957, after President 4th 368, and out of Pride of Aberdeen 3rd 1168, was acquired. The chief females added since were Moonlight 1479, of the Rothie- may Georgina family, dam of those excellent bulls Sir Roger 702 and Sir Wilfred 1157, both Highland Society prize-winners ; Rompie 2298, from Burnside, full of Queen DUUMIX HERD. 219 lieifers from Main, of K.iT .1 / .. ''' ^"^^ '^"'^ ^^'^ 20^ , iTV Tilljfour 1195, a danghter of The Belle Iu„na,nl Dora co.v Dulcinea 334. Matlf; ;!" Ut^ sWI fo,,o„, the Dn„„i„ ,tock was i„l,erite,l from In Cla,!ma,f of f'/™" ^"'^f-"''-- '^dJed ; i„ ISTo! m' rr • ^ ,^^'-P"^« Highland Society bull- in other h„n ^i "^ ^^ *"' ^''°™"^ Gladstone. The other bulls used have mostly been bred in the herd-viz Byron 639, an e.xcellent stock getter ; Comet 14 Lor." pr,ze two-year-old at the Highland Society ■ Cunid 14 and Scottish Kni-rht 177(5 Tl,» >„,ii i 1 ', ^ ' i,„ -n "'o'"' i//D. i.ne bulls latelv in nsp nvo As will be gathered from the foregoing, the bulls used 3males have also met with much' )? I i ••t'li I f! suc(3ess at the '^fli EXISTING SCOTCH HERDS. local and county shows, while severai national honours hava been won. At Aberdeen, in 1868, Mr Skinner was first for two-year-old heifers; at Edinburgh, in 1869 third with Beauty 959 ; at Dumfries, in 1870, first and third for yearling heifers with Heather Bell 962 and Catherine 961, and third for cows with Beauty 959; at Inverness, in 1874, third for two-year-old heifers with Sweetheart 1689 ; at Aberdeen, in 1876, first for heifer calves with Gaiety 2219; at Edinburgh, in 1877, first for yearlinrr heifers with Sunshine 2nd 3333, who was also first as a two-year-old at Dumfries in 1878, second as a cow at Perth in 1879, third at Carlisle and fourth at Kelso in 1880, and fourth at Dumfries in 1881. Tlie Lucys and Beautys are the favourite ftimilies in the herd. Some fine stock are also descended from the Heather Bell family, notably the group of Patiences at Gavenwood. Pavilion 3772, a member of this family, was one of the most per- fect heifers of the breed ever seen. Mr Skinner has held two public sales. The sale in 1873 was the best of the kind held up to that date Cows averaged £43, 13s., two-year-old heifers £44, 10s., yearlino- heifers £34, 13s., heifer calves £26, 17s., bull calves £27^ At the sale in 1876, cows averaged £49, 10s. 6d., two-year- old heifers £45, 10s., one-year-old heifers £35, 19s 3d bull calves £36, 2s. 4d., heifer calves £24, 3s. Av Skinner had a very fair share of the American trade last spring The herd was never in better condition than at present and comprises about 50 head, old and young. Earnside. This herd, belonging to Mr James Mackessack was founded about twenty-six years ago by purchases 'from Mr Robertson, Burnside, Ballindalloch. These early animals were not registered, but they are still represent- ed. Mr lAIacke^sack, in 1871, bought from Mr Paterson honours mer was 69, third nd third atherine Lverness, eetheart .^es with yearling rst as a cow at ^elso in ^^'•s and nie fine family, *aviliou )st per- sale in Cows earling 3S £27. o-year- h. 3d., kinner spring, resent, :, was from early esent- erson, EARXSIDE HERD. noi Mulben, Queen Mary of Mullwn in^Q .• ., ,, family, after Jupiter m «/,- ' Mayflower Banff and AberdPPn .,1 T " P"^** J'^^^'I'^S at the excellent raot^r^cL W^tdt^ 'Z 'T""^ ^'^ cousecutivelv SIie ;= „n,°. , ™'" calves four years thirteen yel^s old i, ■ "' "" ^''"^' '"^ «l"'°"g'> style and';:: 1 1 ;,r"l«;f "'»'>■; -d retains fine Florence 3142 bought f? t l""" ^"""^ "»'' "''"'es from President of WesSln 3^/' f ™""' ^'^^'-'^own, after Victoria famn; 47the fn /'^'■"'^"""S Mr Brown's Paterson, M„lL, t „ ft K' Vt '" , ''''■ ^^'' Dido of Tillvfour ^9W ., , ■. Mackessaek the cow BaIlindalloch45 Seo,; 'Vr"" ''"' ''^ ^"P'^-'- "f 2113), The price wasT^^^^ "'"""^ ^'"''^ °f ^™^ide which these ^L2 °T'''' ''"'^ "^^^ f™"y from -^-chofZreftrr .tr/ni :: '"^ Vt entered in vol iii of ^h. ^u ?^ ' ^'^^ imperfectly town dispersion" n 1874 M^ Im"'-' .^' ""^ '^''^'«^- Ann 926 for 39 o-nin" 1 p , "'"^'^^ssack secured Lady 2nd462,an?ou rS 10??:? ^^ ««9' ''"- Alaste^ the Easter Skene herd Fa. ■fvfofil?.^"'' ^™'^-'™"' Miss Morrison familrl .r^*^^' "'^ ""^ Kothiemay at Mr Tayle:" sa '^l^ST ' ^ TlT' ''\™^ ''™^'"' "ay's sale in 18TS Crocus 14nn ";""^^;, A' Mr Han- Balwyllo Isabella fan,i ^was l;,i eV '' ?^»'^'«"»" - specimen of the leoph.l 7! T -1 '' ''^ 8"'"«*s. A bought at a hi!^ Price It 1^ "' ^''"«'""" ™^ comprise most o «! ad^ll '"""t ^' '"'^^ ""^""""^d The sires used in tei'""' l'""^' '" "'^ female line, side, Ballindall , 'L : „' "::/lt;^'7^V"" ^"™- then, were the Ji It binjeker 47^ ^'"f,?'1''- ^'"°"S Scotia 789, the forme, ft ,' '^"J "'« ^rumin bull Highland So et?s how/ Tl "f ' " '"""• ^^^""'l "' about thirty held IndhU "'^ "^^'''^ ""'""^ers the MorayLd ti:;:' Jr.!'^^™.." "!'^"»"« P-'«o" at itlistandmg that I ! il * ' 1 1 i if f tr inals have not been forced fur exhibition. ?^vtm$mm^ -^H, 999 EXISTING SCOTCH HEKDS. (H . 'i Uast Town. Mr James rarquhar son's herd at East Town, Tarland, was established prior to 1822. No ' Herd Book ' being then in existence, pedigrees were not kept. The oldest strain now represented is that tracing through Patricia 1606, calved in 1856, and bred by IMrs M'Combie at East Town, to Jess, also biod there. Jess, Patricia, and Beauty 1608, all of this family, bred until they were about twenty years of age, and they were a robust, useful lot of cattle. Among the bulls used in the herd were Banks of Don, bred by Mr Walker, Ardhuncart, tlie sire of Patricia ; a bull from Mr Bowie, Mains of Kelly; Duke, bred by Mr Paterson, Mulben ; Commodore 490, bred by the Earl of Southesk, after the splendid Queen sire Windsor 221, and out of Kalliope 1234 ; Prince of East Town 435, bred at Tilly four ; Lord Kelly 511, bred by Mr Bowie, Mains of Kelly, got by Victor of Keily 353 ; Wallace of Tillyfour 683, bred by Mr M'Combie after Clova 517, and out of Euth 1169 ; Pjaron Settrington 356, bred at Westertown, after March 355, and out of Duchess of Westertown 927 (he was twice first at Highland Society's shows); Osman 1531, and Haddo 2nd 1532, sons of Archbishop 787, bred by the Earl of Aberdeen ; and Heir- Apparent 1263, bred at Tillyfour after Gainsborough 3rd 598, and out of Pride of Aberdeen 10th 3250. The last named is the present stock sire. Among the cows added to the herd were Mary 4th 1260, bred by Mr Bowie, Mains of Kelly ; Victoria 4th 908, bred at Mains of Kelly, a prize heifer of the Victoria branch of tlie Queen tribe; and Lady Eorbes 1993, bred by General Eorbes of Inverernan, out of Sylph 1774, of the Queen tribe. The chief families in the herd are the Patricias, the Vic- torias, and the Lady Eorbes's. Braes o' Mar 715, bred at East Town, descended from Patricia, was the sire of the well-known prize-winner Sir Maurice 1319. Sales have been made to various Scotch breeders, and some animals EASTER SKENE HERD. oo'i W «J O from the herd have gone to England. Stock from East Tar7\"°' r'""'^^ «='«<'?' «' the local Tow a Tarland, where they always occupy a good position. Easter Skene. rmi^i^r^^f ^T""' ^''''"' ^''^' ^^^' W^ cousin of J iliyfour dcYoted much attention to the improvement of saM^: hav ?'• ^'l '°""'^''°" °' '^ Lrd miy he sa d to have been laid m 1840 at Lynturk, where Air later i^'°^^^''"«'''f " '" '"'oeding was given son.e years later. The circumstance which caused this -reater cue n tt'dT'r *•" ^"^'^™"'y «f «- stock SCd • tat d Pal ^ ' "?^ "^"^ ^"'""^ 51. As previously 84 bv rr '™f "^""S''!' "ft^i'l'i^ victory at Dundee in used bt^^i? A r"^"""" y^"'- ^^'«"'"'"^«' »"d he was used by Mr M'Combie at Lynturk, as well as by several other breeders in the Vale of Alford. In vol F o he .Herd Book/ Mr M'Combie registered two calves by Parimure-Queen of Scots 72 and Eppy 73. ' T^^^ e have been erroneously entered in the 'Herd 13ook as having been after Panmure of AVellhouse 119 They herd at Easter Skene was almost exclusively composed of the descendants of these cows by Panmure 51 and *'- cks?n/'°^ "\''°^' *^"^<^" of Scots headed a Sor;° tm. t T "' """''^^ ^'"^ ^""'hesk's famous iJora while at the same show, Mr M'Combie was first for bulls with lioderick 711,,, so „i i i , . M- AT'C,.,„h,-„ , ""'C'^ -"''u 89, also bred by himself ftom M^ V , 't^ """' """'• "' the female line rom M Farquharson Taylor, notably the dam of Alaster 206 wliose sire was Hanton 228. Alaster 2nd 462 a son Alaster 256, on one occasion at Aberdeen defeated the celebrated Portlethcu bull Fox Maule 303 i ; 1 ■" r i ii 224 EXISTING SCOTCH HERDS. t 1 ; H i i f-i while his grandsire Caledonian 2nd 409 was the first- prize two-year-old at the Aberdeen show of the Highland Society in 1868, — the son of Caledonian Second, Taurus 410, having been first-prize yearling at the Highland Society's show at Perth in 1871. Numerous proofs could be adduced of the remarkable power of these early Easter Skene cattle to transmit their merit to their offspring. Mr M'Combie very properly attributes the excellence of his herd mainly to the Panmure blood. Feeling con- fident that he could get nothing better, he has clung to it tenaciously, and the female additions to the herd have been few, although also very choice. Among them may be mentioned Mariana 622, of the best Keillor blood, her sire l.iaving been Old Jock 1, and her dam Lady Clara 4, a daughter of Old Grannie 1. Marjory 809 and Lark 1000 — the latter a prize heifer at the Ptoyal Northern Society's shows — were bred from this strain. iMiss Eraser 985 was introduced from the herd of Colonel Eraser of Castle Eraser. She was a prize-winner herself, and was dam of Queen Mary 990, one of the best cows ever bred in tlie herd, she having been the second-prize two-year-old at the Highland Society's show at Inverness in 1865, and first as a cow at Dundee in 1867. An unnamed cow that came from Mulben also proved a valuable addition to the herd. In 1867, to the bull Eeform 408 she produced Grizzle 995, the foundress of a family that has dis- tinguished itself alike in the breeding and fat stock classes of the local and national shows. This family is now most largely represented in the herd, and its members are almost invariably of unusual merit. At Tillyfour in 1867 was purchased a somewhat famous animal. This was Miss Watson 987, who had accompanied her dam, Beauty of Tillyfour 2nd llPO, to Tillyfour from the Keillor sale in 1860. Miss ' atson was after President 3rd 246, and her dam, we may note, is inaccurately stated in the ' Herd Book ' to have been Beauty of Buchan 5. EASTEK SKEx\E HERD. 225 -Dess Ibll— were acquired from Mr. qi • ^ and more recenflv nZ?- . Skinner, Drumin, iuuie recently additions have been Tn5,rio f Gavenwood and Tillyfour T1ip to t ^ ^''''^ bred at Easter Skene In Trh ?. f '""'' ^^^'^ ^^^^« Dora family, and ate l^lndso' 221 ^".^ ^' ^'^ the Earl of Southesk • Eeform 40« ff!' S \'''^^'^ ^^"^ Tillvfnnv qr-p 7 -i^eiorm 408, after Black Prince of imytour 3b6, and out of Beautv nf tui f ^ , came from Tillyfour -is cZ n^ f/' ^^^"^ 2nd 1180, Jim Crow 3rd 350 an. - f IZ ^^^^^^^^^'^^^ ^80, after 1172. Bactlor 690, bred by tr ^c"^' ".T '^^^^"^^ Grant, after Juryman 4oT1^^ . ?T^^ Macpherson herd for only two^seasons, but htZ7Z "'' ? *^^ remarkably oood stock Arnn. i °^ """"'^^^ ^^ Paris 1473 bred it T ilvf I '"f ' '"'^^ ^^^^ ^^« +1 V . urea at lillyfour, out of Ma til dn n^n p the Zara tribe, and after Valiant 663. itrt vt J^ « ? prize bull at the Paris exhibitJnn 1 ^ ^^ *'''^*- Easter Skene, and it is 'worS; Tn^ HtX?' ^^ Skene herd produced the sire of two of^^,V , , *"■ group— Paris nnri w,>„i <• 4- , '" '"*' celebrated c^nsilrsPaH iXTL; t ^tf'-. '^ ''"'"'^'' r-:erT;treS£-"\----^ and was sold for 150 guineas to the Hon M H clh. ' Compton, Canada. Another son of Wris and I,??' Three drafts have been sold— one in 1871 nf of about £31, one in 1874 at an aerl e j ^M :T'' in 1880 at an avPrno« .f .^o^ m, , ''°? ""^ ^^'^' '^"^ one ^. |i! an average of £27. The herd now numbers of ■■'^f^- 226 EXISTING SCOTCH HERDS. registered animals 13 cows, 6 heifers, and 2 bulls, in additio?! to calves. Mr M'Combie has in his possession over o\' . prize tickets won by animals from his herd at the local and national shows — a sufficient and striking testimony to the merit of the Easter Skene stock. Easter Tulloch. Mr James Scott of Easter Tulloch, Stonehaven, owns perhaps the largest herd of polled cattle in existence. It numbered at one time about 200 head, and notwithstanding numerous sales, it is still of very imposing dimensions. JSTot only are the cattle at Easter Tulloch numerous, but they are exceedingly well bred. Mr Scott has himself brought out several good animals, and in the hands of other breeders, who practise a more liberal system of feeding, stock reared from his herd have taken very high positions. Mr Scott himself keeps his herd in very lean condition, but when his animals are generously treated "blood tells." About 1866, some sixteen females and bulls were purchased from Mr T. Ferguson, Kinnochtry. The purchases from Kin- nochtry and their descendants form the bulk of the herd. Among the animals acquired from Mr Fergusoi. we may note Princess of Kinnochtry 914, of Uie Keillor Favourite tribe, and foundress of Mr Ferguson's well-known Princess family; Princess of Easter Tulloch 1026, a daughter of Princess of Kinnochtry, Duchess of Easter Tulloch 1028, also a descendant of the Keillor cow Favourite 2, through Prizie 586 ; Levitz 1034, a descendant of Lord Panmure's first-prize cow at the Highland Society's show at Dundee in 1843 ; Mary of Easter Tulloch 1035, descended from a dam by Panmure 51 ; Kate of Easter Tulloch 1036, of the same strain as Levitz 1034; Agnes of Easter Tulloch 1966, of the Kinnochtry Emily family, tracing to Old Grannie 1. At the Kinnaird sale in 1865 Mr Scott purchased the cow Formosa 186 (erroneously entered among bulls in owns 3. It herd. EASTEK TL-LLOCIJ HERD. ^27 of Eebecca 340, a dau.^l te" orB^" f ^- '^ '' ' "" also acquired from UvTj] , -,1 ^"""'"■'' ^28, was and representing oue of til nil ,? ? ^^'^""'gton 1200, the cross of IW 50 ' !,°''''f / °'"«"'«" 't'<^i"^ with excellent fan. ty o^' M it? ^"'/"^ ''"^ ^"""'''^1 «" distinguished spLmeuwTs witch f"r ?'^'' '''-^ »-' ber of Mr M'Combie' "halln ^'"'°'' ''^^S- a mem- sold at the Ellyfour dis^eS ■" s 'o ClI " ''''' "'"^ good sort traces to a cow bred l,v Ar t. , S*""""'- ^ T..lIoch. It is known al tl e Blue E if f "^^ ''^°"' ^^P^ Mr Scott bred Bluebeard 648 tt fi ^^^ ^' '""' '™" '' buU at the Highland S^'cleJ?; stw'iM^ "™7--'^' the best two-year-olds seen in rec 't year/ 'h' 7',°' lately succumbed to an attack of ult \ "'^™*"- when three years old. From Mr Sh ,™ w°"''' ^''''^' was obtained the founditt^^f m "'""'• ^^'^'''^'' ^"wlis, of Asheutillyssp,i^rfr;ran' r ? '"'"'^'' «"^' >» ''^^o at Easter Tn'ilocr Am n^the S '' ^ '"''"''' ^-'l 411 bred at Kinnaird Ifte Vi t"To;•^^^«-^l-■ Kalliope 1234; King Henrv Vm T\ ,' "^ °"' "'' got by Windsor 221°andZn k:,,"''".'^?'' »' ^""'aird, Kinnaird 339 ; Colo;el of Zt T n^'? ' ''""' ^^^"''«^" "^ Thorn after Insider rd2S\nd if '''' '"^ ^' ^'>« prize as a yearlin.. at the H-tll Q '""°"^ °^ ^'^'^ond Tamarlane 392, bred bv M? t h ^'^^ ' ^''"^^ ^" ^^OS ; Tulloch, and ou't of Bl!^ b> 1 ttlsf t'',,^'?'!^' 5 ^-' niarlane gained several L,I ™ ?'""''' ^^^r. Ta- Wales 2nd 394, b.ed and exinbited by Mi S^^^^^^^ tlie first-prize yearling. Theodore SQ- fi . ' '^''^ of Wales 2nd 394 ^br^d ^K^f^ '^'l '''' «^ ^'^^^^ out of TJialia 1233), was al. after Jupiter 471, and so used in the herd as was -*!>^ Jl 228 EXISTING SCOTCH HERDS. Ealph 395, the third-prize yearling at Dumfries in 1870, and Emperor of East Tulloch 396, bred by Sir George Macpherson Grant, and out of tlie Erica cow Eisa 977. Most of the sires subsequently used have been bred in the herd. Fasqice. Sir Thomas Gladstone, Bart., founded a herd in 1863. The first animals bought were the yearling bull Eudolph and the cow Eugene 458, from Balwyllo ; Eudolph was out of Euby 713, a daughter of Keepsake 427, and Eugene was after Eob Eoy 56, and out of Victoria 428, a well- known prize cow. Of the heifers added from time to time two were from Portlethen, two from The Thorn, four from Haddo House, and one from Easter Skene. The sires bought for use in the herd were Adrian 439, from Port- lethen; Harry 440, from Easter Tulloch; Serapis 998, from Easter Skene ; Diamond 1862, from Aboyne Castle ; and Donald Eoger 1719, from Greenmyre, Old Meldrum. Adrian 2d 622, Milton 621, and I^egro 1398, bulls bred at Fasque, have also been successful stock-getters. Negro, Diamond, and Donald Eoger have been most recently or are at present in use. Adrian was sold to Sir George Mac- pherson Grant ; Adrian 2d, to Mr Skinner, Drumin ; and Serapis, to Mr Bean, Balquharn. Bull-calves have been sold to Lord Clinton, Colonel M'Inroy, and others, at good prices. There are usually about a dozen pedigree cows at Fasque. Of those at present there are Eugenie 3910, grand-daughter of the Balwyllo cow, and seven of her descendants: Mayflower 4809, Mary of Haddo 3676, and Alice of Haddo 3676, from the Earl of Aber- deen's herd; Negress 2d 2514, bred by Mr Adamson, Balquharn; and Phenice 2512, of an old Fasque strain. A noteworthy circumstance connected with the herd is the remarkable breeding career of Eugenie 3910. She is now thirteen years old, and has had thirteen calves, all rH-^ nXTBAY HERD. ggQ of which came to maturity and is ^fU] ir, i r dition- Her stock Imvp i "" breeding con- vard Alf nf f '"'' ^^'y successful in the show- 2513, his full sister, was first at the Hi4lancl Sn^^Vf land Society s show at Edinburgh in 1877 us a two-yll Fintray. Sir William Forbes P.ivf ^f n • • comn,eneed a herd a few ' tf a^o 'hH ""' f "'"^' among the stocks in ^e^ "\L I't'Zl'^"^'""" MadJnhfo.r'^^^^'^tJ-^ at wlsttlf J^bZ! ludage (ih 4^23 was added from HfnlliPn ti -n / <,^! I' ; '13 230 EXISTING SCOTCH IIKRDS. sort, Avas acquired at tlie Eothiemay sale last year. Tiie chief stock sire was Saracen 1G89, out of the Chai-ipion cow Sybil 2(1 352G, and after the Queen bull Dragon 1178. After being used several seasons in the herd, Samcen was sold at a high price to the Earl of Southesk. Gavenv'ood. Mr Hannay, Gavenwood, near Banff, factor for the Earl of Fife, has been closely associated with the improvement of the polled breed during the last twelve years. Under his active and judicious superintendence, the celebrated Duff House herd was collected and brought to the eminent position which it shortly came to occupy. The late Earl of Eife having limited the extent of his home farm, a portion of the herd was acquired by Mr Hannay ; and from a similar cause, the remainder of the herd, then owned by the present Earl of Fife, was also a few' years later taken over by Mr Hannay. In a former chapter we furnished an account of the Duff House herd, and it is therefore unnecessary in this place to repeat the informa- tion given regar-^ing the materials on which the herd was based, and its leading achievements. It will be observed that the Duff House herd comprised specimens of most of the principal tribes of the breed, and several of the most famous animals produced in recent years. For convenience we shall date the separate existence of the Gavenwood herd from 1876, as in that year Mr Hannay himself first appeared prominently as an exhibitor, winning, at the Aberdeen snow of the Highland Society, the fiSt prizes for yearling bulls and two-year-old heifers. Among the more renowned animals then or subsequently in Mr Hannay 's possession, a few may be noted. Young Viscount 736, of the Erica tribe, and first-prize bull in the yearling two-year-old and aged classes at Highland Society's shows, imparted character to the herd, and was used in it for •3AVENVVO0D JIEHU. 231 several years with great success. Innes 1934 the tlv^t tas Miro rm^ ""'"'/.'""y "17. Another fine cow ir rf, l^'">'f<""' 179u, a grand-daughter of Pride of Aberdeen 5tl. and dam of three splendid b^ils-Chal e„ 4 A yre, and Proud Viscount 1264. used in the herd and so d to go to America. Tliere were several of the fashion ffioi V: T'^' shows; Erica 7th 3019; Erica 4th 1697, sold to the Earl of Airlie for 101 guineas and darn of the p„.e hull St Clair 1160, sold to Mr MeVville CaT Zfi V'f''''' "" '' S>""^- ■• Essence 454 oW to Prize of™ ' Hi, '■ 'r.-"""""' ^"'' ^™"- »f «- --'d Era 383 'n f ° "1 f°"f *^ "' " ^""'''"'S ''«ifer in 1881; m ^8oo, a frequent local prize-winner, and others In fact, away from Ballindalloeh there was uo finer oleetiCr Bos;::n"o3":ftr"pT,"'^" ^' «^™'"™-'- ^^^ self a ve, V r ' ««"'f™»y Victoria family, was her- sdf a .ery hne cow, and bred some beautiful calves among them the twins Heather Blossom 2d -3395 and Heather Blossom 3d 3396, sold to Mr Eer-uson xTn- nochtey, and Mr Ferguson, Ballunie ; Warrio'r 1291 the first-pr,.e yeariing bull at the national show in 1877' and Heroine 3016, a prize cow, and dam of Youn- Hem 1837 used at M ,M ,, ^^^,^^ ^^,,_ = H-o 18 7 VfeLnt?V It .i'^"';^',""'"'''''"' "^o"' '""' "f Young o7 r . f ..„^f '''^^ ^'--i -- -''» to M" Pearson of Johnston for 111 ^■uinea,s. Patience of Corskie 1932, of the Drumin Eose f.ni.y: -aiiij maV .^^^^^^^^^^^^^ for Lold Ai lieT't'f ''^''' ^'"''■"" '^^ ^■'- '^ lor Lord Alike the first prizes of the Highland Societv as a yearling and two-year-old. as well nsfte first prife of 880 ''t'm""','^' Society of England at CaiMe M ii I lyfl ower family has been 1^ .■•^ *r^' 1 \ 232 EXISTING SCOTCH HERDS. cultivated with much success by IVfr Ilannay, particularly the branch springing from Blackbird of Corskie 1704, a daughter of Mr Walker's Lady Ida 1021. Blackbird 1704 was sold in 1881 to Mr Cartwriglit of Melville for 66 guineas. Her daughter Blackbird 2d 3204, gained the first prize of the Highland Society fur cows in 1879. Blackbird 3rd 3766 was acquired by Sir George Macpher- son Grant for 71 guineas, and Blackbird 4th 3769 went to Lord Strathniore. Black Standard 1541, after St. Clair 1160, and out of Blackbird 1704, was used in the Auchlin and Waterside of Forbes herds. Last year Blackbird 2nd 3024 had twin calves, Benefit 5015, and Benefit 2nd 5016, by Challenger 1260. Corriemulzie 2nd 3415, out of Lady Ida 1021, gained no fewer than twelve prizes, among them several challenge cups, at the county show, and second prize as a two-year-old at the Highland Society in 1879. Another calf of Lady Ida's was Violet of Moutbietton 1399," who bred His Excellency 1271, the stock bull at Skenei and was sold in 1878 to Lord Strathniore for 80 guineas! Idyll 4541, out of Lady Ida 1021, and after Young Viscount 736, was the third prize as a yearling heifer at the YLicAx- land Society's show in 1880. Zingra 2471, the first-prize two-year-cld heifer at the Highland Society's show in 1876, was sold to Mr M'Combie of Tillyfour for 81 guineas. Corriemulzie 1701, bred at Bogfern, and descended from the Keillor stock, was twice second in the cow class at Highland Society's shows. Crocus 2nd 3765, after Young Viscount 736, and from the Balwyllo Isabella family, was sold to Mr Tayler of Glenbarry for 82 guineas. Jemel 1413, of the Ballindalloch Jilt family, won several prizes and was sold to Mr Walker, Montbletton, for 58 guineas.' Good animals were also bred from the Westertown Duchess branch of the Queen tribe ; Mr Barclay's Matilda branch of the Queen tribe, the Ballindalloch Sybil tribe ; the Zara family ; the Castle Fraser Blanche family ; the Eothiemay Georgina family, etc. From the last named GAVENWOOD IIEUD. 233 rticularly J 1704, a bird 1704 e for 66 lined the in 1879. Macpher- ) went to St. Clair Auclilin bird 2nd nd 5016, of Lady •ng them . second in 1879. on 1399, b Skene, guineas, k^iscount e High- [■st-prize how in guineas. ?d from class at Young ilj, was Jemel prizes, guineas, ertown ^Iatilda L tribe ; y; the named came Sir Wilfred 11 GO, bred at Eothiemay, who won the first prize as a yearling at the Highland Society in 1876, and the second as a two-year-old, and was sold to Lord otrathnioie for 100 guineas. We have incidentally referred to the chief sires used in the herd. Young Viscount 736 was followed by Challenger 12G0, ol the Pride tribe. This animal was used with the best results for several years. Owing to the date of calving he could not compete as a yearling or two-year-old. His photograph appears in volume v. of the 'Herd Book.' A lengthy bull of great style and levelness, he had splendid front and rare quality. Mr Hannay refused 200 guineas lor him when he was one year old. Proud Viscount 1264 out of the same dam (Lilias of TiUyfour), and after Young Viscount, was also used. These animals suited admirably with the produce of tlie two first-prize Highland Society bulls Palmerston 374, and Gainsborough 596. Three public sales were held, and they were among the most notable events of the kind in the annals of the breed At the sale in 1877, 68 animals brought £3 046-average fo^; ol'' 1^^^-' ^"S'lest price £162, 15s.; at the sale in 1878, 38 animals realized £1874, 5s.-average £49, 6s. 5d. highest price £236, 5s. ; and at the sale of 1881, 46 animals realized £1555, Is.-average £33 16s. Id., highest price i/-x, lis. :Numerous sales have been made privately many of the animals going to Canada, the United States,' and South America. Stock from Gavenwood are also spread all over Scotland and England. Writing on February 6th 1882, Mr Hannay supplied us with the list of the animals then in his herd. Of the May- flower family there were seven specimens comprising— Blackbird 2nd 3024, her yearling heifer Blue Kibbon 4554, her twin heifer calf Benefit 5015, her half-sister Blackbird 5th 4557, Corriemulzie 2nd 3415, Idyll 4541, and the yearling buU Sir Idris. There were five Ericas -Erica 6th 3023, her heifer calf Espcranza r MM 234 EXISTING SCOTCH IIEKDS. If!!; Easter 4540, lier heifer calf Estella, and Erar 3833. Four were of the Fyvie Flower family— viz., Waldine 4563, Lady Mar 3917, etc. ; two Rothieniay Victorias, Heroine 3016, and her bull calf Hesperus; six Eothiemay Georginas, Caledonia 4550, Kelvine 5017, Aivrin 4551, Oslin 4552, (3range Leaf 1839, and Orellana; five Prides^ Pride of Aberdeen 16th 3302, Lilias of Tillyfour 1795,' Pride of Aberdeen 26th 4560, Pra^toria and the bull Chal- lenger 1260; fourDrumin Eoses, Patience ofCorskie 1932, Patience 2nd 3768, Patria 4549, and Patroness 4561 ; four Westertown Poses, Posy Dream 4545, Posareyne, and two others; five Tillyfour Puths, Puth 2i]d 1783, Puth of Yonderton 2237, Puth 3rd 4432 ; Phuna, and the bull calf Eutherglen ; two Matildas of the Queen tribe, IVlidnight 4670, and Meteor; besides a Zara, a Lady Fanny, °an Advie Pose, and about half a dozen others. A large num- ber of these have since been sold privately, many of them having gone to England and America. Glamis. The Earl of Strathmore commenced a herd at Glamis in 1876. At the Mulben sale that year there were purchased Ellen 2nd 2358, Queen Mary 5th 2360, and Queen Mary 12th 3514. At the Ballindalloch and Drumin joint sale the same year, there were bought Beauty of Garline 1247, and Sweetheart 2nd 2218. The bull Neptune 1152 was purchased from Sir George Macpherson Grant before the sale. In 1877 two cows were bought from Mr Leslie, The Thorn, viz., Farnell 3rd 3247, and Flora Macdonald 2nd 3513 ; and the same season Fred's 6th Darling 3404 ; Cowslip 2nd 3004, Frenzy 2nd 3378, and the bull Sir Wilfrid 1157 were bought at Mr Hannay's sale at Corskie. In 1878 there was a further purchase from Mr Haniiay, viz., Violet of :\rontl)letton 1399, and Blackbird of Corskie 4th 3769. In that year there were also added from l\Ir GLAMIS IIEKD. 235 an Duchess 4tli 944 In ] 880 iC' f ^^''•^'''^ ^'^^^ four sale the calf Fat 8th 4^ ^ "^^'l' ?' '^" ™^- tl^e Legion 1404, J\^^^' ^f ,f ^f f of son's sale in 1881 Edith 4th ^>V?Tv i\ f\ ' ^'^^"'- 4331, and Sybil 4th 4<^9r "^^^;,^f ^^ of Aberdeen 25th Keepsake buIlNeptu hS^H ? "'''" '"^' ^^'^" "'« bull Bismarck 2ud 1860 """"'^ '^^'^^ "<'™^»° 3999, Medusa 9.-i7^ P.. i ^ 1, !. ^'^ ^"-^' ^^^^ 2iid -/, i^j-euusa ^0/ / Tride of the rindlinm 09J.0. 4., old heifers Sweetheart 1st of GhmllZr v ' ^'^y^^''- Pride of Al)erdeen 05th 4S^1 P i V^^"'^ ^^^' '^^^-' 3rcl 4801, Bh^klird Sis 4S T ^'.'''''^ ""'''''' 4804, and Sybil 4tli 4r>n T ' /'^^"'^ ^^ ^^^^"^^^ old heifers no tly lot it vlr '? "^'° '^'^^■^'^ ^"^-^^''^^- calvp. Tl 7m- ^^ ^ ^^^''^^o ^^"^^ ''^ ^i^""ber of heifer calves. I lie families renrpcjpntori +1 . "^iier Montbletton Mayflower n T «<""Pnsc-Pride3, Mulbou Ellens Ki^aM V " I'T^'"' ^''''^' '^y^la, Madges, etc ^"""^'' ^''"<= «"«''«' Aboyne IS^o'tl'L!"-. T'"', '""' ^"-''^ ""-^ '-■'" "' «'----^ in ■^oou, A\iicn JJ Jiead averacrnd ^M^^ iqc t a •, lieauty of Glau,is 3515 wasfowf.tie 'o tl n' '" '''' ' i(u ^i-U, three one-year- f^ 1 1 ;ii, ;,i! 4. /I 236 EXISTING SCOTCH HERDS. old heifers at £40 each, and a bull calf from CowsHp by Elcho at £40, all to Hon. M. H. Cochrane for shipment to Canada, and later in the year Mr Beattie purchased from Mr Cochrane Mina Juiia and Cowslip at 80 guineas each. The bull Elcho was sold to Lord Airlie for £84. i' Among the prizes won by the Glamis herd we may note the following:— First at Kilburn for one-year-old buUs, with Bombastes 1548 ; third at the Highland Society's show at Perth for one-year-old heifers with Queen Mary 1st 3312 ; fourth for two-year-old bulls at Kelso and Carlisle with Bombastes; third for one-year-old bulls at Kelso with Ensign 1656; first for one-year-old heifers at Stirling with Sybil 4th 4326 ; and second for one-year-old bulls with Bismarck 2nd. The herd, it will be seen, has been gathered together from the best sources, and under Mr Ealston's care it has already acquired a high reputation, the selections have been judiciously made, and the home management doing full justice to the fine material collected. i'.'.. 237 CHAPTER XII. EXISTING SCOTCH HERDS— COxNTINUED. collection o^Qie^nf-'^tn^^^^^^^^^ Glory 1746, Witcl' of En<]nv\ros p J l ^^'""^'^P 2581, Heir of ofAb'-.deen^8t 4321-H^^^^^^^ ''^')^^ '^^' ''''' P"^e Duirs good fortune witfrQuee sTntZL ^'-''^^^^^'^^ Leochel Lass faniily-HiiL of SriT^r/l ^y^lt^-HAuoHxox-The 3rd 1249 and Young Vs^olt ^^^^''"^'''^"'"^■^^-■Eriea herd by Pleuro-Pnellr- ,; '.-^^^^^^ o^ the trying tl.e «' White Faces," returns toh^lt T '^ ^'}''^'''^' ^^^^ and Sybi,s_K.voKAra-ihe l^^d il? yt\^°r^^^^^ ^-->-. -Mr Ferguson- spurchasos from Keillor-T : '2 ~^'^^^^^^-ri^^- Emilys, and Favourites-Sires used at Ki^^nnl t'\^"'""*-^' '''' the Keillor stock-Imp, tant sis to S df Sr'^fdT^^"^- ^^ breeders-The Kinnochtry herd in the sho^Kl-M uv 1 ^ Success with Ballindalloch blon,l TT, a i • '^ „ ^^^^^^^« of Advie— 1 !'. m m'w im Glencorrie. Mr PETniE began a herd at Glencorrie, n„ffto^™ inl87B when he bought from Sir George Macpherson Gmn fe cow Deveron Lass 1416, of the Eothien ay Misa Crison family, for 45 guineas, and from Mr Skinner Drumh H wo-year-old heifer Matrimony 2214, of T^^^^T^^ Z^^ ^T"^- ^^™™" ^^^^ I'-J previously suffeed a.sh„urea n.x. Still she cost a good price, and hei breedin.. m •M 238 EXISTING SCOTCH IIKllDS, m i has not been affected ; while her constitution, and that of her stock, is excellent. Her calves at Glencorrie have been two heifers and four bulls. The heifers have been retained, and the bull calves have been sold, realizing from 25 guineas to 57 guineas. The latter price was paid for her calf of 1881, Deveron Lad, who was bought by the Earl of Seafield, and was considered the finest bull in the sale hall at Aberdeen in 1882, when he realized the highest price of the 81 sold. Matrimony has had two heifers and four bull calves. The latter sold at 24 and 25 guineas. In 1875, Mr Petrie bought at Mv Tayler's sale at Rothiemay, when not in calf, Annie of Inchcorsie 1840 for 39 guineas. She was a large cow of fine quality, but a bad milker, and for that reason she was sold after breeding Nellie of Glencorrie 4004, by the Lucy bull Victor of Glencorrie 850. This cow is a good milker, taking her milking property from the family of her sire. Nellie has had four bull calves, which have been sold at 25, 33, and 41 guineas. In 1877 was bought at the Tullochallum sale the cow Beauty 3rd of Drumin 3574 at 41 guineas. She was then two years old, and belonged to the oldest of the Drumin Beauty family. Beauty 3rd has had three bull and two heifer calves. :Medea 3890, by the Queen bull Constantine 1180, was bought at the Aboyne dispersion for 60 guineas. She is a very true breeding cow, and is grand-daughter of Madge 1217, the first-prize winner at Kilburn. She has had a bull calf by the 155 guinea sire Warrior since she came to Glencorrie. There is in the herd a Eosie family, descended from Eosie 1st, bred at Glencorrie, who had calves by the Pride bull Major of Tillyfour 509, and Victor of Glencorrie 850, which were kept for breeding. The sires used in the herd have been Victor of Glencorrie 850, bought from Mr Skinner, Drumin; Piatepayer 1377, bought from Mr Hannay, Gavenwood ; and First Lord 1G41, a son of Judge 1150, and of The Lady Panny tribe, bought from Sir George Macpherson Grant. The sire now in use is King GEEYSTOXE IIEIfD. 239 James 1877, bred at Easter Skene after Pari. UVq a out of Tibbie Fowler 4020 Tho i \ f ^^' ^"^^ liead ThplJir ., ^ ^'^""^ numbers about 30 leact. iJie bulls in it have taken a ^ood Dosition nf fi local .hows, but no females have been ex ib Ld Th. i ii calves from Glencorri« reahVprl ih^^ ^'^, "f ^^- ^^'^ ^"^i the highest individu^^p "of "thf^"°r """°'' ^"^ I the spring of 1882. ^^''"^'"^^ '^""^^ «^^^ i» Greystone. Mr Keid, Greystone, one of the"^ larcrpst onri ,. , of cows and heifem are descended from various 1 erd! T Jannet family traces from lottie of Clova 317fi r Crow 5th 7C9; the Kate family from Kate 3rd Z° ^'^ ^'■'''ncl.es of this „„ 1 , "' ""* 1 ""s Exliil tioii in 1878 and a, member of Mr JfTniMliio'c (-■i.„ • ' 257S of H,» p.,f^^°"''^'««Lliampioii group; Gitana 4tl SSsV of r w^'' 1""''''"^"' •'" ™y^°^''' Alice ■ f. , ^'„°/ ""^ AVestenown Victoria family- Lailv 4m 71% '''o ""f "' "^''^'" "°"-^ «-" ^ S SybF \o4 ''Tr.,°"' °^*^'' -^"'»">W«'« Cl,a,npio,> cow ot U,e Queeu tribe, being out of Cliarmer 3.1 3251 sold for t h!™!l T' ''•'"''' ''"^™""° Q«-" -- S at tl e r llyfonr dispersion in 1880. Tlie yo«n.r stocl. in Prill " r f ";v""" ''"■^■'^" i5««- ""'- Kii ^'oht ; r niees iamily, AVarrior 1291, and Heir of Paris 1917 I tr tn'otr ','r'tr f-n^'-"™- ^"" ""' «f r-" «f IIatto-,1 Castle. Mr Garden Duff of Hatton established his herd in 1877 Cole '"or' f^r '"" "' '^'' "->->"« -* ^ CorsL.e. One of them - Fred's 4tli Darlin.. I993 of the BaliiidaUooh Sybil tribe-^vas bought" for 98 gmreas and she herself and eight of her descendants are in the herd. Mr Duff has shice made pu ha s I the draft sale of Lord Aberdeen's herd in 1879 ;rthe m 1880. At the I'lUyfour dispersion \yas bought the numbeis 38 head, consisting of 3 Prides, 8 of other branches of the Queen tribe, 10 Ballinda loch Syb Is 4 Kinnaird Fannys, and 3 Aboyne Liyeh^s etc It w ll' avis be 3ee., that in a coni^Ltiycly 'short tim M Duff has collected specimens of some of the yery best !■ f 244 EXISTING SCOTCH HERDS. ! If, I M a !'. tribes of the clay, and the rapid increase is due to the fortunate circumstance that the produce of the herd has been ahnost entirely females. The stock sire is the Erica bull Viscount 2nd 1743, half-brother on the dam's side to the u". i-.uiiiled Young Viscount 736. Prizes have been tak'.ii it the local shows, but Mr Duff has not up to the present time exhibited elsewhere. Three yearling bulls of last year were sold foi a little over £33 e£ich. Haughton. Over twenty years ago, Mr Farquharson of Haugliton purchased a polled cow oif the Tillyfour stock, which he named Leochel Lass, and from her has sprung the best of his herd. Leochel Lass 2nd 1801 is still in the herd, and although now sixteen years old, she keeps her shapes as well as ever. She has been a regular breeder, and is a heavy milker. Her daughter, Leochel Lass 3rd 1863, gained the second prize at the Vale of Alford show as a cow, and was sold for £40. Leochel Lass 4th 1804 won the first prize at Alford in 1870, and was afterwards sold to Professor Brown, of the Ontario Agricultural College, Canada, for 70 guineas. From her has sprung a sub- family of Heather Bells. Heather Bell 1st of Haughton 2295 won first prizes at Alford and Insch, and was sold to Mr Mackessack, Earnside, for 80 guineas. Heather Bell of PLaughton 2nd 2496, af'-er gaining many high honours at Alford, M-as sold with her calf for £100. Another daughter of hers, after Victor of Kelly 3d 854, Heather Bell 3d 3953, bids fair to surpass her dam in merit, and tliere is in the herd .i very fine heifer from her by The Black Kniglit 1809. There are otlier three cows of the same blood. These go by the name of Marias. They are good breeders, and their stock have brought satisfactory prices. Others of the same line miglit be mentioned as very promising. In the herd this season 1 1 < u HILL OF SKILMAFILLY HEED. 245 thcro aro a lot of very „ire calves after tl,e Pride bull The Llack lungl.fc I809, an animal of great sutetanee .ood shapes and quality. Mr Farciul.arson is very particular m hav,,,,, ,n his place bull, of the best pedigrc^ comWned quabty. He was Garzbaldi of Haughton 707, aft.r Eob Eoy Macgregor 267, and out of Pride of Aberdeen 681 Mr Farquharson exbibited him at the Internat onal Sb v' at Latter.ea in 18G2, where be ^ uned the second prize al branch of the Queen tribe, came from Mains of Kelly tnur 1498, out of that excellent millang cow mI' and The Black Knight 1809, of the Pride family from Mr Pearson of Johnston. There are usually from ten t^ w^h,o cows m the herd, and they are all used as dai y cows, their calves being baud-reared. ITill of ShilmaJiUy. In 1S63 a heifer out of Fyvie Flower 1616 was p„r- chaspd by the father of Mr George Fraser, thn present tenant of Hill of Skilmafilly, from Colonel' Goi'ou ^ tJ n "<* J"'"''^ subsequent additions until 1867 when Mr George Fraser took over al valuation the farm sto iat with the exception of a two- -ea, -old heifer, out of tb°e' animal purchased lu 1863. In 1868 Mr Fraser bou'ht a bull and three heifer calves at Fyvie Castl., and made LTf'b ;"'?"''" ""^ ^''om the same herd. In lo,9 th. heifer Aun.e Lawrie of Skilm.fiUy 4253 was boi^.htlrom Colonel Gordon. Of these anima Be He o SkilmafiUy 4535 is stiU iu the herd, although fourteen years old She was in February last at the drop her at her first calving, having bad twins four times. After itm i "^"-^-^ '»" odL i^ ' "'waning to use him for his dairy wa not qute superior enough for the stock bull of the sor of herd lord Southesk decided to acquire he was sold at tlie spring sale in Aberdeen i„ 1881 Ve It purchases for the new herd were n.ade at the £t flk catt e belonging to Mr Hamilton of Skeil au d Mr M'Cornbie of Easter Skene, at Aberdeen in 1880 H^e Lord Sou !,esk purchased from the former tl^ yeariW bu 1 H,s Grace 1721. and the cows Lady Love of Cor S 0.87 Pride of Skene 3193, and Vine 2nd of Skene 3398 and from the latter, tlie cow Tibbie Fowler InonH ? ' yea.oM heifers Li.ie Lindsay 4027Tnd tl^'^^ mt"Ce7b7S4r 'T^'''\^ <'-^"^t- of wici uy 1 aiis 147 J. xjjgg^ bought at vprv moderate prices. Lord Southesk then bein. d siroulrf co;vs, ^iica 8tli 3oo0, from Mr Grant, Auchoracinn Pl.n .^1 f 250 EXISTING SCOTCH HERDS. besides winning many local honours. He also bought from Sir George the Lady Fanny heifer Lady Fatima 3798, by Elcho 595, thus, through Lady Fanny 971, by King Charles 236, getting the blood of Druid 225 and Kate 12. At this time Lord Southesk heard that a very highly-pedigreed bull, which had been sold as a calf to go to England, was obtainable. He therefore decided to buy him from character without seeing him, and disposed of His Grace 1721 to Mr Hugh Ferguson, for exportation to the Sand- wich Islands. The bull thus bouglit back to Scotland was named Kingmaker 1794. He was bred at Ballindalloch in 1879, after Elcho 595, and out of the Pride cow Kindness of Ballindalloch 1412, who combines in her lineage two streams of the Kinnaird Dora 333 tril)e. When the bull arrived he was a mere "bag of bones." A little more condition, however, made him look more worthy of his ancestry. Lord Kinnaird felt that his lierd would not be complete without going back to the old original Kinnaird blood, and he therefore bought the calf Blush Rose 4586 from Mr Walker, Portlethen. His lordship was so much pleased with this scion of the old race, that he subsequently obtained Blush Rose's mother. Bunch of Eoses 3350, with a heifer calf at foot by Matador 1710. These all trace directly back to Old Lady Anne 743. Lord Southesk also bouglit at the public sale at Aberdeen, from Mr Walker, the cow Anemone 2269, of one of the very best old Bal- wyllo families. At the same sale he bought, for use among the dairy cows, a bull, bred by Mr Scott, Easter Tulloch, who was named Llewellyn 1888. At the dispersion of Mr Adamson's Balquharn herd, Lord Southesk acquired Sibyl 2nd of Tillyfour 3526, and her heifer calf Sappho Sibyl 5020. The price was high ; but Sibyl 2ud had the record of having been the first-prize cow at Carlisle, Kelso, and Aberdeen in 1880, and of having been awarded the M'Combie prize as the best animal of the breed at the last-named show. A few days later Lord Southesk bouglit KIXOHAIG HEKD. 251 Cliariotte of Fyvie 1893, with l.eifer calf at foot and her Jaugh er Mary Grace 40G6, of the Fy vie Flower ClZ he sae at Fyvio Castle; and shorUy be oT it" sales he added another Erica to his herd in the shape of «L ui j:.nca Jtli 6b22, purchased from Mr Kannn^r n. wood. This heifer gained the seconf U^Se'nlt land Society s show at Stirling in 1881. A few other females were added; and at a Ion.- price the 1,„M ^. Forbt lart f f ' ■ '■ T."'^"™'' ''■°'" «'^ ^--^ j-oiues, 15.11 1. ot traigievar and I'intray The new herd has thus been formed from the very best iZ^oTT'K ^'" '"■" "'' ^^'"»'' "- cattle now are he d V ■' ? !f °' ""^ ^^"«''^ °f Kinnaird ; but with the addition of the grass parks near the Castk and the advantage of the outrun of the deer parks, there is every reason to hope that Lord Southesk's new herd n L be a , f ir T/^ "'^ rinderpest, was characterized bv the late Mr M'Co.nbie as a "national misfortune." ^ I i Kincraig. This herd, belonging to Mr Macgregor, liag. been in existence for about thirteen years. I? wts om menced by the purchase of young cows and heifers from Mulbe.f Wester town, Eothiemay, liallindalloch, Bognie CnsM ' Bnrnside, and Johnston. The first bnll us«l ilit , i was from Drumin. Thereafter bulls were got from We ^ town, Eothiemay, Earnside, etc. In 1877 Mr i\rn„ ending his herd becoming U large, rL^ot ™ and over 40 animals were sold ; but as too many 1 a eve ! Jcssened in 1879 It is now composed of 20 cows and heifers with their calves. The animals are cMef v If l^ognie, Ballindalloch, Westertown, and Jolmston HL/ r;I m I'' fi M 252 and, with the EXISTING SCOTCH HEEDS. exception of two dairy cows, every animal on the farm is purely bred, and in the * Herd Book.' The most numerous family now at Kincraig is that of which Miss Carnegie 8lh 167G is the ancestress. This cow was purrhased at the Bognio dispersion, and has proved an excellent breeder and a good milker. Another Bognie family originated with Corskie 30th 1277, also bought at the Bognie dispersion. A third family of three animals is from the Ballindalloch cow Elaine 2989, descended from the Drumin herd. She has done well at Kincraig, although her first calf was a disappointment. A fourth family of four animals is from Leddy 3556, a good handsome cow from the Johnston herd. She was purchased in 1879 at the Aberdeen sale, and has turned out a very valuable acquisition to the herd. The fifth family is descended from the excellent cow Adelaide 3501, of the Westertown Victoria family, selected by Mr Macgregor from the late Mr Brown's splendid herd, and purchased at what was in these days considered a very long price. Unfortunately Adelaide's progeny have been chiefly bulls, and her present representative in the herd has as yet followed her example. This has been very disappointing, for Adelaide 2nd 2457 is a particularly handsome cow. °' The stock bull Chieftain 1847 is her calf, and is now two years old. ^ The climate of Badenoch, in which district Kincraig is situated, is exceedingly severe in winter. This is a great disadvantage ; but in reducing his herd to its present limits, Mr Macgregor has endeavoured to retain only such animals as appeared most suitable, and the result has been very encouraging. The chief difficulty is to provide food in spring in a locality in which vegetation is very late, and on a farm where a large stock of several thousand blackfaced sheep is kept. There is also the drawback of bemg generally obliged to sell the surplus stock in com- paratively low condition, wjiich always reduces the price f ^ KINNOCHTRY HERD. 253 very much; b„t after full consideration, the practice of '" iusrr'of 'r'^' ^'™"^ ^^"^-'^ *» ^"-"« ' Kinnochtry. The herd of Mr Thomas Ferguson, now in Kinnochtry Conpar-Angus, was founded at°Ashmore about the veS several hh ^0, f '''' T^ '''' ^'^ ^'^S-- ^•'^efved latTMr Tl,. ^ i ""'™ ^""^ "'' ^'°* °^ ^'^ ^ther, the late Mr Thomas Ferguson, who was then and had for vears been tenant of the farm of Claywhat, near Brid'e of Cally "^ the parich of Blairgowrie. The late Mr FeCson 1 ad Chalmers of ifetterton, who'Zd in 185 , M ^ •"'f !'' l.ad kept "Angus Dokdies > a ftr back'^ t '''u herd p Ld c^Me ^^Z"" T *°'^' ^^""^ ^^ ^'^ ^ Drimmie In fl M TT """"S™™ farm of Milton of sixtv veL : \ ."'°"'°° '""y' ""^ "D«ddies " were thus obtained tt his fn'ther b"! ''"'„''"^'^^°""^™ the locality other poUd ^vs ^nd .If '^ '"'J^'''' '" of about the san,e breedin" ""^ ^'''^'''- '^^^"''^ '» ^e w~,X?o tT™ t'Tr^ "'^' "^"^ ^^-"» cattle 61 °In r , ^/ ^?'' ^ "^'^ "^^ l'«ifers Young Favourite Bl. an. r.unburgh 04, daughters of Old Grannfe 1 Shortly afterwards ho got t;.ecowFavo.ritr2 frmnTl!' nnd he then sold to Mr Leslie T1,p Th„, "' specimens of his ft,i,eVstr ! r ' ""'" ""'"■'' *'"' rat.,,ei s stiau;s. For many years he had > . il 111 ff" f I t M 't. 254 EXISTING SCOTCH HERDS. in his herd descendants only of Young Favourite 61, Edinburgh 64, and Favourite 2. The families descended from Young Favourite Gl are the Princesses and Baronesses. These two families both trace to Prizie 586, bred by Mr Ferguson out of Young Favourite 61, and after Black Jock 3. The Princesses descend through Princess of Kinnochtry 914, calved in 1861, a daughter of President 3rd 246, and Prizie 586; and the Baronesses th'-ough Eliza of Kin- nochtry 912, calved in 1860, after The Baronet 339, and out of Miss Scott 913, a grand-daughter of Prizie 586. From Edinburgh 64, a smaller family of Emily's is descended. The Kinnochtry Favourites are directly descended from Favourite 2. Mr Ferguson's present herd may therefore be said to have been founded by the three Keillor cows— Young Favourite 61, Edinburgh 64, and Favourite 2. Mr Ferguson, also, when he commenced to cultivate the Keillor families, purcliased from Mr. Watson the bulls Black Jock 3, and Young Jock 4, and he ob- tained the use of the stock sires at Keillor, With the exception of two heifers which he bought from Mr Mustard, Leuchland, in 1856, and v/hich were that year shipped to Canada, along with Butterfly 71, a heifer of his own breeding, Mr Ferguson added no animals except from Keillor until 1871, when he purchased Young Mina 924, a calf, at Mr Leslie's sale at The Thorn. He bought other two bulls from Mr. Watson, Hugh 130, and The Baronet 339, the latter bred by Sir James Burnett, Bart, of Crathes, out of the Keillor cow Beauty, and by the Keillor bull Strathmore 5. He also purchased a cow at the Keillor final sale in 1860 for £58, 10s., but she died of dropsy soon afterwards. In consequence of an accident to a Princess bull, Mr Ferguson acquired, about 1873, the bulls Lord Macduff 678, and Young Palmerston 982, from the Earl of Fife, but he has sold the whole of their progeny excepting one or two. In 1874 he bought from Mr M'Combie of Tillyibur tlie Pride KIXXOCHTRY HERD. bull Shah 680, who has proved a very good sire • and 187G he purchased Diana 1782, of the D ' Queen tribe, at Lord Airlie's sale, for had been the highest priced animal 255 m aisy branch of the 61 guineas. Diana at the Tillyfour sale 1874. .hen she.. bougUrbPro; A , 'C" " Su^eque.,tly Mr Fe.guson bought l^ia a\ hefe'e, f wossom ^iid 3o9a, ol the Eotliiomay Victoria familv a„H Sro h^v 43*;; ''^,'^.-!S'".«- l-ifer calf Eugeni; o twe 'tv w ' "'"""S '" '"^'•- "f"'^ '■"' interval of oTAU:;ir4VT^^^^^^^^^ ^ueiaeen 1 < th 40 / 8, from Mr Pearson of Johnston fnr breeders. Xhe herd at present nun.bers over one hundred betn:e;;s«;:r'^ct;.ttt: r' ^^ f ""°^'*^ -" Keillor .ochs, as 1^ n^o; r Bt^^-^C^''^ ana Young Joek 4 were Mr Ferguson's prope ty iLy "tr! as good as most of tlie bulls to be sppn nt ti ,' '■^^™"' and both were splendid setters Af e, t ' ^'T"'' supeuoi bull, leaving some excellent stock The }«i ^!^'^^^ M President 3rd 24G, bred at Bahv Jll i" Re=u.cn. znd o4, and out of Isabella of Bahvyllo 423 It •,*[: Fl 'ti I 256 EXISTING SCOTCH HERDS. was also used. He was a long, level, stylish bull, and a prize-winner at the Highland Society. The Baronet 339, bred at Crathes, but from Keillor stock, was also used! He was quite equal to President 3rd as a getter, and was kept for a good many years. In 1863, Avlien eight years old, he gained the first prize at the Scottish Midland Agri- cultural Society's show, and at Perth. Young Hugh 131, after Hugh 130, and out of Prizie 586, was then used, being about the most gay and stylish bull Mr Ferguson ever had. He was never fed for showing, but in 1861 he was exhibited at the Perth show of the Highland Society, and although in lean condition was highly commended. Young Hugh carried all before him at the local shows, and was sire of the cow Princess 2nd 916, now sixteen years old, and who has twice in lean condition beat Highland Society prize cows. It was, Mr Ferguson informs us, mainly from this bull that the Kinnochtry Princesses got their high-bred- looking and characteristic heads. Young Hugh was sold to Mr William Watson, who was then engaged breeding polled cattle at Binns, near Dundee. After The Baronet 339 and Young Hugh 131, Crathie Jock 340, calved in 1865, was used. Bred by Mr Ferguson, he was out of Princess of Kinnochtry 914, and got by The Baronet 339. He gained a large number of prizes, and was a remarkable instance of early maturity. Meeting with an accident when under three years old, he was sold by weight to Mr Young, Whitelawstone, near Dundee, when his four quarters were found to weigh 132 stones dead weight. After Crathie Jock, Crathie 2nd 342, also bred by Mr Ferguson, ^vas used. Crathie 2nd was got by The Baronet 339, out of Miss Scott 913, by Hugh 130 ; g.d. Beauty of Kinnochtry 595, by Young Jock 4 ; g.g.d. Prizie 586, being thus of the Baroness family. In ]\Ir Ferguson's possession he gained the first prizes as a yearling at the shows of the Scottish Midland and Stormont Union Agricultural Societies KIiWOCHTRY HEED. go? it. 1868 He was sold when two years old to Mr William Owen of Elessington, County Wicklow, and in Mr Ow „^ possessiou won the first prize as a two-year-old a tL STDubl-rs" f^'^"'-'" ''''-'"^ fi^ prLe at Koyal Dublin Society's spring show in 1870, and the first prize at the Irish National Show the same yea^ CratMe 2nd w^salengt y.gay. fine handling, stylish bull,and M Owen kept him a long time. Mr Ferguson believe that tl is 3l gave an impetus to the breeding of polled cattle in Ireland »»^ KeiUor 2nd used Lt fT '"' " ^""^^■^'' '^"ll' "-^^e then used Keillor 2nd was out of Princess of Kinnochtrv by her own son Crathie Jock, and Alfred was To b^ Crathie Jock, and out of Miss Scott 913, the same cow who bred Crathie 2nd, so that Mr Fergu on wL at thaT time carrying out the principle of line b JdTn ' ve^ decided y He has still a considerable numberVZ c osely-bred covvs in his herd by these two bulls, and they are Keillor 2nd 433 gamed the first prize at the Scottish Midland how at Kinross in 1870, and the first prize at the sformont Union Society's show at Meiklour. He was also hiVHv commended at the Highland Society's show at DumW ^ the same year He was sold for 50 guineas to Mr F^rrell of Moynalty, County Meath, and in his possessson -led several first prizes. Mr Fei^uson considered him superior even to Crathie Jock, his sire. The bull Alfred was lame and was never shown, but he was a very excelleZeZ He was sold to the West Indian Company, and was I'pp d to Deinerara along wiji four other buUs-a Hereford Devon, Shorthorn, and Ayrshire. Some of the other buUs' died on he voyage, and all of them succumbed in tha? trying climate, except Alfred, who remnin, • - H »vji ocvciai 258 EXISTING SCOTCH HEUDS. !.l''j Ikl years quite healthy and vigorous. Afterwards came Lord Macduff 678, calved in 1872, and Young Palmerston 982, calved in 1873, from Lord Fife. They did m give Mr Ferguson satisfaction, and, as already stated, he has disposed of most of their offspring. In 1874, Shah 680, of the Pride tribe, jomed tlie herd. He left some excellent stock, and Mr Ferguson lias seven or eight five-year-old cows by him that are of very high merit. Shah gained the first prize at the show of the Ptoyal Northern Agricultural Society ii- 1873, first prize and silver cup as the best bull in they ard at the Storm.ont Union Agricultural Society's show in 1877, first prize in the class of aged bulls at the Highland Society's show at Dumfries in 1878, and the gold medal in the class of extra stock at the Highland Society's show at Perth in 1879. After him was used Prince of the Realm 1695, got by Shah, and the sixteenth calf produced by Princess of Kinnochtry 914. Ke is a fine server and as good a getter as Mr Ferguson ever had. Prince of the Realm was the first prize yearling at the Stormont Union Society's show at Meiklour in 1879, the first-prize two- year-old at the Highland Society's show at Kelso in 1880, the second-prize aged bull at the Highland Society's show at Stirling in 1881, and the same year he won the first prize in his class and silver cup as best bull in the yard at the Stormont Union Society's show at Alyth. Mr Fer- guson also used Baron Balgersho 1696, previous to sellmg him to Mr J. J. Eodgers, Angus Farm, Illino' 5, U.S.A., in 1881. The bulls chiefly used at Kinnochtey during the past season were Prince of the Realm and his son Baron Wharncliffe, the latter out of Mary of Kinnochtry 1770, of the Baroness tribe. After the foregoing minute account of the materials on which the Kinnochtry herd is based, we need scarcely point out that its striking feature is the large representation of -Keillor blood which it contains. When Mr Ferguson I ^^wf'M '"^"^ KINXOCIITBY n KD. 259 i -ended fi;:Li^U?^'^ Zm h", t'"^ ' ^^ " ' sires ised 'ave LTt ^ *^',^"Sli Watson, uut l,,e short ana T.f tirlr'" '"^V^ ^^^'""^ '''■^d- A bulls will sl. ; i ' I Tv'^tL fi 'f,,^-'"-"'^ stock B'-ck Jock 3 Yo n„ T , . , "■■" """^^ ''""s used- confined to L.e tminin^rfT "' '"^^^^"dants are Ms daughter Pri:ro\:oSVir;f1 '"r« '" the Princess trihp ■ l.nf i.- ""^^^f ^3^ ^^^^ the foundress of President blood thufsokf.dvr^ """"i "°°'^- ^''^ >.as doubtless contrTbute^'pt eS'^r '""^'' ™d health of this closely-bred herd ^!»? of the vyour Macduff 678, and Young Mme stn 982 7", Y^' ^°"' ™oreon account of diss1n,ila~ Uoocf ^n! '^'''^ any individual deficiency. Scarcely anv of ? f '" were retained, and none of the blood^ ! ^ P™^"''' -ith the predominlnt ; :tt , r w" . ".' ""."""'"" '■^ ^" "^s 0^^" herd; for while, If I r III m IMAGE EVALUATION TEST TARGET (MT-S) /> ///A .% ^^ y\% V. '^ CA ^ !.0 fM IIIIIM I.I 11.25 2.8 |3.2 ||25 mil 2.2 2.0 1.8 JA IIIIII.6 p 7i <^ //, / 'c^^ c^: '3 'J>^ > %v // ^ * '» C;^^ /A Photographic Sciences Corporation 23 WEST MAIN STREET WEBSTER, NY. 1 4^80 (716) 87!2-4503 iV ^9> V 6^ % V <^ V^ •iP % r - ^-Lr ' -.*"J'" ' "' ' - ' -i ' ' ' - ' ■ ' ■ ^* ' ■i SCO EXISTING SCOTCH HEKDS. ot course Shah had aU the early concentrated Panmure and Tdovie blood, it will be found by working out us peLVee to its terminations, that there occur m it the Tamfs ot Mr Watson's bulls. Grey-breasted Jock 2, Old j'rk 1 Anaus 45, Pat 29, Strathmore 5, Adam 39, and Maynooth k Prince of the Eealm 1695, again, was a son of Shih 680 Tlie other sire used by Mr Ferguson last s ast Cn Wharncliffe, continues the slightly dduted hZd by his sire Prince of the Eealm, whUe on he dam s2 his pedi« f""" Favourite 2, one from Mr Watson's Beau y, while one each have belonged to the Balwyllo Isabella and the Pnde tres. It will be seen that prax=ticaUy the only decided *"tcr;sses resorted to by Mr Ferguson during !•;« career a breeder, extending over forty years, have been those introduced by President 3rd and Shah, and the dilution muTt have been necessary, in the circumstances under which theherd was kept, to prevent sterility and unhealthi- "'Sr Ferguson has held no public sales, but he has dis- posed of polled cattle privately for the last forty-five years, Td of course a full account of transactions extending over that long period would be impossible. A note of the cWef sales m^y'however, be given. Mr Ferguson has bred about 400 bulls. The great majority of these were never recristered. but went to ordinary rent-paying stocks through- o'rt the country. About the year 1850, fifteen hei to were sold in one lot to a gentleman who had formerly kept the inn at Castletown of Braemar, und was then a grazier in the north ot Scotland. About the same ime^ol^« »' fZZn heifers were sold to Mr James Leshe, The Thorn, KINNOCHTBY HEED. 261 and with these he founded his herd. They were, as already mentioned, descended from the stock obtained by Mr Ferguson from his father. In 1855 Mr Ferguson took the best portion of his herd from Ashmore to Kinnochtry, and during a few years subsequent to that date it was perhaps larger than it has been before or since. From the years 1855 to 1860, a great many pure-bred heifers and cows were sent from Ashmore to the fat market hicrher average prices being then got for bulls than for fem^es. By the time the lease of Ashmore expired in 1864, that farm was mostly stocked with ordinary keeping cattle. Previous to 1866, sixteen or seventeen cows and heifers* with some bulls, were sold to Mr Scott, Easter Tulloch. During the last twenty years, a good many bulls have been sold to Ireland at prices ranging from 30 to 60 guineas. Amongst those in Ireland who have been sup- plied with bulls from Kinnochtry, M'ere Mr. Owen, Bles- sington. County Wicklow ; Mr. Farrell, Moynalty, Kells County Meath ; Sir Charles Knox Gore, Bart., Beleek County Mayo; Mr S. E. CoUis of Tieraclea, Tarbert' County Kerry. In 1875 two yearling Princess heifers' were sold to the Marquis of Huntly, and the foUowincr year a yearling heifer of the Princess family, and one o'f the Favourite family, were sold to Sir W. G. Gordon Gumming, Bart, of Altyre. During the last twelve or fourteen years, no females of the Princess, Baroness, or Favourite families have been sold at a lower price than 60 guineas, the animals of these families disposed of being mostly yearlings. Since 1876 no females of these tribes have been sold in Scotland, excepting a Favourite heifer calf to Lord Airlie. At the Highland Society's show at Perth in 1879, three yearling heifers and a a yearling bull were sold to Mr F. B. Redfield, Batavia. New York, U.S. The heifers were Princess 8th 3298, 3rd Baroness 3294, and Favourite 9th 3295, while the bull was Field Marshal 1778 of the Baroness family. In the 262 EXISTING SCOTCH HERDS. spring of 1881, a yearling bull and two lieifers were sold to the Honourable J. J. Dowsett of Honolulu, Sandwich Islands. The bull was of the Baroness family, and the heifers were of the Mina family. In the spring of 1881, nine bulls and seven heifers were shipped to Mr Eedfield. At the same time, three animals were shipped to Mr. J. J. Eodgers, Angus Farm, Knox County, Abingdon, Illinois. They were the cow Favourite 6th 3118; the heifer Baroness 8th 5039, and the bull Baron Balgersho 1696. In the spring of 1882, twelve yearling heifers and two bulls were sold to Mr Eodgers. The heifers were sold at very high prices, and chiefly represented the Princess, Baroness, and Favourite tribes. Mr Ferguson has gained most of the prizes for polled cattle at the shows of the Stormont Union Agricultural Society since its establishment in 1854. During the time the Scottish Midland Agricultural Society was in existence, he also won nearly all the prizes offered by it. He has on various occasions gained prizes at other local shows and sales. Eecently he lias exhibited at the High- land Society's shows, and we have already indicated the prizes won by him for bulls at these. In 1878 he gained the first prize for yearling heifers with Princess 6th 3296. At Stirling in 1881 he was awarded the gold medal for the cow Princess of Kinnochtry 914, who was twenty-one years old when exhibited. In 1877 and 1881, when champion prizes were offered at the Stormont Union shows, they were won by Mr Ferguson, in 1877 with a heifer out of Mr Brown's Duchess of Westertown 927, and in 1881 with Princess 7th 3297. Mains cf Advie. The Mains of Advie herd is worthy of special notice on several grounds. It has achieved distinction in the local show-yards ; it is almost entirely descended from one cow ; MAINS OF ADVIE HEED. 263 It IS characterized by great concentration of blood; and its history reflects credit on the Ballindalloch herd, from which 11- was derived, and on which it has been mainly built up The herd was started by Mr Charles Grant about twenty years ago, at a time when it was doubted whether, for a fam like Mams of Advie, situated at a high al itude rP !!f >? f 'TP^ ^^' '^^"-^ Highlanders could be reared with profit. Mr Grant's success in his enterprise undoubtedly stimulated the breeding of polled cattle in the district ; and it is probable that to his efforts more than to any other circumstance may be ascribed the transforma- tion that has occurred in the class of stock now found in the Grantown markets, which are resorted to for stor^ 1 1 o /r"^ ""^"^ ^''''*^''' ^^ ^-'^ "«^*^^ «f Scotland. Li 1862 Mr Grant purchased a polled cow from the herd of Sir George Macpherson Grant at Ballindalloch. Few people t^,.a paid much attention to pedigree, and Mr Grant asked for no information regarding the animal ac- quired by him being quite satisfied that, coming from Ballindalloch, her breeding must be satisfactory, and that individually slie was of more than ordinary merit. This cow was entered in vol. iv. of the < Herd Book ' as Old Rose of Advie 3104, calved 1859, bred by Sir George Mac pherson Grant, sire Craigo 260, dam a pure polled cow traigo, we may recall, was after a bull bred at Balwyllo and out of a cow bred at Keillor. When purchased, Old Eose was m calf to King Charles 236, bred at Kinnaird, a son of Draid 225 and Kathleen 339. The produce in 1862 was Eose of Advie 3105. In 1866 Rose 3105 was sent to LallindaUoch and mated with the famous bull Trojan 402 a half-brother on the dam's side to Pride of Aberdeen 58l' bemg out of the Paris cow Charlotte 203, and after Black Prince of Tillyfour 366. From this union came Dandy of Advie 3106. Dandy is now fifteen years old, is still in the Herd, and has bred some wonderfully good stock. She is II ^ ^^H 11 fl II 264 EXISTING SCOTCH HEllDS. ! ■ i- a massive cow, very thickly fleshed, well haired, and short legged. Nearly all her calves have been prize- winners, and to some of them we shall briefly allude. Before doing so, however, we may mention the more im- portant sires used in the herd, and thus show how closely and ingeniously the herd has been bred. The first sire used was Conqueror 1190, bred at Drumin. He was after Disraeli 401, and his dam was by Defiance 397 (got by Rob Eoy Macgregor 267, the sire of Black Prince of Tillyfour, who, as already remarked, was the sire of Trojan), and out of Charlotte 203, Trojan's dam. Then followed Elcho 595, bred at Ballindalloch, out of Erica 843, and after Juryman 404, whose sire Bright 454 was a son of Black Prince of Tillyfour, and whose dam Jilt 973 was a daughter of Black Prince of Tillyfour. Elcho, who is renowned in the annals of the breed as a heifer getter, left more than sixty calves in the herd, and thoroughly stamped upon it the Ballindalloch character- istics. After serving at Advie for three years, he was sold back to his breeder Sir George Macpherson Grant, and subsequently went to the Glamis and Cortachy herds. The next sire used was none other than Elcho's sire Jury- man 404, who had been for some time in Forfarshire. He was bought at Lord Airlie's sale in 1876 for £60, and was used for one season in the herd. The bulls First Fruits 1325, of the Westertown Victoria family, and First Attempt 1324, of the Westertown P e family, both bred at Altyre, were then introduced. They were both after the Sybil bull Senator 863, a son of Scotsman 474. Highland Chief 1590, after Judge 1150, a son of Jilt and Scotsman, and out of Miss Fanny 3111, by Juryman 404, wa . then used. Another son of Judge, Baronet, was the next sire, his dam being Maid of Aven 2995, who was after Elchies 563 (a son of Juryman 404 and Eisa 977), and out of Bertha 980, by Trojan. The present stock bull is Etonian 1658, after Elcho 595, and out of the Erica cow Eva 984, whose dam was Eisa MAINS OF ADVIE HERD. 265 977, by Trojan 402. The selection of sires thus presents some features of considerable interest. The concentra- tion of Erica and Queen blood will be observed, and scarcely less noteworthy is the close relationship of the animals. The success of the system of breeding adopted by Mr Charles Grant, and followed by his son Mr John Grant, who now manages the herd, has been unquestionable. Of Dandy's calves, Emily 3110 was a famous prize- winner at Elgin, Grantown, and Inverness. Mayflower 3108; Violet, sold to Lord Lovat; Edith, sold" to Mr Hannay; Evelyn 4119, sold to Lord Strathmore ; and Young Juryman, sold to Mr Eeid, Baads, were also very superior. Other specially good representatives of the Eose family were Miss Emily, sold to Mr Whitfield, America ; Florence 3587, a frequent prize-taker at Gran- town, Elgin, and Dingwall; Duchess 3585; Mayflower 4th 4439; Maggie May; Daisy 3586; Blanche 3588, etc. There are also in the herd a few specimens of other strains, but the bulk is of the Eose family. Important sales have been made to Sir George Macpherson Grant, Lord Lovat, Mr Hannay Gavenwood ; the late Earl of Strathmore, Mr Whitfield, Eougemont, Ontario ; Mr Hine, Ohio, etc. The herd, as we have indicated, has ficrured prominently in the show-yards at Grantown, Inverness, Elgin, Keith, and Dingwall, and has frequently won prizes for groups— perhaps the best testimony to the merit of a breeding stock. n VI ™™ 2G6 CHAPTER XIII. ,t i li.t EXISTING SCOTCH HERDS— CONTINUED. Mains OF KELLY-Oldest existing pedigree herd-Founded in 1809 or 1810 -Mr Bowie's system of breeding-The Jenny, Martha, Lizzie, Ardestie, Jennet, Guinea Pig, Victoria, and Wattie families-Celebrated bulls bred at Mains of Kelly-Cupbearer 59, Hanton 228, Logie the Lairds, Majors, Jim Crows, Victors, etc.-MELViLLE-Dandys, Prides, and Mayflowers-METHLICK-The Mabel branch of the Pride family- MiNMORE-MoNTBLETTON-Commencedin 1831-Thelate MrEobert Walker and the tenant of Wester Fintray-The Victoria, Charlotte, Mayflower, and Isabella families-Sires used-Fame of the Mayflowers -MoNTCOFFER-MoKLicH-The Windsor branch of the Queen tribe —PiTFouR— Logie the Laird 3rd 862-Pitgair— Portlethen— Established about 1818-The early animals in the herd-The Nackets and Brown Mouths— Families now represented— The Mayflowers Miss Scotts, Lucys, Fannys, Nightingales, Livelys, Pansys, Julias,' Idas, Madges, etc.— Bulls used in the herd— Portmore-Powrie— Easter TuUoch Mayflowers-Madge of Portlethen 1217, and Monarch 1182. Maim of Kelly. The oldest existing pedigree herd of polled cattle is that belonging to Mr Alexander Bowie, Mains of Kelly, Arbroath, and few have been more instumental in improving the breed. Mr Bowie gives us the following account ol' the foundation of his herd : " The herd was formed by my father in 1809 or 1810, by the purchase of the cow Boy- sack from Mr Henry Lindsay Carnegie of Kimblethmont, Arbroath. My father, when he came from Cockpen, near Dalkeith, at once took a liking to the hlackskins, and .MAINS OF KELLY HEKD. 207 purchased the best black bull he could find. This bull he mated w:th the cow Boysack, who, by tl>e way ti^ thorough y dodded, although she had a little white on her be ly. Under the entry of the cow Lady Margaret 40 in voU of the ; Herf Book,' the line of breeding p„,";ed 40 ^n^ r "' "^7 '""""""y ^'"'"^'^ ■■ '• ^y Margaret flt^'f i?7 ^ ?'" ''^'"^"^ ^y ^' I^°^"« from his fathers well-known herd (originated about 1810); and by b eed.ng from the Old Jock 1 strain of blood and Panmure 51, some of the best stock bred at Mains of Kelly have been onginated." The Old Jock strain was obtained^in two torms, first by the purchase of Pat 29, bred by Mr Hu-rh Watson, after Old Jock 1, and out of Favourite 2 ; and by the purchase of Old Favourite, the dam of Old Jock 1 a^ diced by the purchase of Earl Spencer 24 at Mr FuUerton's -le in 1844, and of Black Meg, the dam of Panmu^ll i.arl Spencer was a son of Panmure 51, and Milkawav cf Ardesfe 668. These then, briefly stat;d, were tl d>i wo^t °" ""^f "^^ ^•'"'^ ""'' ^""' »P his herd It would be an endless task to mention all the celebrated isX tsfn' '" ""' "^^'t ''"™« '•'^ '-»" carleSnd t ^ rttirwitl, r '' ''"*?^'"°'>"^lr. owing to a protracted struggle wh rinderpest and plenro pneumonia, the existing spread influence, are comparatively few in number. Mr emerged from the desolating period of cattle pla..ue- but Its owner suffered very severely, his stock havit been reduced from ninety-three to twenty-one muired by the large number of splendid sires produced f if K ''"'?"^f«'-« "-mentioning some of the more famous bul s bred by Mr Bowie, we may first briefly note the leading families that have b.en cultivated in the ,e d i ! / I i 1 ^ 268 EXISTING SCOTCH HERDS. The oldest of these is that tracing to Jenny 55, who. as already mentioned, was selected by Mr Bowie from his father s herd This strain is known as the Jenny family. I he Martha family is descended from Mary, bred at West Scryne her dam Black Meg having been the dam of Pan- nmre 51. The Lizzie family was founded by Lizzie 227 as to whom we are able to give some information supnlemen- tary to that contained in the ' Herd Book.' Lizzie 227 was firso called " Hanton," after the name of Mr Bowie's servant, from whom he bought the cow. Although it is stated in vol. ^- of the 'Herd Book' that the age and breeder of Brunette 745 (the dam of Lizzie) were unknown, Mr Bowie informs us that she (Brunette) was bred by Mr Webster farmer, Auchrenny, who had invariably sent his cows to the Mams of Kelly bulls. The Ardestie family had its origin in Bubona 762, bred by Mr Lyall, Old Montrose, after a bull bred by the Earl of Southesk, the first of the sort owned by Mr Bowie having been Ardestie 1183, bred by Mr. Fullerton, Ardovie. A family of Jennets was torraed by the purchase from Mr M'Combie of Jenny of TiUyfour 353, after Hanton 228, and out of Young Jenny i^ind 207, the first-prize two-year-old heifer at the Highland Society s show at Berwick in 1854. The Guinea Pi- family traces to Cynthia 761, bred by Mr Fullerton. ° Ihe Victorias, which are the most prized female strain at Mains of Ke.Uy, go back to Queen Mother 348, bouc^ht from Mr M'Combie at the Highland Society's show at Inverness in 1856. She bred in Mr Bowie's possession one calf, Victoria of Kelly 345, and it is from her that Mr Bowie s Victorias spring. The Watties are descended from Wattle 2243, bred by Mrs. Lyall, Arrat, after Bob Roy of Arrat 277. A family of Lucys has sprung from Lucy of Portlethen 287, bred by Mr Walker, Portlethen, after Fy vie 13. Mr Bowie, as we have noted, bought Old Favourite the dam of Old Jock 1 and Angus 45, at Mr Watson's sale m 1848, but she left no female descendants at Mains of MAINS OF KELLY HERD. 2G9 Kelly, where, however, her blood is preserved in thp m i line by her son Earl Spencer 2n.1 it , f I. "'''^^ also went to Mains ofTJZ' i f^ ^""^^ ^^"^^« 208 calf, Lur^an 4I9 but tf. I^ f '^^ "°'' ""^ ^^^^ ^ buU i." .1.1 iw d™„i. .;u MuibJ Si Tr"~ M.UIJ. F„ 302, b„d b, M,. Bo,|, ,„, S P™! T"' s -- - '^■" "'"' «« js^ji ?rsi3 informs us that this famous buU was TZa ^''^ wo or three years old ; but after C Sol'eskTt "r"' "l>e very soon filled Aberdeenshire with hifl^l ",' was accordingly keot on T>v 1,;. i j\- ''°'''^' ""d Kinuaird herd. Anothertmous bu 1 of The t "' ".' '"' was Standard-Bearer 229 "Tof t . ! ""^ ^*""'y f^ i II i ill: 'J II 270 EXISTING SCOTCH HERDS. renowned bull Hanton 228, another son of Pat 29. He gained the first prize at the Highland Society's show at Berwick in 1854 as a two-year-old. Mr Bowie's herd was admirably represented at this show, Cupbearer having been first, Earl Spencer 2nd 25 second in the aged class, and Hanton first in the two-year-old class. At the show Mr M'Combie bought Hanton for the large sum of £105, and his subsequent career is fully referred to in our notice of the Tillyfour herd. The Lizzie family also produced a number of bulls known by the name of Logie the Laird. The first of these was sold along with Albert of Kelly 346, of the Jenny family, to the Hon. Matthew Holmes, New Zealand. The most distinguished bull of this tribe was, however, Logie the Laird 3rd 862, purchased by Colonel Ferguson of^Pitfour for 100 guineas. After, winning numerous honours, among them the first prize in the aged class at the Highland Society's show at Edinburgh in 1877, and doing excellent service in the Pitfour herd, he was sold to Captain Beedie, Pitgair. His portrait is given in vol v. of the ' Herd Book.' Logie the Laird 6th 1623, another bull of the Lizzie family, was sold to Lord Airlie. The Jennet family is associated with a race of bulls called Jim Crow. Jim Crow 344, calved in 1861, after Young Panmure 232, and out of Jenny of Tillyfour 353, was used at Mains of Kelly, and gained the first prize as a two-year-old at the Highland Society's show at Kelso in 1863. Jim Crow 3rd 350, after Leo 349 of the Lizzie family, and out of Jennet 904, a daughter of Jenny of Tillyfour, won the second prize at the Highland Society's show at Edinburgh in 1C69 as a two-year-old. He was sold for 100 guineas to Mr M'Combie of Tillyfour, and was used in the Tillyfour herd. The Guinea Pig family has furnished several very fine bulls, named Gainsborough. Gainsborough 596, out of Guinea Pig 3rd 1182, and after Major 351, was first-prize two-year-old and first in the aged class at Highland Society's shows. He was sold to the Earl of Fife and MAINS OF KELLY HERD. 271 proved a valuable Sire in the Duff House herrl Tt; . • appears in vol. iii. of the ' Herd Book • CW k ^T""'^ 598, after Victor of KpIIv q^T i . ^'^^"^^orough 3rd wen represented in the »a.: it^' b/ e Ws' 'T^.^ vh,Ie Its female descendants are much valued no l^,^ a few fine specimens of this fainilv il [u^T' ^^^ atd^ de^ 1 1 ^'^ ^^-^^^tli aie aescended. The Lucys are more famous in ih/fST fn Till, f r , ^ occasions, however he wpnf ^vxdiu 01 rerth 613; and his son Younfr Alfnrri iiq. gained for Mr Pierson nf Thn n ^\^ n° -^"^^^ 1184 ' )i * : 272 EXISTING SCOTCH HERDS. strong opinions regarding the impolicy of pampering cows and heifers. A sale of polled cattle was held by Mr Bowie at West Scryne in 1857, when some very high prices were realized. The average for twenty-four breeding animals was over £37, and twelve three-year-old bullocks averaged £30, 16s. 8d. At the joint sales the stock from Mains of Kelly have always been in demand. At Aberdeen, in 1876, a Victoria cow was sold for 106 guineas. Private sales have been made to Hon. Mr Holmes, New Zealand; Mr M'Combie of Tilly four ; the Earl of Southesk ; the Earl of Airlie; Mr Smith of Benholm ; the Earl of Fife ; Colonel Ferguson of Pitfour ; Mr Melville Cartwright ; Mr Farquharson, East- Town ; Messrs Anderson & Findlay, Lake Forest, Chicago, etc. The herd at present comprises 22 cows and heifers and 2 bulls, exclusive of calves, which are very numerous. Melville. The Melville herd, belonging to Mr T. L. Melville Cartwright, was started in 1871 by the purchase of a few animals at Mr Leslie's sale at The Thorn, near Blair- gowrie. These animals included the bull Colonel of Castle Eraser 443, the third-prize yearling at the High- land Society's show that year. He afterwards gained the first prize at the Scottish Midland show, and at the Highland Society's show in 1872; and in 1873, at the Hif^hland Society's show at Stirling, he won the first prize in the aged class. The animals acquired at The Thorn were afterwards supplemented by the purchase, ?n 1873, of a heifer Victoria 6th 1409 (bought privately from Mr Bowie, Mains of Kelly), of the Queen blood, from whom the Lily family at Melville is descended; and by some purchases at the Westertown dispersion in 1874, including the old cow Dandy 949, of the Empress branch of the Queen family. In 1878 a purchase was made at the MELVILLE HERD. ^^^ tbese animals being of the Prido f 1 ^"^/^ded, both purchases were made at th» it ^ ^^ ^" ^^^^ '«'» 2574,oftheMad^e7amt al P^^"' '"'"' '''■ ^arjorie Kinnochtry Princt rr^% i,^™-- f" 2^70, of the investment, as she Droved Lf • If '"™^'' <»" « W I" 1880 ai GlamirBlekbM oTp''"5^^ "^^*^' ^-'J- bought. Inl881thecltepo'DavT,'^ ^l\'^'' ^'^ luay Georgina family, was secured Jm!'/ *' ^""''^- wliile at Mr Hannay's sde thJc '"i^'-,f damson's sale; bird of Corskie 1704 nf fh ^^T** °" '"^'"'" B'^^k- family, was added In 1879 ^ ,f "'^t*"" ^^^«»-^'- neatly 60 head, w;^ Id II T ^"'^'- """^''""S «f chiefly all the JmltL ^hoT n"d- "^'^^ .'=°"P™'='' Cartwright weeded out the stock If f'f''^"'^!' ^act, Mr there were five sold of the ol m .'""■■ "^"^'^'^^ ' but ^40, lis. per headiVoth rof :!"' "'''{--«=-l only six months old a.°d Z f f ^^ ?/,^ ''''f"' "^'^ present herd consists of about^n / f ^' ^^^- ^l^" lialf are of the oJl M a L ^" ''^'"^' °f ^hich nearly very seldon^^^fcfe °"t ' ^' ?r"r'=''' ""^ -"'bited good breedi ,. conjTtir » ^ ^?'' ''""^ in a thoroughly exhibition, lesldes Z'b^l al i" '"'^ bia cattle" for of Castle Fraser, B^k Prb f^^ ^'^fl^"^- Colonel as a yearling at the Snd%n!,r"f *« 'i''^' P^™ in 1878; tlfe fourth prtat the Kn^ "^'^ ^'""^™^ where he had to compe e w1 -, aid n™ '"T '" ^«^»- prize at the Highland^lld^;, f//,f|' -ftl. f°"* by .. Cartwrl.ht.rZr1^\-,VS S. ^^ Methlick. Mr John Grant esUblished a herd at Methlick in 1873 .HT 274 EXISTING SCOTCH HERDS. i i His first purchase was at the Easter Tulloch sale that year, when he acquired the cow Alice of Methlick 1760, by Lord Southesk's Theodore 393. The same year at Drumin he purchased Mary of Methlick 1761, after the Tillyfour sire Disraeli 401, and out of Daisy 952, of Mr Skinner's Lucy tribe. At Portlethen, in October 1874, Mr Grant bought Jackdaw 1982, of Mr Walker's Julia family, and the bull Lauderdale 671, after Melrose 382, bred at Castle Fraser, and out of Louisa 658, tracing to the Ardovie herd. Lauderdale was used for some years as stock sire. At the Bognie dispersion in 1874, Mr Grant was a large purchaser of representatives of the Greenskares and Beauty tribes, full of the blood of Lord Southesk's Odin 153. At Eothiemay, in the autumn of 1875, Glenaven 1491, bred at Drumin, was added to the herd for 47 guineas. Mr Grant's most important purchase, however, was at; the Tillyfour sale in 1874, when he secured, as a heifer calf, at 25 guineas, Mabel 1801, of the Pride tribe. Mabel is after Bismarck 428, and is a grand-daughter of Pride of Aberdeen 581. The heifer turned out a most profitable investment, for Mr Grant now owns ten female specimens of this valuable family. Mabel has been a very true breeder. Her calves have likewise bred well, and are remarkable for family type, being evenly fleshed, with beautiful polled heads. They grow to large sizes, and are very easily kept. As stock sire Lauderdale 671 was suc- ceeded by Knight of Aven 775, bred at Drumin, out of Dandy 949, of the Queen tribe. He cost 70 guineas at the Brucklay dispersion. At the Tillyfour dispersion Mr Grant bought the Pride bull Knight of the Garter 1763, a son of Pride of Aberdeen 5th 1174, and of the Daisy bull Dragon 1178. The herd has been drafted by sales at Alford and Aberdeen, and a considerable lot was sold at fair prices at Methlick in 1880. That year two heifers were sold privately to Mr TayJor, Eeigate, near London, for £30 each. In 1882 the Pride cow Mabel 3rd 3235 MINMOKE HERD. g- and the Pride heifer Ma^ZizcT ? f"^,' ''°' ^^10; Waterside, of Forbes at iVow '"' '" ^' ^^i"^^". The herd numberss'o L ' ^f ,^^P°rtatiou to America. and the stoeks'r '' '"'' ''''^'''' ^'^'^ 20 calves. The Minm ore. 1876 by^lfptVaLtrri^sl^t^^^^^^^^^ « «ale, of the well-bred cow NouseZ 21 5V!? Mmdalloch family, bred by Sir George MrcpTe..„?Glf v 'P""" wasacowofsuDerinrnnlrf "^l"'"™" ^^ant. Konsense 4793; and her next caTfV». f ' ^' '""^='' ^'^^''na 4794, both bythe b!n VicZ 364^ rf"' '''■ ^'''^ the herd, and are now fi„7 . """^ "« ^"^h in quality. Verbeu": S of 'asf Zr ""^ "^^^"^"-' Viscount Duff 1365 ™d I, / ^ "'^ ^ '"^'f^f by while her calf of thsyeTristUlLT/l^^ P"'"'^'"«^ well. Alicia has a fine cow calf foo To '""^""'^^Sh Another and the la.,!-, ^,1^* vr ' ^y Canute 1601. 4798, sire ScobtleriS <^SS I^ ^^f purposes, and g!td some „' "'L'"''^ '" '^' ^''"^^ acauiredtheheifrQueriC'thlt;' 'r'"/ "^'^^ bred by the late Mr Paterson. jf^lben and she'' ''^'• an uncommonly good cow -, « ! . " '"^ ^">''<"^ regular breeder.^ C fir 'calf. n' """"^^^^ »«'' a 4792, calved March 23 187s !i ff 2""'" ^""-y 1^"' bull Barrister 804 I^^'is elw *%J^""'ndalloch bred in the herd, bei^g^n'etS^rerld^ ^ VT ^'^ and quality. She hi<. n J T'. ""^ Sood shaj^ea Viscount r^,ff m'\Z^rJt:J'^. "', ^-' "y [i-. ;J 5 (: T||ii 'Aieen Mary's calves _— J- ; 1 ii if 1 u •1 h m ' U: vm 1 m / mi ■». ' m 1 1 1 : ■ ! i \ 1 ' i 276 EXISTING SCOTCH HERDS. is Queen Mary 15th 4795, calved in April 1879, sire Victory 1364, a very good-looking cow. Major Smith bought at the sale at Ballindalloch, in 1879, the cow Nosegay 3rd 2157, who produced, on 10th February 1880, twin heifer calves to the prize bull Judge 1150 ; but failing next year to have a calf, she was sent to the butcher. Her two calves are now two years old, fine, substantial, level heifers, doing credit to the good blood they inherit from their sire and dam. In 1880 Major Smith purchased at Burnside the heifer Honesty 5th 3761, bred by Mr Eobertson, Burnside. She is of the famous Drumin Lucy tribe, and is the best milker in the herd. Her first calf in 1881 was a bull by Viscount Duff, and this year she has a fine heifer calf by the same sire. Major Smith this year bought from Mr Eobert Bruce, Great Smeaton, the capital cow Patience of Corskie 1932, bred by the late Mr James Skinner, Drumin. She has at foot a very strong, fine-looking bull calf by Challenger 1260. Patience, it will be remembered, was dam of Lord Airlie's celebrated heifer Pavilion 3772. The sire bought in 1882 for use in the herd was Whig 1867, bred by Sir .George Macpherson Grant, out of Elma 3368, and after Editor 1460. Whig is thus strong in the fashionable Erica blood, and has proved himself a sure getter of good stock. MontUetton. An historic interest attaches to the herd at Montbletton, founded by the late Mr Robert Walker in 1831. Mr AValker was son of Mr David Walker, Blair of Fintray, and nephew of Mr Eobert Walker, tenant of Wester Fintray and Suttie. In a former chapter yre have alluded to the fact that Dr Skene Keith, in his ' View of Agri- culture in Aberdeenshire,* published in 1811, quotes, as evidence of the early fame of Aberdeenshire cattle, some exploits in feeding by Mr Walker, Wester Fintray. It is MONTBLETTON HEED. g?? a breeder a„7rxhbilT T!""^^' tPP^"™-* «' »''»"^ ^^ were a-n^tl^' t^^^ f ^^^^^^^^^ »^ his stock directly represented "^, "f '<'' ^""^7 Polled cattle is the Montbfetton Wd poJsL ' -'r""'''"' ""^'^f^^' excited by its own excels! 'f "■''' '^'^°"'' "'^' famous, as it was J^^tZf^-^^J'^ °''!?'^ ""' stocks in Aberdeenshire ' '"P"^^^ PoUed at M:itt^!;^.:^5 rrrr/tr ^-"^^ -■« do not enable us to speanfth 1- ^'T' ''"'''• members until 1849. The cau ll^f '^^^ T","''""' "' attention to pedigree. Thtr: t n' t'^td^ 1"^ and It was not until the collection nf „ * • , , ^''*' publication was be^un in fst h I ^TT^' ^""^ "«" "otes of the breedin™„ h s catt^^'' I? T^'^^' "^^P' has always been of con,,-,!^^^! a • '^ ^^''^' ■"'»<='» from not^more\h:: JX^r f ITrS^rfilr ''I of which a record ha«! hppr. w • *^^-. -^^e hrst animal herd in 1849. SrVi ^0^^^^^^^^^^^^^^ '\ ^ She was the f;:"Ltof tS„!^nT' ^r- ^'"'"^ ^«5. At the Tillyfour sale t "'' f °"*l<^«°n Victoria fan.ily. Unbred b;^oltl^S:^B:^;^rS-te?-^^ Huy.^316, and the winner of the first i^rize .^t thp W , land Societv'.c; <^]^o\v ir l^io , i' I'uze at the Hi ^2u Lwo bulls. 1^; i •' ■ .1 280 EXISTING SCOTCH HEEDS. Mr Walker held a public sale in 1862, \/hen Mayflower 614 was bought by Mr M'Combie of Tillyfour for £63. Private sales of considerable importance have been made to the Earl of Fife, Mr Hannay, Gavenwood ; Sir George Macpherson Grant, and several breeders in the district; while specimens of the herd are also to be found in England and America. ■> >,' I! Montcqffer. Mr John Strachan, on entering the farm of MontcoiTer, on 15th May 1881, purchased from Mr Hannay nineteen polled animals, which formed an excellent foundation for his herd. Some of these ceased breeding, and from that cause and other accidents there are now in the herd only twelve of the lot. These are— ErroUine 1698, by Duke of Cornwall 643, descended from the old Mains of Hatton herd ; Guava 3836, by Laird of Bognie 935, from the same stock; Islet 4833, by Blairshinnoch 1307, of the Rothie- may Victoria family; Damson 3835, by Laird of Fyvie 934, from the Mains of Hatton stock; Finery 4835, by Blairshinnoch 1307, tracing to Old Lady Jean 187 at Eothiemay ; Quince 3839, by Laird of Fyvie 934, from the Auchlin stock ; Queen Bee 4830, by Blairshinnoch 1307, descended from Old Lady Jean 187; Walnut 3840, by Laird of Fyvie 934, from the Auchlin stock ; Braw Bell 4832, by Blairshinnoch 1307, of the Eothiemay Victoria family; Tansy 4834, by Blairshinnoch 1307, of the Eothiemay Victoria family; Caranella 4837, by Youncr Viscount 736, of the Mulben Caroline family; Branch 4836, by Blairshinnoch, sjjrung from the Arratsmill stock. In February 1881 there were purchased from Mr Steven- son, Blairshinnoch, Pansy 3rd 4660, by Nubian 1294, tracing to Old Lady Jean 187 ; Sabrina of Blairshinnoch 4310, by Nubian 1294, off Arratsmill stock ; and Lilly 2nd 4309, by Nubian 1294, tracing to Old Lady Jean 187. MONTCOFFER HERD. ^Sl Prom Mrs Morison of Moiintblairv •. "n 7 were hnn^l.f t?i o ^^^"""'^o^airy, ^n December 1881 -.-, . V"^ '^"^''on ^^U7, by Andrew Lammie .Srrl 1 1 Qq ^f- ^i of Kinnochtrv ] 8S4 "f i?-^, ^^'"'' <"" "^ beauty from Mr Gibson, Bo^ideTEd a 1:^::^^ ttl''"'' have gained prizes at local show, T^ I , """^^ Editor 1460 bred .t R»m !i n T ^^^ ^^"^ «'>■« is Judge 1150^n 1„tf Sh'^STS 'ofT/'^ -^^"^ *>»" Society's slow at PerO,^ ^7' f f ""^ ^''"'"^--d aged cLs at E.gilSlwn^B^:^ t'^^ xtriff^'" /"! the cows naentioned have pr;duced catis Tnd tlf h 1 numbers over fonv lioori rn, • ^-^vca, dna tiie herd sold seven Tui "C at" „ ' '""' ^' ^''^"''^" ''^^ which haveg "etT,„ ic?. ^T f f ^' '"--^ «f firo, also to^America ' ^"^ '''''^^' '''^^'' ^^ ,S ' ' f I 282 EXISTING SCOTCH HERDS. Morlich. Mr Cran, Morlich, Towie, has been breeding polled cattle for a long time. He was fortunate enough to pro- cure from Mr M'Combie of Tillyfour the cow Beauty of Morlich 2072, and she has proved a most fortunate invest- ment. Calved in 1854, she was got by Angus 45, and out of that grand-breeding cow Windsor 202, of the Queen tribe, the dam of Lord Southesk's "Windsor 221, and of Mr M'Combie's Eob Roy Macgregor 267. Beauty of Morlich 2072 has left a numerous and excellent progeny. The strain is held in high repute, and worthily so no less on personal merits than on account of the choice Tillyfour blood which it alone in the female line preserves. Mr Cran does not show except at the local meetings at Tarland and Kildrummy, and he had the honour of gaining on one occasion the challenge cup presented by Her Majesty the Queen with one of the descendants of Windsor. Another very lucky purchase by Mr Cran was the bull Balwyllo Eclipse 781, bought at the Balwyllo sale in 1863 for 23 guineas. He was after Sir William Wallace 308, and out of Princess Royal 444, by Cupbearer 59, of the Victoria family at Balwyllo. This bull was used with satisfactory results in the herd. Among other sires introduced were Bogfern 901, bred by Mr Shaw, after the Highland Society's first- prize bull Palmerston 374, and tracing on the dam's side to the Keillor herd ; and Marshal Var 1452, bred by Mr Hannay, got by Young Viscount 736, and of the Castle Eraser Mina tribe. Mr Cran has made a good many sales privately, and his bull calves have always fetched high prices at the Aberdeen joint sales. .1 Pitfour, The foundation of Colonel Ferguson's herd at Pitfour was laid in 1869, by the purchase of two heifers from PITFOUR HEIiD. ^^^ The ne.t addMon^^ ttst /' p"'"^ *™'^' '"^P^-'^i"-- four. At the Kothlemay Ck i^ 18^''n'''' '">"" '''"y Deveron Banks 1492 wp™ k fl ' ■^'*"* "«^' and descended fron> Mr H„r;,,''°!= f ^-'-"'^'^ «°2' was acquired at the CuL!!, . • """^ ^""""^ 248, PoUy 2240, of the Ea^te 'stn^n '" '^^^' ■""* B"™-" came from the Garth t'sd'et i^^T" lit? '^""^• herd received a temporarv chpr.t 7^ J? "'^' ^^^r the disease. Several of fhl T "'°"Sh foot and mouth had dead oa^ 1 ree Kwl -^r^^ ^'W^-^ or in consequence of their „ddet ^- "^ ^°' ""« '^"'''•er of the Eose family wT« I ,. ^"'''"^ Rosemary 936 Martha 4th 2254,5 Mr bS,'' '.'" ^«*^'o-n sale the joint sale at Aberdeen ^nlsr/'lT T """^"^d at of Drumin descent, wsbo-H.faUhe Co t^'^'f' ''''■ of Fyvie 1527, of the FvZw . ?^^'^ *ale. Tifty in 1879. The next pu^Ze iTr f ^' ""^ ^""''^d of the Eothiemay Vic'^^'flr ata/™ "f "^V"' sion. Some of the strain, wT T ""^^dlyfour disper- the best having been Ct and t ''f/ ^"^^^ <">t, only now in the he°rd, tte T^frtu" .rl! T " '^"'°"=" *ose bought at Easter SkenltiRfir"'^ ^T ^""^ ^299, although not the hea'e tTn th herd "^^V"' f"''' come to the front af th^ i.. i v ^^^^ ^^^e always prize lists at ib' rftj"^' tT ''"'' ^ve been in the have been found a wShlJ.^*".'" ^'""^ Kothiemay fleshy animals, .y^^^^^lZ'Sa ""Z^Z ""^« the prize cow Dulcet 4057 snranr i , T ""'' 'ort she always stood iirst It tLT f ^' * ''^'f'^'' and cow years old she Z se „nd a th. w" u ""Z ^^''«" ">^^o at Kelso, and was first in thV. n^"-^'"'"* ^'''y'' *ow first the Mysies f,^m Ti IvT"'*^ ^"^y «' ^oith. At being crossed with he HkZIZlT'' T'"' ^"^ 3rd 862, they a. coming J^^/f:^^^^ ^ il ■* ^'^ V I. I]. /i I 1^ ^ 284 EXISTING SCOTCH HERDS. f retaining all the flesh of the matron cow. They are also very good milkers, and there are of the family some pro- mismg youngsters. The family descended from Periwinkle ]^ also good, and likely to keep its ground in the herd. The other families, particularly those from Cumberland Lass and Tifty of Fy vie, promise well. The first bull used was Aberdour 627. Sprung from a very old race of cows, Aberdour, though small in size, was of extra quality, and has left that characteristic on his offsprincr The most important acquisition to the herd was Lo^ie th"e Laird 3rd 862, from Mr. Bowie, Mains of Kellv at°-eiOO considered a long price at the time. He was the stock bull for four years, and raised the character of the herd considerably. He had a very successful show-yard career having been first as a yearling at the Angus show at Montrose; third at the Highland Society's show at Aber- deen as a two-year-old; first at the Highland Society's show at Edinburgh in 1877, and first at the Royal Northern the same year; while in 1878 he gained the challenge cup as best polled breeding animal at Aberdeen. In 1881 he was sold to Captain Beedie, Pitgair. Marischal Keith 1627, of the Lucy tribe, purchased from Mr Skinner Drumin, followed Logie in the herd. He was a massive' lengthy bull, with a great amount of flesh, but perhaps not so stylish as Logie. He did fairly well in the show- yaixl, having been first yearling at Aberdeen, second at Kelso, and second two-year-old at Aberdeen, and third at Stirling. In consequence of an accident, he was sent to the butcher in 1882. His calves promise well. The pre sent stock bull is Lord Mp^idce 1881, bred at Rothiemay out of that fine Georgina cow Fatr-, Darling 3673, and after oir Maurice 1319. A few animals have been sold from the herd to ^o abroad. Diana's yearling heifer was sold in 1878 to Messrs Anderson & Findlay, Chicago. In 1879 the yearling bull Virtuoso 1626, and one of the Mysies was PiTGAIIi HERD. 285 Westertown Les tT f" '«"""' """Stt one of the to sixty pure w,' „ , '"^ "' ''''"="' '"""bers hfty Easter sCe^lM'?'■ "?'"P'''""' ^'^ ^'''-^^ f-"-^ from EotSa;tten ?:!'"■" J'"^'""'' '«" !>--' ^^-s.ene.j^::-j;-^2M;i::"y^S 2'^7fi a«<^ ^K / ' y "^® purchase of Mavflowpr who had kep a btt l,r.T'r '*■" f"™' ^' Gangster, eighteen X p vtrls^S ^^^'"'^ '"' ""^^^^ records of the Hi<,wZ%!.!;f ''" ^ears from the at the show LT8'4r ul t ^ ^'''^'^ '""' ^" ^^^^^'^^ earlier herds, no record oftTd""^^' '' '" "^"y "^ ""^'^ time that th an rb came 1^0 T""^" "^"^'^ '» ">« sion. TliebuU iHse a Pi ? " ^'''"''^ P°^^^^- the herd took Xc" tlSfi^ '^' -'"•"'" dispersion of cows above menCned rM fl '""^ '"■" "^ '"» »f "'« 952, bred brMrEnxti^^ ""' n '^^ *^''^^' ""^ ^'g^'^ andoutof/vaTso bf^lIrnfLfS"^"^^^ '^'^'^ '''■ has added since, the cL'^Sfnt of Glenbarrvlm ^"f Highland Viet/Jlh'o"; aTS t ISH a^'^^ '' ,"'^ heifer; Ellen 3rd 2'^/^^ u lr\^ "^'^^ ^ yearling year-old at the diLe^^^^^^^^^ T^T ^^^^ - ^ ^-o! 3032, bouaht a cantor '^ ^''^' ^^^^^^« C}em Maiden 2nd 1743 boui, ^.7^'^'' '^' ^^"^^^^^ ^^^^ ' ^74d, bought at Mr Hannay's sale in 1877 17 i ..-^.:: It a 286 EXISTING SCOTCH HERDS. lA I' winner of the second prize at the Eoyal 1^ brthern show in 1874 ; and Bathy 1525, tracing through Miss Watson to the Keillor cow Favourite 2. Bathy was acquired at f'ic Fyvie Castle dispersion in May 1881. The earlier sires used were Duke of Cornwall 643 and John Bright 642, winner of the first prize at the Eoyal l^orthern show in 1874, and second at the Highland Society's show the same year. The sires lately used have been Jester 472, bred by Sir George Macpherson Grant, out of Jilt 973, and winner of the fourth prize at the Highland Society's show in 1874, also first at the Banf!' and Turriff shows ; and Gamrie Mhor 1240, of the Windsor branch of the Queen tribe, bred by Mr Cran, Morlich, winner ,of numerous first prizes, and four Highland Society's medals at local shows. The present stock bull is Logie the Laird 3rd 862, winner of the first prizes at the Eoyal Northern and Highland Society's shows in 1877, and of the challenge cup, as best breeding animal in the polled sections at Aberdeen. The herd numbers thirty-seven animals, as follows r—nine descended from Polly, bought in 1865 ; seven Pitgair Mayflowers ; four descended from the cow Mary, bought in 1865; seven Lucys ; two Fyvie Gems; and two Miss Watsons. Captain Beedie sold in November 1879, by public auction, eleven females ; five cows averaged £25, 10s, 2 two-year-olds £26 and 4 yearlings £17. Previous to that and since, he has sold privately six animals, viz.. Lass, out of Dandy 1075 and Maiden, out of Maiden 2nd, to Mr Wilken for expor- tation ; Mayflower 12th ; May Morn, out of May 2557 • with two bulls to Mr. Findlay, Peterhead, for clients in the United States. For the last three years the averac^e for bull calves has been— 1880, £25; 1881, £28, 9s.° and 1882, £33, 5s. No animals have been fed for show purposes or exhibited, except at the local shows, where many prizes have been gained for males and females. The cows are kept in a natural breeding state, and have bred PORTLETHEN HERD. ^S? Regularly. Mayflower 2376, calved in ISA ^ a ., first calfwheu two years old ITk i ' ^'^^"'^^ ^^^^ wards up tol881 whTl ^f^ every year after- sixteen years old wl ''"' ''^^ ^" ^^« butcher at l^asneve^Salw^itr^' '^^^^^^ ^^^^^^ Portlethcn. oldest antaal, the dl'ff ttl K'° '''.'■ "^^'"S "- 'Herd Book.' It was som^l , . ' «"'"" '" ""e the late Mr. Eobert wXr! r^^^'' ''°"'^^^^' before which rapidly LVufed^rf ''•'''' *« pedigree herd, Scotland/buf also S FraSf m'"';^"'"" ""' "-"y « the present owner of tl,» . , .^"""Se J. Walker, following note regarl"' t wihlT'r, "' ^"'^ '"e about the herd is the fact fW~ ^=,0 f ''"°*" '« ">« called Colonel, a % b„ , „f ^ .^^ "'' *"'" '" "^« '"^^ At that time there rppearsfb»' t^' """ ^"^'^ '"^ «o„. -the Kacket, a shS^d t" '^f^'-.-^-J'-'ct tribes lirown Months a lencrtW t!' ? ' , *" ^"""^ i a°d the These are all gone sflW ' f '"'' /"'""'''''^ "^ "^^^d. Mr Walker, Cray a "d Mr IT %' '' ' "^° ^««- ^™™ IVom 1826 to 1836 Later ^b ' ^"^""yfl^^^-U'^t is, Orathes and from the produ' o7f """T "^'"'"'^ ^^"^ Ardestie, Slains of KeC Kinn» I?''' ^'^''^ht from bullsoflateyears-s^ I' o^r ;"\ "^^ »" '^«^' Within my recollection . \^°'^^^''« been home-bred. kept at PortleS XTs't TrfV "''''' ''-« "^een - 1847. There ,:.s I' , I'Thintt m/ hT rt" ™^ record of it. Banks of Dee iT. th" .^f' ''"' ^ '"'^e no ^nd Yonng Andrew 9; r!„;^ '^e Anj^e ^^„j^^^ 3 Emperor Kapoleon offe ed £230a ' "^ "'" '^'« ■•'f' i 1!! II III 11] mm's i le 1 an aiiwW ill lOOO H ii 288 EXISTING SCOTCH HERDS. Marquis 212, who there had second prize ; Fox Maule 305, and Palmerston 374, were perhaps the crack bulls. The herd at one time numbered 120 head. It is now only a little more than half, close on 70. A famous old cow called Duchess went to America when, I think, fifteen years old. This must have been about 1850. The first regular ' Herd Book' kept is dated 1840, at least this is the first of which I can find any trace." Mr H. H. Dixon, when collecting information in 1865 for ' Field and Fern,' visited Fortlethen and gleaned some facts about the herd. He says : " "We were just in time to see the last of Fox Maule, by universal consent the best Angus bull that has been seen in Scotland for many a long year. He was by Mr Watson's Marquis 212, from Mr Bowie's Matilda Fox, by Cupbearer 59, a dam which never failed. Mr Martin had been there the day before, and declared that he never killed a heavier beast, save one, as he proved, at 13| cwt. plus 13 imperial stones of fat. It was a rare treat to see him come out, with every point so beautifully fitted into each other and bevelled off, and that ' neat Eoman head set on like a button ; ' but he was nearly five years old, and had been sadly chary of his duplicates; and therefore the second-prize two-year-old bull at Stirling, the blood-like Jehu by Duke of Wellington 219, from Young Jean 295, by Captain of Ardovie 63, was captain in his stead. The herd was commenced by Mr liobert Walker in 1826, by Brown Mouths and Nackets, which were left him by his father. Forty by Colonel 145, from the tribe of Kosie, * a dowry cow,' whose milking sort had been in the family since 1778, crossed well with both these tribes. Colonel was a Nackets bull, with rather a brown back, and so crusty that he had three years of penal servitude at the plough. There was no Aberdeen show in Forty's day, but, although he was rather small, his nice shape and peculiarly fine bone brought him up first at Inverurie, and a cross with his own sister helped PORTLETHEN HERD. that rortlethen stood secoml .nA, ' ^^ ^"""S ^'""rew 9, Hanton at Paris ; and TevZ. '." m *^' M'Combie-; highly in consequence ohkl v' ^^""^ "^ Kaglan so ofthetKaVSlS^^^^ "'^ -^'''^'i^h^ent We beccne extfn t '"m ' 'wir f'^r'^'^'' "' Portlethe, disappearance of the Na^^t .^ "'''°™'"^ "^ "^ the It is gratifying to finKt:f tlfrir,"'?'" ^™''^- famdies associated with the P ., f ' ''"'' " "^o^en represented. The olde, „f T. ^"'"'^"'en herd are still f 1, Miss scotr;ii mTs t "7 °'^ ^^^=-- descendants of Old Ma«.ie are V, '^''^""''«'' 678- The latterly at Easter Tul o^h tL ." t "'^Mayflowers, the Portlethen bulk Po rtv In\TT ^^^ '^' «™^«« of Wellington 219, the owBLb; moh^ '^' f"<^ ^""^^ »f l^y Mr Scott, Easter TuUoch y!,! Tf '"^'^" ^V-'^ed to by Mr Walker as on of the c« 'btlf'^r,,'' '-"''"'"^ was of this family ; and its LT^ . "' I'ortlethen, tative in modern tiies was A^tct ^TvT^'"^ ^^P^^^^"" the Tillyfour Paris group The M f "''"' ^^^^' °"^ of •■eared at Portlethen tj early sir^'l^ t" 'T' '^ ^"" the prize bull Banks of dL 1 9 f f ''^'"'S'^^ '">ins Burnett, and Youn. Andr w n ^\"^'-^'' > Sir Thoma^ 678 descends the weLh 1 n Lucv^'"'", ''^'^ ^'^^^■'*'' Mains of Kelly. L„cy of rtlethet m' f .''T'" ^"'l fi son of Old Jopt 1 \ • , ^^"^^^ 287, got by Fyvie n The fanio.: b U pX"' 08^" '""'""'^ "^/Mr Bo« i I" Alexander U, the S' of ^0?%".? f '^'"•"»" «'- otl-er fi.n,i,,es connectrirV/p^S'" -'^^^ ^"^ animals bouo-i^^ ' - - - -^^lueu fr bv fbp Hto M,: ir /'" "^'^ ^ " — -^^^tQ Air VVaker. Ploi i I m ■a of --^/^ 290 EXISTING SCOTCH HERDS. W. ' .J I :< rortlethen 244, bred by the Earl of Soiithesk after Bal- immoon 36, and out of Fanny of Kinnaird 330, was purchased from her breeder in 1855 for £27, 10s. She has left a large number of meritorious descendants, this being one of the best branches of the Kinnaird Fanny laraily. '^ ^ Mr Walker purchased at Sir A. Burnett's sale at Crathes in 18o6 the cow Nightingale 202, and her daughter Irmcess Philomel 269, representing the old herd at Wester Fintray. Nightingale won the first prize of the Highland Society as a cow at Glasgow in 1857. She was subsequently sold to Mr M'Combie of Tillyfour Her daughter Princess Philomel 269, was sold to the Earl ot Southesk ; and Mr Walker purchased at the Kinnaird sale in 1861 Princess Philomel's daughter Perdita 848 by Dimd 225, a highly commended heifer at Battersea It is by Perdita's descendants that this family is now preserved and its excellence is sufficiently attested by the fact that the two first-prize Highland Society's bulls Palmerston 374 and Adrian 439, bred at Portlethen, were both produced by it. The Lively family was founded by Lively 2o6, bred by the late Mr Fullerton, Ardestie, after Earl o Buchan 57. Jean 264, bred by Mr Euxton larnell, after the Keillor bull Adam 39, founded the Julia family. The Pansy family had its origin in the cow Panniure 278, bred in 1853 at Keillor after Old Jock 1. Ihe Balwyllo Victoria family is represented by the descen- dants of Alice Maud 724, out of Princess Eoyal 444 purchased from the trustees of the late Mr Scott, Balwyllo' The Idas spring from Ida 651, a daughter of Inchmarlo Maggie 301, bred by the late Mr Patrick Dav^'dson of Incmna.% Madge of Portletlien 1217, a descendant the Keillor cow lavourite 2, was bought by Mr. Walker at Tillyfour, and going into the possession of the Marquis ot Huiitly, established a rather famous strain in the Aboyne Castle herd. At the Honourable Charles Carnegie's sale ■ter Bal- ^30, was Os. She nts, this i Fanny ' Crathes laughter herd at 3 of the She was Her he Earl [innaird 848, by I. It is eserved, act that merston ■e both ded by ie, after Ruxton, le Julia he cow Jock 1. descen- Eil 444, ilwyllo. hmarlo Ison of endant talker farquis Lboyne i's sale PORTLETHEN HEUD. ^^^ female line we may note Zf r ^^ ,"' '^^''"«' "' «'e Matilda Fox 302 Cd ,,v 1 p "^- ^'"^ ™^' had been sold to kr M-cl.t of ™%''"'"^ f «^"y- ^vas bought by Mr Walker in I ™ ^'f""' «"" "'t,^'^'^ ^^ars the herd given regarding ome of tbl "^^''T'^ ^'''' '"'^y he As already stated, tl™ iirs buH n?"', T''^'^"^ ^"'"'*- Colonel 145, whose pedk 1 i \, ^^' ^^' ^^''"^'^ ^™s Book:'_"Si;e an Ab!?F u- "'"' '■^''°''<'«d i" «ie 'Herd son at Por :C„ S??a"X''l"'''^^^'^'^^i"'»^^^ early sire was Porty 50 Vnd « ^"'^'''■" ^""'her heing after Captain 2ndH^ ?" ^^''' '"•*''' at Ardestie. His son, Younfindrfw 9 Irtrfv ""^^.^'^^^''^ l^^- was a useful stock sire Lnt /n""^ ^""^'^^^ 2nd 32, hull of his time, was b;ed bv ^ t^'' ^^' " ''^"°"« «how 13, of whose ca Wlev n a^ tlt'T "^T ^"^ ^>-« and was after Old JocI^ I 'T ,"■■ ™' '^'^*"1 at Fyvje, Mr Watson, Keillor ta^ 2:?w '""= """ ^^^ "^ s"-e. Bred at Keillor, he Z J LT),', V'F ""f^^^"'' are no fewer than twentv 2hf ^ 1 "^°* ^' ^'"^ 'hero the 'Herd Book.' He S ,''"''' "' '"^ ^^Sistered in 1856, and seeond at tl'm'l^l Tw ?"? '' ^^"^ '" go%y in 1S57. Eaglan 20S »f Iv ^ ' '''"'^ ^' <^'as- rf Young Miss iSe; e'^^ria^"'":"-'""^™' Pnzes, and competing at Paris if is ^r ^•'''''" ""'"'''' »* when only a two-year-old w,! "J 1856 agamst aged bulls W^ellingto; 219, Jt^C'^X:" "'f P"'™' ^^''^^ of was a Highland Society's fir I ' f „'"* "^ ^^'^'^ 250, 362 won three .ccon 1 i^.t KM ,""' ' ^'' ^°" ^^hu 1- Maule 305was one'^t : L! tu" r '1^^^^^^^ - -it uuiio Drcu ut roiLlethen r^ 292 EXISTING SCOTCH HERDS. and besides gaining the first prize in the aged class at the Highland Society's show, carried off the challenge cup at the Eoyal Northern at Aberdeen. His half-brothers Fox Maule 2nd 370 and Fox Maule 3rd 372 were, although not so famous in the show-yard, more useful in the herd The bulls Sir James 369 and Derby 377, bred at Tillyfour, and out of the Keillor cow Beauty of Tillyfour 2nd 1180, were also used; and Palmerston 374, a first-prize Highland Society bull, bred in the herd, got a great many superior stock. We have already indicated that a large share of show- yard honours have fallen to the herd. Mr Walker first appeared as an exhibitor at the Highland Society's meeting in 1834, when he won a second prize for cows. At the Highland Society's show at Aberdeen in 1858 much atten- tion was attracted by the fine lot of ten cows exhibited I'rom the Portlethen herd, Mr Walker receiving a silver medal for this unique display. Periodical sales have been held for many years, and specimens of the herd were thus distributed over the country. The private registers of the stock have been most carefully and accurately kept, the late Mr Walker havinc. perceived the value of pedigree long before many polled breeders gave much attention to preserving records of the breeding of their herds. Portmore. Mr Mackenzie of Portmore, Eddleston, started a herd of polled cattle with the object of exemplifying to his tenants and neighbours, that for the more elevated districts of the south of Scotland they are more profitable to farmers than Shorthorns, both in the pure breed and also for crossino-. As yet Mr Mackenzie's is the only herd of polled cattle in the south of Scotland. Mr Mackenzie commenced by purchasing in the end of 1880 two cows, bred by Mr ih POWRIE HERD. 293 Bruce. CollHMe viz fit' fn u'T- ""'' '""" ^r James and Vine of «i;^4W ^h ''' 'f ''/'^^ ^* ''"'• two from Mr Jame S^ie^t.Z' ^,^. P"-'"^'' of Aytoun 4632 of thf Mi^t' ?^*™" Hall, viz., Fortune Necklace of Aytoun lm^ZlT^^\ ^T ^'^"'^^'' »^ "H out of i:lt fL t^ jerctrrM".'""' -f^' ^"''- He sold the five Lu l^f m t™'" "''^" P°^^^««<^d. sale at Per h in he Sprint of th™ '''"''''"''" * ^'^^^'^ 31 guineas jit th^ fl '. ^" y'"''' "' ^° average of MaS- hat :^ : c'if r ^r-! '■ ^«^^^' ''^ entire stock, of both sexes, numUdfe."''" '"^' *"'« Powrie. Mr Thomas Smith has at no little frmiU. i Portlethen, etc At flip T,-n e "7"^' -chaster Skene, 1175, of the zltm ; ^ 7«,r'-'" ^'^''' ''■''""'^ Alforrl I'T'TQ , °* ^"^ P"^^ heifer Pride of family, for 42 guineas :„:, \^;:;':. f—«f-- g."neas. The last named, bred at Easter Tl'tlt/rdam I' •' ■^^y.'-:- 294 EXISTmG SCOTCH HERDS. of Lord Tweedinouth's Witch of Endor 3528, bought for 155 guineas. Mr Smith also purchased from Mr Sc^ott, Easter TuUoch, other specimens of tlie Mayflower family as well as members of the Levity, Duchess, Fanny, etc., strains lull of good blood. From the Easter Skene herd came Naomi 3730, by Bachelor 690, a very sweet cow. British Queen, of the Cliarmer branch of the Queen tribe was obtained at the Tillyfour dispersion ; while at Aboyne in 1881, 100 guineas were paid for that magnificent breed- ing cow Madge of Portlethen 1217. Among the stock sires used have been Norman 1257, bred at Cortachy, after Juryman 404 and Monarch 1182, the celebrated son of Madge 1217. Several animals have been sold at hiah prices to go to America. ° 295 it for 155 i;t, Easter Y as well , strains, rd came British ibe, was 3oyiie in t breed- 3ck sires ly, after son of at high CHAPTER XIV. EXISTING SCOTCH HERDS-CONCLUDED. \VATEnsiBro. Foi B. Mr Av-^r'"'^* t'"" 3'^«-Thomastown- cattle for exportation-PH.]^, Wilken selects 200 polled breeding Pride of Abe deen 7th 17^7 S Tm' !'?^'' ^y^"«' ^"^^ Daisys- sales to foreig™i as . \r ' "^"^^ ' ^^' ^""^^^ cow-Large Bothiemay. aini he part cularly remembers that liis father had at Itothiemay, about 1822 or isqq o n ^ ^' r,nlio^ 1. 11 .r •^^^'^' ^ well-known brindled polled bull, then considered a very fine animal Thp foundation of the Drpsput Pnfi,,- i ci^miai. ihe have been hi.] hvir ^'f^'^'^'^y ^'^^'^ "^'^y be said to i^ave Deen laid by the purchase by Major Tayler of two black polled cows named Old LadyJeaii and MisfMr 296 f ? *l EXISTING SCOTCH UEKDS. Z2l7 ^f'^r^'^ Hay of Kanno,, and a bull named rmtmy 125. from the late Mr James Walker Wester F.ntray, about the year 184C. The cows were very large and strong. Their descendants have been re-ular y retained and bred from, and in the 'Herd Book ' the i^di Irom Old Lady Jean 187. and Miss Morrison 833. Another cow early added to the herd was Victoria of GhlZnv o. 4, calved an 1855. after Black Jock of Mulber l"! spr_ang through Georgma of Eothiemay 532, by Fiatrav tZ^f t ir*"" ''"'"'"*■ '""^ ^ "^'^d f'"°% comes lom the Mulben cow Victoria of Glenbariy 534. This been reared. For many years no females were added b sides those bred in it, and much of its success is due o the careful selection of sires. At Mr M'Combie's sa e for 4o'!r"" ''v' *,' ''"" ^^^P"'-" 257 was bough for 40 guineas. Napoleon was out of Bloomer 201 a daiighter of Queen Mother 348, and after Hanton 228 He was described by Mr M.Combie in the sale catalogue as be ng -got by the best bull, and out of the best cow inihe world in he opinion of the exposer." Napoleon was also individually a first-class animal ; he won tlL secod prize as a wo-year-old at the Aberdeen show of the Hi'hk d able time. The next sire used was Damascus 495 bought when a calf at the Earl of Southesk's sale in 1861 Aft r e Queen bull Windsor 221. he was out of DeodL 12 2 of he Kinnaird Dora family. Damascus was a splendid the C' f r""r' ^'~'^- ^y "'-o '- bulls some f the best blood in the country was infused into the herd Napoleon was very strong in the Tillvfour Queen blod which was also continued by the sire of Damascus ■ h le EOTHIEMAY HERD. 297 used were Bon AcCJrh 'Z f^'^ ^''« """'^ ^'^^^ '871, -inner ot second Sirf\"?f"' f ^'^^ '» show at Kelso in 1872- Canm«rffi9fi\ ',''"'' ^^'^'^'^ Mr Elmslie, Cardenstm. ^7 f ' '"'"Sht in 1874 from Bowie's Ma or 3 d 662 iid^f r';^ ""'"=" '^'' '^f'^' ^^ purchased in 1876 ZlurWuT ^'"'"^ '^""y- and Sir Maurice 13^0 „f^,i'".' ^^'^''^''^^ °f Forbes, chased at clClfo^lsZl^'Zl^ri '""'^ P"" 42 guineas. Waterside KiL , ^ *''^" * "^'^ ''°'- 1878 at the HW landSoH.? .^'?''' *'"' ^^'"'"'' P">^ in Sir Maurice "^Xt" 1^ Zh^^™''"' T""^ Class at Highland Society's meetiii,»« h^^;^ ■ ■ ° possible first prizes at local "hows ^t ?"°'"« "" doing good service in the herd Ind r! „ T"' '^ '"" points that have made him one of tb^t f > '"^'""^ bulls of the time At uZ T i ^est-known show been bred in the herd 1 rT' '''^""S'"^''^'' ^"11^ have Morrison familv tbiM ""'" ^^^' "^ ">« Miss Society's sW ^' Invterir^r '' !'^ ^'°"™'' Society's show in ISfiS !!! l ! ' '^'"'"'^ ^' *^ ^^me Sir «°«-7n^rGTo ttTfaliJ^'-^'' ^" ^««^^ prize one-year-old at the Hi'ht!^ ^i ! ^"^ f"""''- Glasgow in 1875 and dip/l , f"S''^.^"d Society's show at Sir Wilfrid 1166 of tblr "?= '^" ^^^^^^ «''' = ""d year-old at he ffi!hland Solr. '"f ^' "''■''-P"^^ °- m6 and second-prirtt ::tl\f "Itf «- ^^ bty''?:rnTtre^irr:ftrr"^^^°'""^ >and Society's show at Z:::^ ^fs^^X^^ I 298 EXISTLYG SCOTCH IIEKDS. Sets c:;:'' ^ "•^" -^ --^ »"- «-' p-s aua As fomierly renin.ketl, comparatively few females I,-,v» bee,. antr' ^•-''d. it will be seen hat the members of these families have proved them- selves worthy of the attention bestowed on then, the Georg,na fan,ily particularly, some splendid an,'mals , ve been p,d„ced, such as Kate of Glenbarry 2ud, Kate D,[ff 18.7. sold at Mr Tayler's sale in 1881 to Sir George Mac- p erson Grant for 155 guineas; Kate Darling 3573l^"e second.pr,ze cow at Stirling in 1881; Lily^f the N le ISSl' !'t?r''. ^'""'"' "' "'' ^^'y^^ Northern show in The principal sales of breeding stock have been public aucbons in 1872, 1875, 1878, au ' 1881. The averai^^ for 32 an,mals ,n 1872 was £31, 16s. (id., highest pr ce £03 • £41 if M •■' , ' '^'™^"^"'' ^2 ""'"'^'^ '" 1878 was t41. Is. 3d. highest pr,ce £96, 12s.; the averaoe for 29 an,mals ,m881 was £38, 5s., highest price £162, lo's lou,- ainmals from the sale of 1878 went to Mr Egginton" South Ella Hull; and at the sale in 1881, Nose^y 8^h 3914 was bought by Mr Wallis, Bradley Hall, E/ton-o Tyne, and Orange Ph„n 4133, by Mr Eoote, New Jersey The number ,n the herd previous to the sale in 1881 when ,t was considerably reduced, was from 50 to 60 The tabes now represented are the Georginas, Ballindalloch Er, as Lady Fannys, and Nosegays, and the Moutblet Isabellas. In add,tion to Sir Maurice, the bulls recently aud SKENE HERD, 299 nsed were Prince Leopold 1599, and Eoyal Vietor 1780 SJtcne. of st„'r":'fat"m f ':f°"""'"= '° ^^'- «™"'- 2m nil f'> f ^'''"' 2169, and Nellie of Skene 2172, al of whom have bred extremely well Fron. Hf after Pnnce of Walei 5>n,l -iai i , , , *'"' "CI V the J^:^^^^:;^:::"!:^ bpuuig. iiie Pride cow Pridp '^ivl iaq/ , i , 1875. Several of the Main of K ij vt ^h r".' '" st^C^ToV^'r ^™'1 '^°"'""'' -on^tlrXtSth prize cow Innes 19S4 Th„ '"^,f' S™^ Society s hrst^ Exeellencv 1 ^i 1 I ^^'^ ^'^^"'^ ^^^^7 family. His -c^Atuiency ij/i after Yoiino- Vi«nnnnf ^qa / . „ Violet of Montbletton 1399 of theZ fl ' T ,""', "^ done splendid service, andS s t aS jL*: h:;;;S f "f ■nng forward several pairs of yearli^ hdf rf t "a " ! taken good positions at the Eoyal Northern shots Hi! Excellency won the second prize at the Hi^Uand Soci^tv appearance at the Eo^af^l^S':;- S X^ t I ,1 300 EXISTING SCOTCH HERDS. m \m 1881 ■" ''"''' '■'O"-" at Aberdeen in Sldllymarno. 1 lom the latter. In establishing the herd the hull Tol ileeman 437 from <-l,a Qf • u "« "/^^a, me bull Jamie He was the winne^o the K Y""' '"''''' "^^ "^''^■ Society's show a^M t l: tmi'Z t 'T ^^"""T Mr Tayt frf"^' '^^' '"^"'° M"'" ^l^, bred by Garv^ k 122 b :d bTMrtd" P^"™", 7~ful, a„^ calves were s red u/ tJ! ^T^- ^'l^^arn. A few Logie the la d 3rd 869 a"^ I'' "^'/^^'""^ ^~'^'^ t'"" botl owned tXatrX^'f^!;^:' ^'^^) breedin^r morp for ih^ k . i f, -^^^g^son has been has encfeavoueftotvettl ",•''' f'"""^"'^- ""^ rr-r, Spoil. Mr Willian, Whyte's herd of polled cattle is kept at SPOTT HERD. 301 which would be neariv fiftt ^''^'"^ remembers, Whyte's cattle we," cllv^r^T? T ^'"' '*'« M^ as he latterly generalwS, i1 •'" ""^ ^'"»»"-'' I'^rd. The first bull Mr WiHilt Why^V^rd:?;'^ ""^ ^'™'-- was one bred by the late Mr (v'tZ Tf ■ '"™ ^'='"""" torn Mr Alexander, then at Ifains^f Gl ' "' 'f '^°"'''" did not turn out so weU as exTnZl "''' **"' «' '>« The next bull used was h2Zto;!V:\ "1, '^P' '°""- being Heather Jock of Shielh ifoM^' Hf ' ®'"'^"""' grandsire Cupbearer 59 „''""" 2/8, sn-e Mariner 148 M. Whyte ev^er h^d, bu" ofe^ ofTtstt t "'^^^ ^""' the county, and he has often «;n„7 ^ ^''^'' «*»' '« to the butcher. After Heatl e T 7T'^ ^^"'"S '""' Pioneer 326, bred at Balwvl o OH°';f' l'^ ''^'^^'^ "^^^ 418, Baronet of Leys 4Kn;ine f ^f ?' ""« ^--" Juror 908, Johnston 1360 uTZ ,, ' ^""y"""" 404, andElcho595,andfortheh,rfr '^ *^''''™ 1483, used Khan 1260. The w nat ^ ^T ''^ ''^^ «'"^% fan of Strathniore Tsa t;fine''.:r'''''''°P"'y«f "- family to which he Wongs Mfwivr'""'" °^ "'« ^^""'^ females, only one occasi°onallf wlen" o^r f ^'^ "'''"^ and his herd has been mainl/rra,eS wT ^^ ^ "'"'' came from the old-established^Zl I, '^ ""^''^ "'»' with the excellent bulls we htve^Ved T^";"' "»^^^^ bers about a score of breedinTL? , ^''^ ''^''d mim- Till lately Mr Wh;tefd ""',;" '' "'t '*^^«''^- one or two now and then Till? f.T ^'"^''''' »««"ig siderable number of Mr Whn^t 1 ^'-^'^ ''"^ ^ «""- - some of them are ve;y .oZZuTV'' '"' ^'<''^- ^d made a practice of exhrbil ' ^ u^fct tf '"'^*^ "-« Whore he has generally beenl^ H^ce"^^^^^^^ ^^ows, n \m P'l 302 EXISTING SCOTCH HERDS. ih StrocJierie. The ancestors of Mr George Barclay, now in Stroclierie, King Edward, who are known to have been farmers at Yonderton and Auchmill for considerably over 200 years, during that long period bred the native cattle of Aberdeenshire. They were not at first all polled, several having been horned ; nor were they all black, there having been also red, brindled, and brown, with a red stripe from top of tail to shoulder. It is now fifty years since tlie horned cattle disappeared. There are still in the herd descendants of the original stock, but they are not, perhaps, the best in it. By some very judicious pur- chases representatives of three of the best-known families of the breed are now in creditable numbers at Strocherie. At the sale at Tillyfour in 1860, Mr Barclay paid 32 guineas for the one-year-old heifer Matilda of Yonderton 1712, after Hanton 228, and out of Lola Monies 208, being thus a half-sister on the dam's side to the famous Paris cow, Charlotte 203. Matilda has founded a valuable race of this branch of the Queen tribe. At Mr M'Combie's sale in 1874, Mr Barclay bought Euth 2nd 1783, out of Euth of Tillyfour 1169, descended from the Keillor cow Favourite 2, for 70 guineas. She has also bred well. At the same sale, Naomi 2445, from the Easter Tulloch stock, was purchased. Carina 3379, representing the Ballin- dalloch Sybil tribe, was bought at Mr Hannay's sale in 1877. At the Fyvie dispersion in 1881, three good cows were purchased. Sires have been got from Tillyfour, Easter Skene, Mountblairy, Westertown, Balwyllo, Mul- ben, etc. One of the latest used was Albany 1354, bred at Easter Skene, after Bachelor 690, and out of Young Grizzle 1807. There are usually from twenty to twenty- five cows in the herd, which has been most carefully managed since Mr Barclay took charge of it thirty-five years ago. THE THORN HEED. 303 South YtJisie. good investment, having ,irnrI„L!i « , "^ '''''^ "^^en a the calf of 1879 bei "f n„" „ ., ! '^""*'' *"' '^^^pt bought from Mr Gran % .. T 'f *^'™- ^^'^ H»y also Rose 3402. 2.fTur''^:'^l^, f ^ -, Vild sale, and has produced ,r». f "' *" Aberdeen Jolin Morrison Hatto'i''' '^'"^'*^ <='''^««- From Mr 2nd 1832, bS b^ :' e cl P,"p"''r "'^ ""^ T<" was a very fine cow bnt , 1 . ^'"■''''" "^ ^^^'e- Sl>e 1879. Two calveTIf her, To" r^-''^^ "'' "'' '"'' '" 3699. were bought i2Xt2T'^\ ^"1 """° ^* very regular breeders and thpir.? i^' ^^ '"''"^ ""^e" f7' t-ig»t backs, 'andl e Tel 'feir ^l*^"'" "' ^'="'' 3rd 1896 was also in the herf but Jet ?' ""^ ^''^^ very promising heifer named Jul; "jt,,,"'^ °"? "^'f' '^ numbers twenty-one female, »,, i « ^"*- ^'"= ''erd 1659. bred by Mr A™ C l.^ ' ?* ^"'^ ^^ ^acer rraser. Hill o"^ SidlmafflW M? ' '• "' '""'^''' ^'■<"" ^r fleshed animal ^" ^""''' '' " ^^'y good, well- 1 ^/« Thorn. ^SZS^^ ^'-Sowrie. owned a lar.e When Mr ^^m:^^::^'^^ ^^ r^^'- attention almost exclusivelv J7' ? '" <"'"''''« ''is herd, he disposed o mostVf th^ A^ "''' "' "" ^^«"'« ft'om his father's herd t Mr t^lte "T' f"' '''"'"^ Grannie 473. out of L-idv P . ' "''^^ ^"^ him Panmure 51 aud tty%,^Z"Z'\' f"«''"^^ "^ tracing to Old Grannie f V, ' , ' °"* "^ ^"^a 65, to Mr Leslie werrrHy aU ' f^ ";;,:t '/ f '-^ -8-" ^ aitei ^iack Jock 3, bred at t j 304 EXISTING SCOTCH HERDS. f fj Keillor. Mr Leslie also acquired the cow Flower of Stratlimore 479, bred by Mr liuxton, Farnell, after Cup- bearer 59, and out of Flora 59 from Mr Fullerton's herd. Other additions made in the female line were Mina 1009 from Castle Fraser, and Bracelet 1010 from Tillyfour. One of the first sires used was Hanton 4th 31, bred at Mains of Kelly, out of Lizzie 227. the dam of Hanton 228 President 3rd 246, bred at Balwyllo, and used in the Keillor herd, was bought at Mr Watson's sale in 1860 l)y Mr Leslie, and retained in the herd, as was also Kincr Henry 390, bred at Kinnaird after Windsor 221, and out of Kathleen 339. One of the most celebrated animals bred at The Thorn was President 4th 368, after President 3rd 246, and out of Flower of Strathmore 479. He was the first -prize yearling at the Highland Society's Stirling show in 1864, and was sold to Mr M'Combie of Tillyfour] in whose herd he was used, and to whom he gained the first prize as a two-year-old at the Highland Society's show at Inverness in 1865. Colonel of Castle Fraser 443 was also bred by Mr Leslie, being after Jamie of Easter Skene 367, and out of Mina 1009. He won the first prizes of the Highland Society in 1872 and 1873, and was used in the Melville herd. Mr Leslie had a large sale in 1871, when thirty-two head averaged £27, 2s. At that sale Mr Melville Cartwright purchased a good many animals, comprising members of the Lavender, Bracelet, Flora, and Mina families. Seventeen of the cattle sold in 1871 were descended from Mr Ferguson's Ashmore herd. Thomastoimi. Mr Craighead, Thomastown, Auchterless, began a herd in 1876 by purchasing the bull Haddo 1394 from the Earl of Aberdeen; the cow Miss Jeannie 2309, of the Fyvie Miss Miller family, from Mr Dingwall Fordyce of Brucklay and the cow Duchess of Fyvie 2478, of the Miss Watsoii WATERSIDE HERD. 305 .icmea Lily 2iid of Ihonmstown 3628, from Mr Wall-Pr Westside of Brux • the bull VV iqor 7 ^^^^^/^ ^^^^^i, breeder- Mnvfl. .%, ^^^^' ^'^'" ^^^^ s^^^^e c™jnn„g; Diana 3rd of Morlich 5036. from M, cl " held PP ,w ' ?JT '?'"''' ''^^'^ ''^^" "^^"i i" «'^ fern 540 Uft'V™",""^ ^'"'°^ «'«' ^""^ °f Bog- lern o40 left very good stock, and improved the herd veiT OH w'?" «'"«'- •^yt'"' Sybil bull Senator 8C3^d of the Westertown Victoria family, a heavy, useful sire un :i : ' "'S "';"• "'■^"^" °^ ^^"« i- '-d tto tJ^cellent m Iking cow. and was second in the cow class at tour heifer calves, was commended as one of a pair at StlV^ir '"'. f '""'■• '''• ^'-'s'-d so Id LI y 4th 50o4, winner of first prize at Turriff as onp nf « ?~ Lii?6l "f ""H^"''' --iL\ >.eife. a at t'hW and K u" »/„ T''».'»='^to-° 5032. commended Z II '^ "''" °^ ^^™' °»l^ °f «»e Fyvie Flower lie i. Jor .Mr Robertson. Waimea, New Zealand Dii„., 3rd of Morlich and her bull calf were sold to Mr wS Waterside nf Forbes. Mr George Wilken, Waterside of Forbes, who has taken «uch a promn.ent part in connection with l.e exportat o of polled cattle to America, having been entrusted by over 200 head of b^eednig stock for the other side of th^ the old Asloon stock. The herd was drafted in 1877 wlie„ u ,l!:i m V , I'M '! I 306 i^XJSTlNG SCOTCH HEKDS. "cimired, and brought an ave S o 'er |?, Z "T'l time Mr Wilkpn ))oo i^ i°i- ""^ "^^^ ^^^- feince that herd, and has steedediri\t?'"*'^ "°"''"«"8 '^ f'-^^h descendants on:fo^:i^^''Z"''r"<''^^^\ ' '°'" "'^"^ other celebrated tilm^! tt ' =^"""' '""' ""^'"'^e'-s of Tl>ere are in the h 'd „!^'"''"°"'f °^'^'' '""^'3' head, families , 'nivfo fr V TT °J '"''' «"-known theTillyfo .ivs h K-^"*.%*5,« Ballindalloch Ericas, Mayflo^rs, the7r:i:^^:n%rri ^^e i^'^'r- favourites. At the head of Z P i Kinnochtry Prideof Aberdeen 7th 777 brfd at Tnr/"^ ''^ P'''""' years old, a daughter of Pride of L 7 "■ ""'" '''^™" dam of Mr Auld°s 27f) ™ "f Aberdeen 581, and the 3253. Pridt 7th ™, ;^ T" '°V'^'^' "^ ^^'•i"''" Sth dispersiorhavit h n'r '""^ "'"''"' ^' *^ ^^'l"''"" but in May hs she r; f.' ™PP"''''' ''^^^^'^ '« ''''eed • seven-yea,!jrp:fe ;f^ J^ ^ f ^ if. ea.f. The from MrHamiltonofSktne A If ^ ..''''" """^'"'"^ family traces from Kismet 1946 and'oHt'tb "' *'" ^^ specimens in the herd nf ,i i ,^ ? "' ^^"^^ '"■« four Mr Wilken Ins two . ballindalloch Erica family bred by M "pit n .Tr'"t"r''^-^«t«^^i^'e Erica^ aud after Sotte. Sn„;" gT" '''".'' "T "' ^"'"'^ ^^^^ Eric 1797, bred by the Earl jl:f f" '^"" 0<^'-'- 3550, and after 'Editorl 60 V Ts'th" f°f' ^^ ''" family went from Tillvfonr to Kenri a ^ ^""^ Mr Wilken from Eev T V -7 f, ! """^ '™' ''""S''* '^7 ■'■ere. There are four ;f ^ ''"'• ®'"™ ^all, Winder- WlK-en's chief fL; piof^o t'",'" ''^ ""'• ^^" Kiunaird Fanny He 1,^1 dispersion, was the WELLIIOUSE IIEIID. $07 mi^llfvl '1°"*'^'"°" ■' =""' tl'e bull Black Standard ■)41, out of Blackbird of Corskie 1704. Sybil's D.,Hinr^ from MrT '7- r "' "^^ ^""'"'^■^"-" 4n -r? : "f irom Mr Argo, Cairdseat. at a high price. There are three ot the Kiiinoclitry lavourite family. The Grevston7 xtrs TT^""- ^-'--'o-'A^hoLh:: e :■ .iTk,e Pl„ r« ''1' T "''" '^P'^««>'ed. The stock o.f ^ '^'""'"'1 »*■ ""= Mayflower family and mTwr™ of the Erica family ah Jly referred ta the ulted'st^f 7." '^■'' '" ''''' f»'y -»™«1« to the United States and Canada. In 1882 he sold Am to June 1 forty-two head to Canada, the United States Ne y Zealand, and England. ' Wellhouse. Tlie farm of Wellhouse. in the Vale of Alford will the fact that it %vas to it Mr Farciuharson Taylor brou^.t «,e ce ebrated bull Panmure 51 after the Dundee:;^! 4,,/ y ■','''''"' '"'^'" "f Wellhouse. Mr William Anderson, has also devoted great care to th^ rearin<. o^a I.erd characterized by usefulness for breeding and feedin' purposes As preyiously noticed. Mr Andersffi's fathe^ and uncle farmed land in the Vale of Alford and b« poled cattle in the end of the eighteenth century Th J gamed pmes for animals of the polled breed at the e y sliows of the Vale of Alford Agricultural Associaton C: oT^thel'"'/?"-, '^'1"^" Mr Anderson came tolak charge of the herd, he bought females from Mr M'Combie rUlyfour; Mr M'Combie. Cairnballoch ; Mr Taylor Well ■ouse; and Mr Barron. Moonhaugli.-dl of whom were breecte of polled cattle. The sirens he br,d from "re th pedigiees. The first registered sire he bought was Hero of i [^ 308 EXISTING SCOTCH HERDS. left so„Jtr.S: ;::;;ST:r "t^ "'Z^'*" - Avas I3ob Lowe 633 bred nf W ni V. '^ "'^''^ "'^^ stock, particuIaS a'r^^ h W* I t' ^^'^ ^""^' King of the Val W or - ;/ T^'^^'^'' ^ «^" ^^^ 1»«, iKis also been used in Hio l,„^,i i • ' '''™ ^'^'e "' losl, o USUI in tJie lierd, leaviiih 310 EXISTI.N-O SCOTCH HEKDs. "t (he Leocliul Ciisljuie slmir ti ■ i was the best bull c-ilf be „ , ^' '>f""'' f"'' £50. He inebes wbea eleven Lab nU '"^^ =''■""'« « ''"''' ^ .-e at tbe ni.bClTo': ,. 'l.f; ^rilr' "'^ '""" Several other ani.Sal we,fsoU t v"" "' ''"''' '" 1«". i'ife- In 1874 Mr s ,1^ , '"°"' """'« '» lord leleourt 2327: Elet ""of'' '!'«/-" ^^al-Ila Fowlisl955tokrC:rw;:fi-ei:lt s'" '' '"""'''^ price. In 1877 ]ip nuw.i , "'/^^^o"ft. -Sussex, afc a lonrr .eco„d ri,e ;„ , ,,,„, elass at llforf in ST?""".' "" 2ttd 3017 and her bull pilf i> • , '''• Signet rovvlis im. by You^ V : „, t 7,^' "'"' "' ^^'^^'«- MrHannaj-.Gavenwood and bo / ' "'"'" ""l'"'''^'' ''''o'" fen.ales have been sold bttriv'T"'; ^"P'"' P^'"8'-««'' "■ere sent to the Alford sai^-i.' °''''"- ^"" «»'^'^s joint sale. Mr stldL'nt iCst pS '"t,"'^ ^''^'■''^^" was 33 guineas, and in igoo '1' "t" ^" "'<^^o '^ 1881 cow Matilda 2nd 3613 a sold^it TZ'- ^" ^^^^ tbe at a long price. This co.; Jafth £[ f f^ '"f *-" nne, and ,von first prizes at le l^^^j^ f'^f f v"" were sold to Messrs Gudride cow Pride of Aberdeen 7th 1777 Bulls from the herd have been sold at high prices, and Westside females are found in several herds both in Scotland and America. Mr Walker supplied to Dr Profeit Commissioner for Her Majesty the Queen, the first animals bought for the Royal herd at Abergeldie. Stock has not been shown beyond the local meeting, but there they have obtained a good many prizes. Otlicr Herds. Aquorthies.— Mr James Gerrard has a small herd at Aquorthies, Tarves, mostly descended from a cow tracing to the Crathes stock. This cow, Fern, by Black Prince of Ennenteer 512 of the Zara tribe bred at Tillyfour, was purchased seven years ago, and was a splendid beef and milk producer. Her first calf was *>-l iij r 312 EXISTING SCOTCH IIEKUS. m of then, having been sold to S^T^LT^? r'^^' """ guineas. Bess of Burnsf.Ip 'Wyfi f ^''-''^Istone for 32 four sale in 1880. ^^^ '"*''' '""'«'" "' "'e Tilly. ■Auelmiddlau.—Ui ,TnIin «.„ George Macpherson Gran „f T,! I™' ' ,,"'?''«'"' '" ^ir began a herd at Anew'denan a^^' ]??''' '^"*- '^■^■^ year ago. The herd now n„mbe« fl,' . , ' ,"'"'" """' " "P of an Erica_a one-vlr old n ! T^ "'^''' ^^S made «43, by Sonter Jolnny 16]^ i ^'"""" "^ '^^'"•'°"'- «.-e of the BallindalS Mi s k^eT? T i'"''' Nora 3317, of the nr,„„;„ t " 8"*"^ '^'""'y; Young Oeseendants'; Maid o^ ens^S ^"1^"^ "- of he? of Mr Skinner's Lucy cow Gaiety 2.10^' t ''^ *"'' »"' 2nd 4683 and her heifer calf bwl ^'- ^""' "^ *>"« 1658. Thelatest JdiHnn. «^, ^ ^'■"''' ^'''^ Etonian Challenger, Black Wateh an^Prn , v- "'" '^'""""^ "^"l'-' in «se are Kaiser 1253 td Vi ^unlTfr' ^"^ "^""^ specimens of the I'ride fan"ily ^-oftus-two good polled stock beTon„i„rt T °™'", "' ^^'"^'■■™ «>« Momson. They w4°„^,u'", P'-'^e^;«or, Air John Mains of HattoJherr r,umber'ofr ' '"" "" "''I of to Mr Hannay, Gaven wood To f ,"" "'""' '"^P^^'^'^ SmHh nsed the bu^l Bla^sr J"l5« aZlt V'^ StXe!tS T"t ^^«^- »"'>' H^t: sold for exportation "^^ ^''''■'" ""'"^^^ ''^-^ I'een BettrrSntTirr'drr'^^^- ^^^' cow fro. his father at ul^^/Si^'r it" Cd^ VARIOUS HERDS. 313 of I anytlung but polled stock. The cow was named Ro LTpper Boyndlie, but she is not entered In the ' neru ix)ol^ although she was purely l,red, and descended from the Fyvie Castle herd. Most of her calves have been registered. Mr Fowlie has sold five bulls and a heifer irom her, and has kept two bulls and a heifer. Tiie first registered bull used was The Laird 1296, bred at Fyvie Castle, and l>ought for £50. He gained Colonel Fercruson's cup at the Jiuchan Agricultural Society's show in° 1876 Ihe next sire was General 1297, by The Laird, and out of Rosy of Upper Boyndlie. He also gained the cup at the Buchan show as a yearling in 1877, and was sold to Mr Morrison Phingask, Fraserburgh. He afterwards passed into the hands of Mr Mackessack, Earnside, to whom hp gained a number of prizes in Moray and Nairn shires^ Ihc next bulls used were Reformer 1275, bred at Fwie • ^alTl^l^^' ^''^ ^'y ^^' ^''''^'' ' ^''^ 1^""«« Albeii 4th 16/3, bred at Baads. The last named, now in service is leaving very good stock. Mr Fowlie sold two heifers last year to Mr Findlay, Peterhead, for exportation to America Aytoun.-Mv Carnegie, Aytoun, Newburgh-on-Tav started a herd by purchases at the Melville sale, the animals' selected being of the IVIina, Bracelet and Westertown Rose families. Baljluiff.— Mr Alexander Adam's herd here comprises representatives of the Auchlossan, Brucklay and Lumcrair stocks, to which the Mains of Kelly bull Victor of Kelly 3rd 854 has been used. Tlie herd took a very creditable position at the show of the Vale of Alford Agricultiunl Society in 1881. ^«/^r^,^._Polled cattle have long been reared at Bal green, King Edward, by Mr Mitchell and his father Few additions have been made to the herd. Amonrr these however, may be noted two cows from Castle Eraser— Georgina 2447, and her daughter Delta 2448 • the cow Barbara 2nd 989, from Easter Skene in 1871 ; Dandy 2ud I! : m ^'fi I'l';! :M y,^^. 814 EXISTING SCOTCH HERDS. 1877. and Win ou^Jtid 3774 f \T' ''■"'" ^'"^'''^ "' descended from an IrchM.'?' ^'""J^S'"'''/. "^vns a herd Corskie sale in 1877 1,p n„i"i? , i '^'''' y^'"'^- ^' «ie 41 guineas for I r a ?: " ^nl h^^ "«, '""''' P^^'"'"' sister on the dam's sUe nffl ^, u''' ^''^ '"'"^ <" '>*'<■- 1934. T].e sam ^ ar 1„ h 1 tf" *"* «°^ I°>>^» Westertown ^0^ famnt ^''''"''' ^^^3, of the Honourable Charles CWip' t I ' '''^'^''"'''^'i f™"' the dalloch in 1879 !„d?„^l ?'''"' ■'""Sht at Ballin- 1 lu io/j, and in that year Brion" qssQ „f 41 Drunun Beauty family was ndZi f .f"' ' "^ the AttheEurnsidesa^iulssnn ,, o""."'" AW»« ^^'le. 3750, descended throuch the k' f ^ °' ^'''^' ^""»^'' n™ ■ , iiirougii tlie Kmnochtry herd fmn, ni,i C-rannie 1, was acquired. The bulk .„p/j. ' Eaman 924 bred at n,.,„ ™tk used have comprised of Catheri,; '"i^'L^rmo ,'■ d^'^^t" ''"' '''' »"' Jinny 2nd 3009, Ld X S^r W^^";,*; "^f ^°»' "^ 1908, bred at Druniin, after Cu^d 14,0 ^i*! ^^"'^''' shine 1693 of the Beauty famii/ ' '"'* ""' "^ «""- dest:dS"tf tt" of ^^"1' 'r ^. ^^"' P*'' -*t.e Walker, West"de Br„. H^^'"''" 'f ''^ ^^ Kr3,^i^ss9^^^^^^^^^^^^ -*-^^^^^^^ the -Herd Boo?the:S:l'!ff"' f ''"'"'"^ '" -- They a.-.nostir«tis:::,rit": ^-^. VAKIODS HEKDS. 313 sires. Mr Ffirqulmrson has gained a oonsideraUe number of pnzes at local shows witMn the last four years It was ITe h: n ~' 'M ''"V" "^"' '" A-Wochrach. that be! camethe principal fouudressof theherd there.andprogeuitrix oi the champion ox at Smithfleld in 1872 This ox w», ^,own by Mr Bruce, Burnside, Fochabers Mr ScphLon Auchlochrach, getting the gold medal as breeder. ^.^W.-Mr M'Knight. Boghead. Chapel of Garioch entered some animals in vol. i. of the 'Herd Book,' amonl' It If^'^fl'^ ^'''">'"° '''^■^^"'g. Charlotte STrW house 119 (probably a son of Panmure 51). He used in hisheri the well-knowu Highland Society bull Malcolm of Bodieohell 2C9, referred to in notices of the Fyvfe Mulben, and Conglass herds where he was also in service' Ihe descendants of these are still at Bo<'Iiead £ruceMll.-In the formation of thfs herd Mr James iowlie acquired some animals from Mr Shaw, Bogfern and Mr Williamson, Standing Stones. From he la er came Beauty o Brucehill 3684, of a Kinnochtry fam ly and one of the Portlethen Livelys. The Campfieki froi 21 ;"" '"1%r ^'^^ -P--nted,.andC trom Haddo House and Waterside of Forbes have been in service Many prizes have been gained at the local shows, and some important sales made to America £nr,mde, Kintore—This herd, belonging to Mr Eo^er is composed of Haddo House, Skene. F^vi^. and C^^mI Cmmjteld.~m Gordon of Cairnfield has recently started a^ierd, druwmg stock from TiUyfour, Burnside, and Gavel- Castle Oraiff.-Sk Wm. H. Gibson Carmichael founded 7th 4255, and Beauty of Tillylbur 2567, at the TiUyfour dispersion. These have bred very well, and there are now seven ammals m the held. Tlie stock sire is Prince Ami -**tj.- Ferguson, Kiunoehtrv h! ! 1 '"' '"''<'• ^^om Mr the Kinn;chtry eS fan, w" , 'v ""^^ ^"" ^202, of Favourite famUy At le^'w . r'^^ ^-"^' "^ "^« bought the Rose^'ow iosedale I?4 T . ^l'^'"''"' '>« i" 1876, he gave 80 grneaMtL^F '' ^''"'"''»«°»>'- Garline 1733 " ""^ "*'= ^^a "o* Er..ma of Tulloch blood. "^ '' '"'''y '"'^'^d »n Easter Cullc7i House. — TJie Fnrl ^f q^ c u , here. Some purch as wet mad at 1 7 ^°""" ' ''^''' highest-priced bull at IZ x^l Portle-hen ; and the bred by Mr Petr"e GLcnr '''"" J°'°* ^^'^ i" April, bought at the Corfk e S mrti """""n ^""*'-' for 41 guineas, and Blostm 3rd foSO for^ ^""""^ "*'' kept them pure and tl,»v f i ., ^ guineas. He orLge had\^rc:;7b;"ri'';^isrn7vre'^n^^ ■ was used as stock sire AnMif,-^ ^^^count 736, and he ofU.eKincraiganrBiamdtrdTLmr'*' ^' '"^ ^^'^ TaSh7s'tr:d":r;;riirtr;- ^*'-"' ^-=""' records as the owner of The ^T « ^ 1 '''''"' «how-yard of Baads 1336 X durinJ „^? v°'"' ^"" ^"'"=^ --^'bert his property. bl'^Vt^ J'Tclir .T^? ^^^^ A specimen of the fancy bri^ich „ ,^ n ^'"^ ^"*^'°' obtained ; and at the klTl?nTl f ^"'''" '"be was 39^ by W Malt^TlJ tTcS ""^ '"^^^ "^^^ -Portlerhersl-"^--»-r^tri^;- . VARIOUS HERDS. oiill, after ded from ^eld, has From Mr 2202, of -, of the sion he idalloch, Ci:.ma of it Com- Easter a herd md the April, herd. 3-shire, el940 s. He 3 herd, nd he le sale >angh, '-yard Libert ', was hven. ) was i^lush rd at vsat 0, of 317 the Balwyllo Victoria family, for 38 guineas, and Favourite li ^^:.f.^^''' Kinnaird Panny family, for 41 guineas. Eosa 1079, bred by Mr Fullerton, Ardestie, was also in the herd. The sires have come from Mulben, Easter Tulloch, Stone o' Morphie, and Cortachy. The principal strain is tliat tracing from Alberta 1510, who turned out an excellent breeder. mads of Auchindermn.—m John M'Connachie keeps a few pure-bred cattle at Heads of Auchinderran, Keith Ihey number about sixteen head, and are descended from Queen of Auchinderran 3639, bred by Mr Paterson, Mulben of the Mayflower family, and Sweet Home 2228 bred at Inchcorsie. The bulls used have been Guardsman 1402 bred at Rothiemay, of the Miss Morrison family ; Buchan Laddie 1384, bred at Strichen Mains; Franklin 1901 bred at Heads; and Knighthood 1767, bred by Mr Hannay, Gaven- wood, after the Pride bull Challenger 1200, and out of Kate of Glenbarry 1187, of the Georgina family. All these bulls have won prizes at the shows of the Central Banffshire Farmer Club. Tnchcorsie.~m Alexander Smith, who has for many years successfully managed the herd of Mr-Tayler of Glenbarry, himself owns a few well-bred cows and heifers at Inchcorsie, Puthiemay. He has had the use of Mr Tayler's bulls. In all he has tliirteen females of very good pedigree and shapes. Three are of the Fyvie Flower tribe, two of the Pothiemay Georgina tribe, two of the Ballmdalloch Lady Fanny tribe, and five descendants of the old Corskie tribe, which belonged to the late Mr G G Pobinson ; some of them having six crosses of Highland Society prize bulls on their pedigree. ° Keilyford.~Th\^ herd, belonging to Mr W. D. Gray, is wholly descended on the female line from Miss Miller 3908, bought from Colonel Gordon of Fyvie. There are in the herd eleven of lier progeny. Sires have been intro- duced from Waterside of Forbes, Morlicli, Methlick, and 3*f ^^K } w !'■ I t\ V ' m i; \ 318 EXISTING SCOTCH HERDS. • Haddo House nowTut I H ^' "''"' "'^ ™« '■™'" I'eifer Halt 2nd 3527 and, ft °f''"8ton, out of the Paris Legion 1494, ZC^uX^' {''''' ^^^ «>"="■■* of the "ti^c? - rFXTov^r."3r- ^"^ ^»'^- two from Kinnoehn 1/ f P'-^^^»tatives of four strains- Baads. The fan il eYCn Kin" ^if '''''"■ '"^ »'- f™™ Agnes of Keir I433 of th^ F "f ''{ T '^"'""'''^'^ f™»> Grannie I; and Ma„/of Keir 143/ ."'' '"'"""^ '" O''' >n«re 59, by Pan mure 51 P *, f, ' '''"""S '» ^-^Jy ^^n- Kinnochtry, and were boni; ^'' "°^^^ were bred at The family from Xrtletif ''''' ^""~'^ "' 1873. of Miss Walke. sfd 2' 00 of't? T''^- '^ '"" P''^'-^^ Ji"lls have lately be'; usei T TT'^ ^^""^ ^'■•«'"- Baads, KeilyfordfandGreysle '°"'='^"' ^™^«'>'"' eo^lS^c^t^trti.^^^^^^^^^^^^ is largely cows, Fanny of Kinbite Zol "'''?l°"*letton stock. Tlie 4661, both members of the bVI, "^t*^^ ^™ "' ^inbate purchased from the Tat! Mr w^" ^^'''^'^"^ f^^^^. ^ere Bachelor 690. came f mt^W st' ^"v"' ^'"'- ''^ 3625, from Inchcorsie • Mnn^t ?^ ' ^"""S freeze town; Paleface 4079 fro^ 1 h7 ^°*^' '™'" ^^-^^'^r- Oakhill 4th 4362 rom O^M s-'"' T' ^"""'^^^ "^ 'l"ced from Montbletton Ti, .5 il' ""' '"''''' "^^-^n "'tro- and Gavenwood ■ ^"'^H°»s«. Nether Kildrummy, were AnnSe^l ^„s /;rr "l'"/™™- 51. They and they left sou. "x So^^^ 'v'/ ''"'^''"^ ^223^ r-". specimens of «^^piS:^;:C^^^^^^^^^ VARIOUS HERDS. 319 and Oakhill stocks. The animals from Portlethen and Easter Skene are Sweetmeat 3348, of the Miss 3cott family, and Young Grizzle 1807, of the Grizzle family. With these two cows Mr Mackie gained the second prize for pairs at the Eoyal Northern Show in 1881 ; and his stock bull Glen- artney 1181, bred at Aboyne, after Duke of Perth 357, and out of Gem of Aboyne 1595, of the Pride family, was third on the same occasion. ZiUle Movie—In 1876 Mr Brown, Little Endovie pmchased from her breeder, Mr M'Combie, Upper Farm- ton Lynturk, the cow Pride of Little Endovie 2393 She and her produce have been kept and bred from. In 1880 two calves were dropped to the Pride bull Petrarch 1258 One of these was a heifer, and was retained for breedinfoduced from at Gavenwood in 1881 ''° '" ^^^^' ^"^ breeding cattle wet dl'!;^- ="1^ '-nty-.ix valuable prize heifera at the Uduy Hrf and P "T?''^ ^'''■ eight bull calves Mr W»' ''"°"'' ''"'"'^' ""'^ «howyardwas gaiued i[, f "'f ^ =^^f ^■'" ^"^^ess in the prizs and "old med'l 1 ' ''"" ''' ""='"<''^ «>'^ first with Bella MaryTsOS t ,:r.rv " ^""^ ^^''"^''i"'- On leaving wSt i fi k""^ 88^"m'' ?'""" '^"'"^• few remaining polled o.tZ\ if; ' ^™'' '°''' "» Pnre polls, which a rlLt .^ , ' ""'' ''''lit or ten uessle ' '^''"^ "" "'^ *™ of Millhill, TuUy. farra/wXltdtltf ^ " ,^*'-^«" "^ ^' «>'« from the ContfdXd t JdTSi: td 7^ extremely well Th» 7^ f ^"^ '"'^ ''«« ''red Aggressor 1241 bred bv M u '""^ '° "^^ ^'' "^^^^ the°celebrated You . vLlt ^s"''' P'"""'""'' ^"-• 8th m. Of t..e DuchesVrri I^rtt tlf "^"^^^ the descendants of tliP r. v i' iV i ^'^ ^laintains here *o been addVL^rCt f^lrL tIi^^ 'T TiUychetly, Welt j:^ J^e t" " ="^' ^' ^"'^•'■""^ Mor.ich, 'up at the ced from of a herd 880, aud 'Pt good ncreased October i^aluable 3d first- ws, aud in the he first ibition, family. 3ld the Jraging or ten Tully, it this luired gferii Shaw, bred been after chess here have , the the lich, VARIOUS HERDS. 321 Monymy.-.m Beaton last year on entering the farm of Monyruy, Longside, where Mr Hutchison had many years previously kept some polled cattle, started a herd His pnncipal purchases were made at the Balquharn and J^yvie dispersions. MountUairy UvB Morison continues at Mountblairy the hei-d established there by the late Mr. Morison. The materials are practically the same as were at Bonnie. Under notice of extinct herds, a few particulars will be ound regarding them. The strains represented at Mount- blairy are the Susys, descended from the TiUyfour herd • the Sybils, tracing from Fred's Darling 1055, bought at Casile Eraser m 1870 ; the Southesks, from Southesk, bred at Mountblairy ; and the Hawkhalls, long at Bognie. At Mountblairy as at Bognie, the blood of the Kinnaird bull 0dm 153 has been strongly infused into the herd, lliebull recently used was Fitz Erica 1451, from Gaven- wood, after Gainsborough 596, and out of Erica 7th 3019 and he was followed by the Erica bull, Ecrbort 1443 Nether Kildrummy.~Thi^ herd has lately taken * a very good position at the Kildrummy shows, where good musters of polled cattle appear. The herd is small, and the bulk of it descends from the cows Missie 2484 bv Eeform 408, bred by Mr Taylor, Southbank, and Mary Jf Ardhuncart 2013, by Draco 338, bred at Ardhuncart. Ihe Ardhuncart bulls have been used in the herd The sire lately in service was Socrates 1907, bred at Auchor- achan, after Viscount Duff 1365, and out of the Sybil cow bilvia 3073. Novar.-m G. A Walker, Novar, commenced a herd a year or two ago, by purchases from Mr Walker, Ardhuncart and Mr. Eobertson, Burnside. OakhilL— Mr Manson's herd at OakhiU comprises speci- mens of the old Haddo House, Westside, Castle Eraser, and Olova stocks. At the Corskie sale in 1877 two very nice heiters were bought, viz.— Millstream 3389, for 33 guineas X 322 EXISTING SCOTCH HEEDS. [■I li'J and Princess Dagmar 3rd 3233, of the Matilda branch of the Queen tribe, for 35 guineas. Tt» » f ?• ^f P"'='>^«^ «' 'ho Tillyfour dispersion. P^de Ta? 1 ' ''" "fl^^"^ '=°"'P"'«^ specimens of the Pride of Aberdeen and Easter Tulloch Mayflower families i?«tt.«.-The herd here is one of the ordest in the district being descended from the Castle Newo stock Bus have been introduced from Tillyfour, Mains of lenLed "" '"''"'^Se of over £27 ivas &mrf._At Semiel, Strathdon. a herd was started about sixty-six years ago, by the purchase, by the grandfather of he present tenant, Mr Scott, of two polled heifers from a armer in Suiefoot, Gartly, Aberdeenshire. At that t^e inost of the cattle in this outlying district of the county we.^ horned, and there was some difficulty in obtainino the services of a polled bull. However, there happened to be a polled bull at Castle Newe, and the heiferf were mated with him. No cows were added, the producITf Mr Scott, and he has also kept the strain pure, buying sres from TiUyfour, Easter Skene, Whitehouse West^ lowhs, and Nether Kildrummy. Two heifers wet; ^nS fiom Buthven, Logie Coldstone, and these, with the at SemlT'' """"'' '"^1""'^^ '° ^^^^' f«™ "'« herd m A»-«,_Colonel M'Inroy of The Burn has for many years owned a herd of great purity, but owing to h Tever having kept pedigrees, we are unable to give much nflr matiou regarding it. He used to buy bulls froT^ kn. ^ Cavalier 411, after Windsor 221, and'^ou of Slot ? 34 having been one of them. The Earl of Aii-r^sLured some females from the The Burn herd, and from on" of VARIOUS HERDS. 323 tliem sprang the fine heifer Miranda 4204, first as a yearhng and two-year-old at Highland Society's shows Tilly chetUj.-ThiB is an old-established stock, and has been much improved by Mr. Charles M'Combie, the pre- sent owner. Among notable recent purchases were- ^/''^'.iof ' ^'""^ ^^'^""'^ ^" 1^^^' ^^'^ 2nd of Easter feKene d786, representing a very rare strain, tracing through Mr M'Combie's (Easter Skene) Mariana 622, and Lady tiara 4, to the Keillor cow Old Grannie 1 ; Pride of Aberdeen 16th 3302, and Vine of TiUyfour 1167, a "rand old matron of the Daisy branch of the Queen tribe Turtory.~m Smith gatliered together a number of specimens of some of the best strains at Eothiemay and he also made some purchases at Standing Stones Wester Fordd.-l^his herd was founded by Major- General Kirkland, with animals of the Kinnaird Fanny the Mayflower and Levity families from Mr. Scott, Easter lulloch. The bull Morven 1502, bred by the Marquis of Huntly, out of Madge 1217, and after Duke of Perth 357 has been used. ' Among other places at which polled cattle are reared are Strichen Mains, Clova, Pirfolds, Cardenston, Miln- torries, Knockollachy, Meikle Camaloun, Craskins, Dunny- deer, Invermarkie, Clockhill, Brunton, etc. 324 III CHAPTER XV. THE BREED IN ENGLAND AND IRELAND Breed in Ir Zj-M, h?.1 w , '"'.'""''°"°° "'* "■= ^^d-Tlie Of t.e Bo,, wi „«[ Sl'B^I^r sL^-ro^^teS Cl closed 1,„ career in the En^erald Isle-Tho herd oTwr Kirt,U , Collis of Tieraclca. °'''"' Blessmgton, and Mr Eiifjland. Ekglish agriculturists have ha.I numerous opportunities of inspecting the best specimens of the breed. S have been requently offered for polled cattle at the shows of the Eoyal Agricultural Society of England, while at tlie great fo e A \t^V^'^^'''^^«» » A"g"^ mustered in strong h T . 7 ,r , """■ ™''^'"'g ■* competent authoritv bracketed Mr M'Combie's polled cow Pride of Ibe deet 58 with Mr Eichard Booth's famous Shorthorn Que; of the Ocean as the two best females at the show For many years the Smithfield and Bingley Hall Fat'stocl,- Shows have had as one of their leading feftuiIstlfedispS BALIOL COLLEGE FAKM IIEHU. 825 Of animals of the polled brood. Of scarcely less import- ance in spreading the fame of the breed in England have been the magmfieent lots of polled oxen annuall/ exhibited at the Chnstmas Market in London. It is only in recent years, however that herds of polled cattle have been started m England One ot the first to do so was Mr Carter Wood Mhol CoUe„e Far,n.-Vov several years before Mr ■Stephenson Bahol College Farm. Benton, near New- castle, urned his attention to a breeding stock of polled cattle, he showed some specimens of the breed at the fat hows. In 1878 he won the ilrst prize at Smithfield w th 1880 he had the best black polled heifer. Eecognisinc heir great aptitude to fatten, he resolved to ^tart I breeding stock; and tlirough Mr Eobert Bruce, Great Snieaton. laid the foundation of a herd in purchas s fr m Mr Bean. Balquhain. Good looks, combined with good pedigree, were made t«-o essential points in selecting his females, and although he now h,.s a great number of strains or families represented in his herd, yet there is a great uniformity of type and cliaracter running throuoh the lot Of one thing he is very particukr - he t decidedly opposed to "scurs," and makes a true polled head a cardinal point in the selection of his animals Having as we have said, no large nnmber of any par toilar amily, Mr Stephenson decided on buying an^rba bul after seeing how impressive they had been in many lerds in the North of Scotland. A journey to Ballindal! och m the early autumn of last year, before North-country breeders had begun to think ot buying bulls, enabled him to get after one was drawn for home use, a pick of the Erica bulls, and he was fortunate in choosing one which he has since named Englishman from the favourite cow ' 't "' ♦ - -^ -*'*5^.: 32G THE BREED IN ENGLAND AND IRELAND. Edith 2973, by the noted sire Young Viscount 736. A glance at the list of females in tlie herd shows that there IS a great amount of fine material, so far as breedincr ig concerned, for the production of good animals, and the present lot of youngsters is sufficient guarantee that the dams have been well and carefully selected. There is one Jirica in the herd, viz. Esther of Aberlour 4843 a verv pretty specimen of the family, having all the character- istics of high breeding and the true Erica head. Since she came to England, Esther has produced a beautiful bull calf by the Jilt, sire Juval 1880. There are three female Prides-Pride of Aberdeen 16th 3302 and her two heifer calves (twins) from Gavenwood. The calves are by Challenger 1260, and they should turn out the foundresses ot a valuable branch of this esteemed family. The other females m the herd include Lizzie of Morlich 4954 of the Windsor branch of the Queen tribe, with her yearlincr daughter Lizzie of Benton 4955, by Marshal Var 1452^ a most promising animal ; Lady Lizzie 4953 of a Kin- rf^oL^"'']^', ^^°°^"^^' Heatl^er 2nd 3572; Lemon 2nd 2264, of the Portlethen Lively family, and her yearling daughter Lavish by Matador 1710 • Rose of Boghead 1437 and her daughter Rose 5th 4958 : Abbess 3rd bred at Easter Tulloch, and her daughter Abbess 5th by Serapis 998 ; Faithful 3rd 4957, of the Kinnaird Fann; fi.' 1 ^i^^^^Balhndalloch Miss Burgess family; Fanny of Boghead 3341 with her three-year-old daughter. Fare- well by Serapis 998; Gravity 4864, of the Montbletton Maytlower family; Ethelinda 3356, of the Tillyfour Ruth sort ; and Bathy 3rd, of the Miss Watson family Four females have been sold to Mr Geary, London Ontario-viz. Miss Carnegie 5th ; Brunette 3rd ; Rose 5th' 49o8 ; and Lady Benton, out of Lizzie 4953. Two bull calves of last year have been sold-the one, Jock o' Benton 1894, from Lady Lizzie, to Professor Lawson, Halifax i j i* ' fit "pi BEECHWOOD HERD. 827 "9 Nova Scotia, and the other, Laird o' Benton 1895, from Blooming Heather 2nd, to the Marquis of Londonderry for crossing purposes. The calves are allowed to suckle their dams, but are kept in a covered yard during summer, their dams being brought into them morning, noon, and night for a time, and afterwards night and morning. The heifers are put to the bull when about fifteen months old, and having been well kept are strong and well-matured. Mr Stephenson has allowed his neighbours the use of his bulls, and the result of the cross of the polled bulls on the ordinary cows of the district is very flattering to the polled breed. As a rule the cows in the district lack flesh, being kept principally for milk, and the polled bull not only gives this, but what is more noticeable, he is very impressive -^ ■ to colour. A great proportion of the calves come black or nearly so, and seem to have many of the good characteristics of the polled breed, being full of flesh or muscle, and giving promise of being grand butchers' cattle. Beechwood.—A very fine herd has been collected by Mr W. B. Greenfield of Beech wood, Dunstable, Bedfordshire. It was commenced in 1880 by purchases at the Glamis sale. On that occasion six animals were procured, five females from the Earl of Airlie and a bull from tiie Earl of Strathmore. The females comprised Eose of Guynd 2nd 2599 and her daughters. Gay Lass 3511, by Gainsborough 3rd 598, and Griselda 3877, by Timour 3rd 1287, the last-named having been the highest-priced animal at the sale (70 guineas). Eose of Guynd 2nd is a good milker, a splendid breeder, and since she went to Beechwood has produced Gay Lass 2nd 4723, the winner of the third prize as a calf at Peterborough in 1881, an animal of rare quality and style. Gay Lass 3511 is a strong, big, heavily-fleshed cow. Her last two calves were both heifers. Griselda is a beautiful specimen of a polled cow, with nice feminine head and splendid back and hind- 1 i Ml 328 THE BKEED IN ENGLAND AND IRELAND. quarters. She was the first-prize cow at Peterborough, and is an excellent breeder, her two calves being beauties Another purchase from Lord Airlie was Manilla 4189 of The Thorn Flora family. Escape 3879, a strong, healthy cow and a deep milker, also came from Lord Airlie. The bull bourrht from Lord Strathmore was Bombastes 1548, from Beluty of Garline 1247, and after Neptune 1152. The first-prize yearling at Kilburn, he won in 1881 the prize of £20, presented by the Marquis of Huntly for the best bull of any age at Peterborough. He has been used as stock sire with success, his calves of this year being very promising. At the Marquis of Huntly's dispersion in 1881 some important additions were made. Mr Greenfield then secured the finest animal offered at that important sale in Vine 9th 3256 of the Daisy branch of the Queen tribe. She was the highest-priced yearling at the Tillyfour sale in 1878, and cost 115 guineas at Aboyne. A half-sister to the celebrated cow Dora 1280, she is an animal ot beautiful symmetry aud quality. At Aboyne, Mary 2nd 3851, of the Westertown Victoria family, and the grand breeding cow Daylight 1478, of the Kothiemay Georgina family, were obtained. The next additions were made at Mr Hannay's sale in 1881. They comprised Jinnes Gay 3771, a half-sister of the champion cow Innes 1934; Kilmeny 2nd 4780, of the Matilda branch of the Queen tribe ; Challenge 4542 after Challenger 1260 ; the lovely heifer calf Benefit 2nd 5010, of the Montbletton Mayflower family, being out of the Highland Society's first-prize cow Blackbird of Corskie 2nd 3024 and Susanne 3rd of the Westertown Eose family, also a very handsome animal. Mr Greenfield has been very fortunate with his highly -bred herd, and the calves and heifers bred by him give promise of future excellence. Bradley Hall—Whih visiting Mr Stephenson's farm last autumn, Mr 0. C. Wallis, Bradley Hall, was much struck with the polled cattle, and resolved to go into the I rborough, beauties. X 4189 of f, healthy rlie. The 5tes 1548, me 1152. 1 the prize »r the best n used as 3eing very Dnml881 ifield then mt sale in leen tribe, lyfour sale half-sister animal of Mary 2nd the grand f Georgina ■e made at rinnes Gay nes 1934 ; the Queen the lovely Mayflower i-prize cow 3rd of the ne animal, bighly-bred Lve promise ison's farm was nnich TO into the .':^«=Hri-. a f h ': 111 C' M. I I i^h hi I BRADLEY HALL HERD. Smeaton t°"''"'f; ^'^'=""Pf'°=«' "^^ Mr Robert Bruce. Great bmeaton to see the principal herds. Bein^ very .^reatlv .td ottr f T'- "" ^'^^ "^ ^""' ^^''^ beautiful heads a erd ' f <"'"^^«««»^. he determined on formin. S at P,.^ .^ '=';' '" °"^y f^™^^ of *l>is family obtain- able at Baindalloch, but from the list appended it will be tribe ThfCT " "' P"""^^'''" tl,irtee,f females f h fotparS;;ror^^:t^ir,v"<' fr -^ and l^r heifer calf Edtham7 Elf ^',Tr ™"'' "'" Ermin 3'>'!9 w;ti, ii i ? ' " ^^^^' ^rrantine 4546, 6th S ;r^ t^'^t^^^^^^^^ f- Eriea herdboastsoft^ oroime s both "* ^'"'"^' ""^ They are Khiva 4m „f?KSn/"'y P'''"^ ^^d good- nf tL ? • ; ' of **>« BaUmdalloch Kindness brtnrb Lit frlSa^ are repetirn tf- .^'''•'''"■''^^"'''"''''"ochfamilie 4179 ?f tf f ' ''"''' '" -^^"'"'a of Ballindalloch J. xicaiui oTd oboi, bought for the >i Mi If', ! 330 THE BBEED m EXGLAND A.VD IHEWm well known to til ttf ri'''"'' ^'"^ °'*'' "'«" i« Challe„ger"l260 "ofl^ Tride ribe'^l' "^^ ^^^^^ '» given in vol. v. of the 'Herd Book" Ti,."'',"'"'™' '^ Sea King „s bred at Ballindal eh Jm C"f nT"' of the best eo-,vs in Sir Georm> ir„ i ^ „ '"'^^' '"'<' Td eTzsTard^^^Sr rr t ^f ^"''''- ^-"^ whicli the herd is rZH , ■ ""' ""* ""'t^"'^ "f best Mood otoirairi' .;,"""''"""- "« it does, the very future. BrX H ufst \7u '"'^ '^ P"'^'"'''^^ "^ "^ of the Tyn and w beautifully situated on the hanks subsoil iught to he t H ^f f "'' "- ^ "'-y g"-^^^' I'eM Which I>arbL?ga',St T^^^^^^^^ ^"°'^^ and trouble. '^"o^i^ner at no little ex^Dense poit:!;;^iS:,f sS^^'g'- f r^^'^- - ^ fe. old heifers in imlf 1,^^ " ''""S'" '"'» two-year- Both e ; by Han,r ^'o ''' ^^' ^^^"^^^' Montbletton. 3411. a::; th^ot&cLf IC; 34^"= '^''"'"''- ''' Mr Walker, celebrated I^ZfL^ ^H^h:' Deen first-prize winners as heifer', of t, -a: 7 , carried respectively second anrtd;iIr:^\::V'"^' i£oi.s::;to'Ln" ^-r ^' ""^^-^' 1-. hy Mr Sl^C^a^^iSt^f^tS^'r ''I' ^°'' hurt them. He had som/nf ■ ' , '"« ^""^"'^ '» undrained meadow ni I o, T ',"'"'"'' ""'"^'^ »"' °" evenashedto'o nto ' t : ^"^ "'' ''""''"'■ "'"' "»' to „o into, an.1 tl,,,y always appeared to he well. VAKIOUS HERDS. 331 l.<";^>>e went to Smeaton has had two , , ,f^f' o»e, Kmght of Smeaton 1879, by the mizl bull Knight of the finrfor iTfto i • , ' ■' , P™^ 0»nr„ T 1 i; 1' 63, having been sold to Mr Geary, London, Ontario. Pride of Altyre 3rd 4277 I pretty young cow, was bought from Sir William Gordon Gumming Bart of Altyre, and had, in 1881. a buU ca f The Proud Knight 1922, by the Westertown tuche kdl Dustman 667. The Proud Knight succeeded SiS 1711, of the Portlethen Lively familv a, =f^„i Princess of Altyre 2nd 49Rn , T^, as stock sire. w;ii- /^ ^«)ie ^nd 4280 was also bought from Sir William Gordon Gumming, and is an excellent "or" to M.n n '" '"'^^' ^'"""' of Smeaton 1923 sold Llite3rf4278"'^' /'^ 1"^^"' ''''' '''- ^"PP"'' ravourite Jul 42(8, who has had two calves, a heifer and MnTd \ f f,' "^ ^'■'" ''-''' ''•'"' " ''«if«- o^lf. Dusky Maid, and the pair were sold to Mr Geary, ihe cow Eegia 2nd, a very good one, has gone into t he daily tl I res suckle their ow„ calves. Eegia is a wonderi^rdeep milker, and gives very rich crean,. A ^ood many fnrl?^ are sending Shorthorn cows to Major G^lnlX;:,^:^: 11 1| HI ^34 THE BREED IX ENGLAND AND IRELAND. exceedingly good results, some of the calves beinrr very superior. ° ■^ ■ South Ella.—Uv Arthur Egginton, South Ella, Hull started a herd in September 1878. In that year he pur- chased at Mr Hannay's sale at Montcoffer the cows Ciavland 3018 (since dead) and Pendant 1935; and at Mr Tayler's sale at Rothiemay. Charm 243C, JMiss Ba-Eae 2311, Water Lily 2432, and Hallowe'en 2435. The first sire used was Kinsrran 1444, bred by Mr Hannay, after ^\aterside King 870, and out of Kate of Glenbarry 1187 of the GeornK«, jamily. Then fallowed Scotter 1634 by Young Viscount 736, out of Pendant 1935, and Cupid 2nd, bought in October 1881. Mr Egginton informs us that he has found the polled cattle most satisffictory in every way — being wonderful feeders, very (^aiet and ornamental. His calving cows remain out all the winter having sheds to go into when they like. They get a few turnips and some hay when snow is on the ground, Init no cake is used, and it is wonderful to notice in wliat con- dition they keep. In fact, Mr Egginton says, the - get too fat unless care is taken. They are most hardy, \nd the climate suits them admirably. Mr Egginton has killed steers under two years at 75 stones (14 lbs.) each. The calves are allowed to run with their dams duriu'^r summer. " Studley FrioTT/.—Mv Henderson, Studley Priory near Oxford, supplies us with the following inteivsting account of his experience with polled cattle:— I made my first begmning in September 1879, when I purchased ' seven pedigree heifers and one pedigree bull, Royal Eric 1278 at the Earl of Aberdeen's sale in Aberdeen. Some of my neighbours advised me against attempting to rear polled stock. They believed there was something in the swedes of Aberdeen ana Forfar shires which was not in Enrrlish swedes, hence the breed could not develop in England so successfully as it had done in the north. The cattle STLTDLEY PlilOKY HERD. very ai ■rivea at a most unfortunate time 335 bad having plenty of n.an'el 1 T "'.'f '°™.«- "-hie'' were short bnt tryin.. xp^erL; e of \ ^° ^^''^Ked with my April 1880 I^.nrcre^;Vlf he^^^r:^ "■«' 7 Writing now iu Am-il 1««9 t i "^"^f^' ^^^ P ^^e bred. own calf; a,„J ahnost invariaW; , e,Xcf o^lr '^ "T stronger than the Shorthorn, hot Ibek"1u k Ll'l "'n ' same cow. No better test can be had" nf 1 ^ ' vitality and strenn-th nf tl,„ ii , ""^ superior Weed.^i.ant,,ew:^l4, refentfX f" f'""^"' "udergoing the painful opera 1"^ „ fca raUn'.t:^ n calves. The strength and hardihood of the p2d T h observed to be amazingly Greater I ',L f •'^^ It """^ that they will be profitab t°o "e In thel",'' '"?', '"^ competitio,.. a farmer cannot aflrf to i dutetsf " 111 breedino- stock- bp nm f a ^ . inauige ins xancies stick to th:t^'t;t we"r t w .,: tc' C-: '"'■ ^■^'^ the Aberdeen sale one of Mr T. """*'«,'" securuig, at reon, and I trnst Cnolf e^! tolt^ 1/^;= ^.f i^ real.,ng son. n.o.ey fron, the herd, and btgin tt te^t II il ! li m 336 THE BliEED IX ENGLAND AND IHELAND. financially and practically the profit and loss from puttin- into practice my faith in the polled cattle. A herd was established by the late Mr Tostlethwaite Ihe Hollms, Cumberland, purchases having been made' from Mr M'Combie of Tillyfour. On the death of Mr 1 ostlethwaite the herd was dispersed in 1878, when Mr M'Combie bought several animals. At The Hollins sale Mr Thomson of Moresdale Hall, Westmoreland, acquired a few good polled cattle, and with some purchases made a sliort time previously at Tillyfour he had the nucleus of a herd, but we believe he has disposed of most of his stock- Mr Loder, M.P.. Whittlebury, Towcester, procured several polled animals at the joint sale of the Earls of Strathmore and Airlie at Glamis in 1880. 1 Ireland. The breed has long been favourably known in Ireland Mr Watson, Keillor, used to include tlie Emerald Isle in his show circuit, not only as a judge, but also as an exhibitor • and It is partly from this circumstance that the oreat agricultural societies of the country, the Royal Irisli°and the Royal Dublin, have for many years offered prizes for polled cattle. It was in Ireland that Mr Watson's cele- brated bull Grey-breasted Jock 2 closed his career havin- been sold for 100 guineas, after his victory at Belfast in 1843, to Mr Kirkaldy of Hearnesbrook, Eyrecourt It sometimes happened at these early shows that Mr Watson had to be content with minor prizes, having been occasion- ally beaten with his own stock, or their descendants in other hands. This was probably due to the fresh condition ni which the Irish breeders were able to present their cattle compared with the jaded appearance of the Keillor animals after their trip across the channel. At the Royal Irish show at Belfast in 1843, when Grey-breasted Jock 2 was first in the class of aged bulls, Mr Thomas Seymour of IRISH HEKDS. 337 ( Lai ymore Castle Ballinasloe, was first for cows and heifers, t. fl f 7 D^Win show at Dublin in 1844, Mr Seymour uas firs for aged bulls with a four-year-old, bred at Keillor Mr Watson being second with a bull named Saunders! Ihat year Mr ^yatson was first for two-year-old heifers, A 1 ^ T' \'t 7 ^;™''^^' "^'^^ "" ^^^^ "^^"^d Kl^^ck Jock. At the Eoyal Irish show at Ballinasloe in 1845, Mr Kir- kaldy of Hearnesbrook was first for aged bulls with Sambo bred by himself ; and he was first for yearling bulls with one bred by himself from the Keillor stock, probably a son of Grey-breasted Jock 2. Mr Kirkaldy was also first for cows with one l^red by Mr Millar, Ballumbie, and Mr Watson was first for two-year-old heifers. At the Eoyal Irish show at Limerick in 1846, Mr Seymour gained all the prizes, and at Londonderry in 1847 Mr Watson was first for aged bulls with the famous Old Jock 1 who had a very close fight for the Purcell cup as best bull in the yard. Lord Talbot de Malahide had a superior herd atMalahide Castle, County Dublin, his animals being descended from the Ardovie, Kinnaird, and Balwyllo herds. Lord Lur^an also bred polled cattle, and possessed the well-known Kin naird bull Monk 149, who left much fine stock in Ireland It will be seen from our notice of the Kinnochtry herd tliat Mr William Owen of Blessington, County Wicklow has had many of Mr Ferguson's best bulls, and he has' had almost a monopoly of the prizes at the Eoyal Irish and Eoyal Dublin shows for several years. Mr S. E. Collis of Tiera clea, Tarbert, County Kerry, has a very good herd the matrons of which are Sarah of Euthven 2429 after the grand old bull Major 3rd 662 ; Waterside Janet 3472 bred by Mr Wilken, and got by tlie same sire; and Waterside Daisy 2nd. He has used the bull Lord Kilmurrily 918 bred by the Earl of Fife after Major of Bogiiie 444 and out of the champion cow Lines 1934. Lord Kilmu'rrily left some very good heifers, and has been succeeded by a I jk fv:\ W: 't:l ^' I'lii ■■■-«-t^s'- S38 TIiE BEEED IN ENGLAND AND IKELAND, highly-bred bull from Kinnoohtry, after Shah CSO, and out ot 2nd Baroness of Kinnoohtry 3293, of Mr Ferguson's Baxoness family The Earl of Carysfort and Mr. Cell Moyualty have also had some polled cattle. Although the' n,.nber of polled herds in Ireland is comparatively smai tL nam TJ'"^ ' considerable influence in improving the ca tie of the country. Mr Owen, for example has allowed farmers the use of his bulls, and their p.^d ce >i 'I 339 CHAPTEK XVI. THE BREED IN FOKEIGN COU.NTKIES. ''"tils t'lhfir "' ''^ b-d- Introduction to America-Polled ^"e ts^f h i r I';-"^f-Hi."h quality of their produce-Pro- spects of the breed in America-Chief foreign herds and importation -Herds m the United States-Herds of Messrs F. B. KedfieW A B Mattl^ws Anderson & Findl^ j. j^ ^^^^^^^ ^ > A^B. Z^ ?'p!" ^'y'^- ^' Harwell, etc.-InCanada-The Ontario Schoo of Agriculture, Mr Mossom Boyd. Hon. J. H. Pope, Hon T Land A^: R , 7'' Y'T'''' ''' «-y-I-Portatio'ns to Ne •icalinil— Ml- Robertson's herd at Waimea. The Northern polls seem destined to have a wide distribu- tion Ten years ago little was known of tliem except by reputation beyond the limits of their nrtive ' country. With n the past few years, however, large numbers of them have been scattered over many foreign countries, including U,e U„i ed states of America, Canada, South Americ.^ New Zealand, France Denmark, Germany, and other parts of the European Cntinent. The breed was first introduced into the grassy regions of the Far West by the late Mr George Grant, who in 1873 sent three polled bulls to his ranche on the Colony of Victoria, founded by him in Ellis County Kansas. These bulls were taken from the herd of the late Mr George Brown, Westertown, Morayshire and wore for several years used at Victoria among ,„i..ea Ota of native cows. I„ 1877 the writer saw two of them (one had died previously) browsing near Mr Grant's resid- '^ 1 1 1 'yilJI !j 1 M 340 THE BREED IN FOREIGN COUNTRIES. ence, and well they seemed to enjoy their prairie life They were most prolific sires, and the great improvement in their produce as compared to the ordinary cattle of the country created no little sensation. All the cows were horned and yet a very large majority of the young stock were polled Ihe choice quality and the early maturity of Mr Grant's polled grades attracted considerable attention, and for his surplus stock there was always a keen demand. Bv de^rrees the fame of the polled breed made its way throuolout America, and the demand which has there sprun- im for them IS so great that it would not be satisfied "even if every one of the race remaining in this country were sent across the Atlantic. Probably over 500 head have gone to the United States and Canada during the past two years and every month brings fresh commissions to the buyers' on this side. "^ The polls we believe, have bright prospects in America. Their excellent grazing, fattening, and maturing properties, and their hardy constitution, fit them admirably for the country, wliile the absence of horns also counts in their favour. American cattle have long boat and railway journeys to accomplish, and it is found that in those horned animals often inflict damage upon each other by gorincr and bruising. From nearly every one who has had" any experience of the Scotch polls in America we have received most favourable accounts, both as to tlie thrivincr of the cattle and their future prospects on the farms and "ranches of the New Worid. As evidence of the interest aroused m the breed on the Western Continent, it may be men- tioned that steps are being taken to start a ' Polled Herd Book ' for America. This movement has been taken ni. heartily by Mr F. B. Redfield and others, and is likely to be carried out successfully. ^ The introduction of the Northern Scotch polled cattle into Canada may l)e dated from 1876, when Professor Brown, of tlie Ontario School of Agriculture at Guelph WIGWAM FARM HERD. ife. They it in their 3 country med, and L'e polled. r Grant's id for his Y degrees roughout ig lip for even if .'ere sent 1 gone to vo years, 3 buyers \.merica. )perties, for the in their railway horned ing and 341 id any eceived of the ranches iroused e men- d Herd cen uj) kely to cattle ofessor fuelph, secured some very good specimens for that excellent insti- tution, witli which he has been long and creditably con- nected There they have bred well, and for the youn- ainmals which are offered for sale periodically there is an active demand. From the other countries in which the breed has been tried encouraging reports have also been received. We append a few notes regarding the chief ioreign herds and importations. United States of America. Mr F. B. Eedfield's choice herd at Wigwam Farm, Batavia, New York, was founded in 1879 by the purchase of three heifers and a bull from Mr Ferguson, Kinnochtry. Ihe purchase was made at the Highland Society's show that year at Perth. The animals were-the bull Field Marshal 1778, of the Baroness family, after the Pridp of 4qI r.,^"l^ ^^^'^^ ^^^' ^^"^ ^^'^ l^^if^^« P^^incess 8th d298 of the Princess family; 3rd Baroness of Kinnoch- /.ft' Baroness family; and Favourite 9th 3295 fooi \^^''''''^' ^^"'^^^' ^^^ ^^^^^^^ S^^^li 680. In March 1881, Mr Pedfield imported sixteen additional animals— nine bulls and seven heifers, as follows :-Bulls-FandancTo of the Favourite family; Proud Knight, of the Daisy "or Vine branch of the Queen tribe ; Favonius, of the Favourite family ; Falerino, of the Favourite family ; Manfred, of the Castle iraser Mina family ; Falconer, of the Favourite family ; Prince of Batavia 1898, of the Princess familv • Angus-bred Baron 1899, of the Baroness family; and ^?or'i?'.°^ ^^^' ^^'^'^ ^'''''^^' Heifers-Princess 10th 43o9, Princess 12th 4345, 6th Baroness of Kinnochtry 4341, Favourite 10th 4336, Favourite 12th 4606, Maid of the Mist 4344, and Mountain Mist 4346, these represent- iiig the Princess. Baroness, Favourite, and Mina families. They were all bought from Mr Ferguson, Kinnochtry. Ihe three heifers Mr liedfield first imported wore mated Ml 'ill ftt^l's 342 THE BREED IN FOREIGN COUNTRIES. Ill i; I 1 I ^ li in Scotland with the Princess bull Prince of the Eealrn lb9o. In 1880 he used Field Marshal 1778 This bull now on a ranche in Kansas, left some very good stock! includnig several excellent grades out of Shorthorn cows On the ranche he has proved most useful, and has thriven admirably, keeping his condition well under severe climatic trials. He was exhibited at the Fair at Hay's City last year, and was greatly admired. For the bull calves dropped to hmi by native cows, there was a spirited demand amon- neighbouring ranche men. In 1881 and 1882 Mr Hel held used Manrico 1900. The herd numbered in April 1882 eleven head-four Princesses, three Baronesses, three lavourites, and the stock bull Manrico 1900, a son of the Erica bull St Clair 1160 a Highland Society first- prize winner, and the Mina cow Mina 4th of Melville 3843, one of the best breeders at Kinnochtry. Mr Eed- field's principal sales have been as follows :— In June 1881 tlie bull Field Marshal 1778, M^ent into the ranche of Mr Bobbins, Batten, Victoria, Ellis Co., Kansas. Shortly after, the bulls Fandango and Proud Knight were sold to Mr Jos. B^ Eldridge, of Norfolk, Connecticut, for his ranclie m El is Co., Kansas. About the same time. Professor E M fehelton, of the Kansas Agricultural College, visited Wigwam Farm, and purchased tl,e bull Falerino for the College larm at Manhattan, taking Muth him also a cow purchased at the Ontario Experimental Farm, Guel ph In addition to the above, Mr Eedfield, sold in the summer and fall of 1881, three bull calves bred from his impold heifers-one to Mr J. J. Podgcrs, Abingdon, Knox County Ilmois; one to Messrs D. E. Fenn & Son, Tallmadcre' Ohio ; and the third to Mr J. G. Tayler, Burlington, Kansas' In January 1882 he also sold to Messrs I). E. Fenn & Mist 4346, wi h heiier calves. The only otlier sale was that ot the bull Falconer to Messrs 1). J. & G F Whit more, West Union, Iowa, in February last. Prices have MR MATTHEWS'S HERD. 343 averaged about £100 a head. Mr Eedfield exhibited stock in 1881 at the Chicago Fair, the Illinois State Fair and the St Louis Fair, where he had much success, wiunin^ 111 all about £200 in prizes. The cow Princess 8th 3298° M p!!«^i'5^^ ^^''''^'' 1900, were particularly successful Mr Eedfield gained the first premiums for young herds at Chicago and St Louis with Princess 12th, Mountain Mist Maid of the Mist, Favourite 12th, and Princess A. Mr' Itedfield states that - the prospects are that the climate of America will suit the polled Aberdeen or Angus cattle pertectly. I hear favourable reports on this point from a J parts and extremes of the States and territories I be leve they have constitutions of iron, so to speak, and ivil stand very hard usage. The rough winter voyage on deck of the steamer which my last lot, little more than calves, endured without injury, was a severe test " Mr A. B. Matthews, Kansas City, formed a herd within the last two years by purchases in Canada and Michi-an These were chiefly Galloways ; but some Aberdeen" or Angus were also obtained, among them beinc. Decside Lass, a daughter of Leochel Lass 6th 2096 bred at Laughton. In the spring of this year. Mr Matthews visitecl the North of Scotland, and selected an excellent lot of 55 head, comprising 33 females and 22 males Among them were Bella 3rd of Greystone 4740 after Major 3rd 662 from Mr Eeid, Greystone, and full si'ster to l>ellf d, sold to go to Now Zealand for 200 cruineas • Miss lyfe 3rd 4841, after the champion bulf Prince Albert of Baads 1330, from Mr Anderson, Dauoh Tar land; Waterside Juliet, bred at Easter Skene, after' Paris 1473, the first-prize bull at the Paris Exhibition in 1878 and out of Juliet of Easter Skene 3808; a two-year-old heiier Eay, after Fy vie 737, and out of Eompie 2298 bred by Mr Smith, Burnshangie. From Mr Emslie, Keir^ Bel- helvie, -vere bought Cherry Princess 4930, of the' Kin nochtry Emily family ; and Keir, descended from Lidy ' I Hi r' i'r. I.I ■^m zu THE BREED IN FOREIGN COUNTRIES. f: 'I' Panmure 59, by Panmure 51. From Mr Scott, Easter Tu loch, were obtained Duchess 11th, of a branch of the Old Grannie strain, and Margaret 4th, of the same descent I! f^ ^^!' ^''^^^^^' Mayflowers, from which Witch of Endor 3528 was bred. Several of the animals were selected from Mr Wilken's herd at Waterside of Forbes and besides the herds mentioned, there were specimens of those at Bdquharr, Gavenwood, Blairshinnoch, Campfield, Brucehill East-town, Powrie, Skene. Kinbate, Baads, Bal- .iuham, Nether Kildrummy, Oakhill, Haughton, etc. Two stock bulls were selected, the one bred by Mr. Ferguson Kmnochtry, and the other bred by Mr Stevenson, Blair- shinnoch. The latter is Strathisla-1816, of the Erica tribe, being out of Ella 1205, a daughter of Erica 843 and after Moraystown 1439, whose dam was the prize cow Forget-Me-Not 1685. Mr Matthews writes us - My herd now numbers 170 head. I have sold within the last two years about fifty head of cattle. Thev have nearly all gone to the plains in theWest. I have shown my cattle at the E:ansas State Fair, where there was no opposi- tion, and also at the Kansas City Exposition, where thev received the first prizes in all classes shown. I al^^o exhi bited them at the great polled cattle show at St Louis ast year, where seven herds were represented, and there took the herd premium, also several individual prizes This was the greatest show of polled cattle ever held in America. I have fed t, polled steer from November up to the present time (May 25, 1882), the average daily gam of which was about 3i lbs. per day, which I think very good. I am now also feeding a polled heifer, the avera4 gam of which I cannot now give, but it is certainly much better ban the steer. I could not expect animals to do better than mine have done during the time I have h'ld them, and all parties to whom I have sold them write me most encouragingly of their hardiness, capability of rfinncr for themselves under ^'-- - ^- - *^ caring nm the most disadvantageous LAKE FOKEST HERD. 345 circumstances, and tlie ease with which they fatten wlien well fed. The prospect for the breed is beyond anythino- that I have ever known for any class of cattle " Messrs Anderson & Findlay, Lake Forest, Illinois, have made three large importations. Tlie first lot was landed at Quebec in August 1878, and comprised five females and a bui from the Westside of Brux, Brucehill, Pitfour Burnshangie, and Waterside of Forbes herds. The bull then selected was Mcolis 1633, bred by Mr Walker, Wests,de, after Carlos 673, and out of Bess of Bogfern i-25, descended from the Keillor herd. Most of the animals had gained prizes at the local shows in Aberdeen- snire. Ihe next importation was made in August 1881 and included specimens from the Mains of Kellv Well' house, Altyre, Blairshinnoch, Auchmaliddy, Earnside, and Bridgend herds. Among them were representatives of the Mains of Kelly Jennet, the Eothiemay Old Ladv Jean he Montbletton Charlotte, and the We s'tertown Sia families. The bulls taken over at that time were Waterside King 2nd 1864, bred by Mr Wilken, of the Kinnaird Fanny family; and Basuto 1820, bred by Sir .eorge Macpherson Grant, Bart., of Ballindall.och, after Blackbird of Corskie 3rd 3766, of the Montbletton May- flower fomdy T]ie third import was made in the summer ot 1882, and comprised 20 heifers and 10 bulls from various herds in the north of Scotland. JVfessrs Anderson & Findlay also purchased from Messrs Burleigli & Bodwill, Vas&alboro, Maine their herd of polled cattle Among these were the following :-the Erica cow Enigma 41 / 6 bred by Mr Brooke, Cardney, Dunkeld ; the Beauty cow Sunshine 3rd 3337, bred by Mr Skinner, Drumin .Snowd- >p 2nd 4599, bred at Drumin ; and the mse- gay cow >setta 4041, bred at Ballindalloch. There were also two lieifers from tlie Mains of Advie lierd-one out ol Duchess of Advie 3585, and the other out of ?sT^rah m ^: 346 ifs ^1 THE BREED IN FOREIGN COUNTRIES. 3107. Tlie cows had calves at foot by a Jilt sire The herd at Lake Forest is thus, it will be seen, composed of very good material, and has already taken a creditable position m the American showyards. Writing us in February 1882, Messrs Anderson & Findlay said ~" Our sales have been to T. R Clark, Victoria, Ellis Co., Kansas • Lee & Reynolds. Dodge City, Kansas ; J. J. Eodgers! Abingdon, Illinois ; Abner lioyce, NaperviUe, Illinois ; 1 . H. Tompkins, El Paso, Illinois ; W. S. Crosby, Hioh- land Park, Illinois ; George F. Whitmore, West Union tayette Co., Iowa. The animals sold were 6 bull calves' 2 heifer calves, a yearling and a two-year-old heifer realizing £660, or an average of £66 per head. The future IS pregnant with promise to this breed in this country and ^orth British America. We are unable to see anv reason for breeding any other than the polled Aberdeen or Angus for plains and beef cattle, since for early maturity weight, quality of beef, and hardiness of constitution they cannot be surpassed, to say nothing of the advantage of being hornless." Mr J. J. Eodgers, Angus Farm, Knox County, Abingdon Illinois, bought from Mr Ferguson, Kinnochtry, in the spring of 1881, three animals— viz., the cow Favourite 6t]i 3118. the heifer Baroness 8th 5039, and the bull Baron Balgersho 1696-these being of the Kinnochtry Favourite and Baroness families. In the spring of 1882 Mr Kodoers secured from the Kinnochtry herd twelve yearlincr heifers and two yearling bulls. These were of the Princess Baroness Favourite and Mina families. The list com- prehended the following :— Princess Adelaide, by Shah 680, out of Princess 2nd 916 ; Princess Olga, by Baron Balgersho 1696, out of Theresa 1773 ; Princess Alberta by Prince of the Realm 1695, out of Warble 922 ; Princess' Louisa, by Baron Balgersho 1696, out of 5th Baroness 4333 ; Princess Maud, by Prince of the Realm 1695 out ot Princess 3rd 1771 ; Princess Maria, by Prince of' the < MESSKS GUDGELL AND SIMPSON'S HERD. 34? Recalm, out of Georgina 3119; Dulciano, by Shah G80 out of Pride 3289 ; Blooming Belle, by Shah, out of Blossom, 3970 ; Melissa, by Prince of the Pealm, out of Eoxanna 3967 ; Everilda, by Prince of the Realm, out of Maggie 2nd 923 ; Minnie, by Prince of tlie liealm, out of Ivuby 3964 ; Lizzie 5th, l)red by Mr Pearson of Johnston Lodge, by A.K.H.B. 1576. out of Lizzie 4th 4867 Besides the twelve heifers, there also went from Mr Ferguson's herd two excellent yearling bulls, one beincr iaustulus, out of Louisa 1769, the other being Prince o^ the Blood, out of Princess 7th 3297. Both bulls were bv Prince of the Realm. Messrs Gudgell & Simpson, Missouri, Kansas, imported thirty animals last spring, supplementary to a previous importation. Tliirteen of these were selected from the herd of Mr Wilken, Waterside, including the cows Blackcap 4042, bred at Ballindalloch, after the Erica bull fet. Clair 1160, and from one of the Moiitbletton May- flowers ; Rosa Bonheur 2nd 3531, bred at Tillyfour of the Rothiemay Victoria family ; Myrtle of Tillychetly 3787 of the Drumm Lucy family, and calf at foot, by the Erica sire Etonian 1658. Besides a number of fine heifers obtained at Waterside, there were purchased two bulls— Polestar 1772, and Knight of St. Patrick, both of the Pride of Aberdeen family. The latter is a most valuable animal, bred by Mr Auld, Bridgend, after Knight of the Legion 1494, and out of Pride of Aberdeen 10th The heixi of Mr Reid, Greystone, furnished the cow Kate 6th 4/33, a first-prize winner at Aberdeen; Pride 3rd 4744- and a two-year-old heifer. From the Old Morlich herd were secured the cow Jemima 2nd 4082, winner of the Queen's cup at Tarland, and a two-year-old heifer The cow Rosella 3020 was bought from Mr Grant, Mains of Advie, the cow Isabella 2nd 3857, from Mr Strachan, Wester lowlis. The other purchases were made from Mv Mackessack, Earnside ; Mr Strachan, Montcoffer • Mr ; •l> nil t'u; ■»,., "" "- latter Scottish Maid The bull was purchased from Messrs Anderson & Findlay. Mr Tompkins says these aSs CANADIAN HERDS. 349 win ered the easic ,t and best of any cattle he ever saw. J^ealtli and hu aess appear to be their normal condition V , ■^; n^?^^' ^^'"^ " "''^^' "'^^e a" importation in November 188 . The lot numbered twelve, and included a bull calf and yearling iioifer from tl- Earl of Airlie • yearling heifer from Aboyn. Cast ; t, ^ther with repre^ ^ntatives of tlie Haughton, Pitgnir, Old Morlich, Collithie -uene, Tdlychetly, Little Endovie, and other herds Mr W. H. Whitridge, of Baltimore, imported a bull and two heifers selected for him by Mr Campbell Macpherson Campbell of Balliemore. They were the bull Sir Eustace and the heifers Merrythought 4670 and Clarissa 4534 ' Mr I). K Hine, Milan, Erie Co., Ohio, laid the founda- A?. t ''^ ^^ purchases from Mr Grant, Mains of Advie ; Mr Maitland, Balhaggardy ; and Mr Lumsden of Clova. Mr Eobl uis Battell, 74 AVall Street, New York and others, 1 iported four females and two bulls in March lool. Mr F. W. Harvey, Chicago, imported two bulls and several heifers during the summer of 1882 Mr Archibald Galbraith, of Messrs Galbraith Brothers Janesvi le, Wisconsin, imported six animals in 1882 from' the herds of Mr Bean, Balquharn Mains ; Mr Grant, Meth- ick ; Mr Beaton, Lethenty ; and Mr Stewart, Knockol- locliy. Canada. In 1876 Professor Brown of the Agricultural Collecre at Guelph, Ontario, paid a visit to Scotland, and selected or that institution three polled animals-the bull Gladiolus 1161 and the cow Eyebright 3001, from the herd of Mr llannay, Gavenvvood ; and the cowLeochel Lass 4th 1864 from Mr Earquharson of Haughton, after she had taken the first prize at Alford the same year. In 1881 the bull Meldrum 1759, of the Madge family, was bought from the ! , < - 1 M >j, 111 d M f- -'J t 1 .IkW^ IMAGE EVALUATION TEST TARGET (MT-3) ^ // 1.0 I.I 1^ 2.2 2.0 1.8 lUI l-U 11.6 '(^ Sciences Corporation V «^ 23 WEST MAN STREET WEBSTER, N.Y. 14580 (716) 872-4503 ^ Ll>^ N> 1S> ^ s a ^t^ ^ "^f^ \j~ 350 THE BREED IN FOREIGN COUNTRIES. I Marquis of Huntly ; and the cow Sybil's Darling 2nd 4611, of the Ballindalloch Sybil family, from Mr Argo, Cairdseat. These animals have bred satisfactorily, and the bulls have proved very sure stock-getters, having been put with success to other breeds when other bulls failed to get calves. Professor Brown writes:— "We can commalid £60 to £70 for yearling bulls and lieifers for the States and Canada. Eyebright 3001 has given us a value in pro- duce of £300 in five years. We have conclusively proved, by extensive experiments, that the milk is very rich. We are putting up a couple of grades (polled upon Canadian) next winter against others in feeding. The polled cattle do well in Canada— are hardy, splendid on pasture, good searchers for food, kindly, good nurses, and evidently early maturcrs. They are unquestionably, with Herefords, the animal for our North-Western grazint^s." Mr Mossom Boyd, Bobcaygeon, Ontario, founded a herd in the summer of 1881 by the purchase of some very well- bred animals. They comprised Pride of Findhorn 3rd 4758, of the Pride of Aberdeen family, and Mayflower of Altyre 3rd 4763, of the Mulben Mayflower family, both from the herd of Sir W. G. Gordon Cumming, Bart, of Altyre ; Wanton 4610, by the Erica bull Etonian 1658, bred by Mr Argo, Cairdseat; Princess Alice 4829, descended from the Keillor cow Old Grannie 1, bred by Mr Middle- ton, Waulkmill ; Princess Dagmar 5th 4528, of the Matilda branch of the Queen tribe, and Pauline 3672, bred by Mr Bruce, CoUithie ; Waterside Queen 3208, of the Kinnaird Eanny family, bred by Mr. Wilken, Waterside ; and Caro- line 2nd 3814, bred by Mr Pteid, Nether Kildrummy. These were to be largely added to this year. Mr Boyd was using the bull Lord Macduff, bred at the Ontario School of Agriculture, after Gladiolus 1161, and out of leochel Lass 4th 1864. Mr Boyd adds :— " I showed three at our provincial exhibition last fall, and they were much admired and curiously looked at, being the first exhibited, CANADIAN HERDS. 351 and showing a marked superiority to the Galloways which stood alongside of them. Of the three I exhibited,— viz., Wanton 4610, Princess Alice 4829. and Pride of Findhorn 3rd 4758,— Wanton took precedence. She weighed 1040 lbs., being one year and 6^ months old. Having had so short an experience in handling the polled cattle, I cannot pronounce upon them further than to say that so far mine all look well and thriving, and I do not doubt will suit the climate admirably." The Hon. J. H. Pope, Dominion Minister of Agriculture, Ontario, Canada, has made three importations through Mr Wilken, Waterside. The first two consignments" were bought as an experiment, and consisted of fifteen heifers and a bull. These having proved satisfactory, a more valuable lot was selected last autumn. It included the beautiful cow Charmer 3rd 3251, of the Charmer branch of the Queen tribe, who had been sold at Tillyfour for 150 guineas, and was purchased at the Aboyne dispersion in September 1881 for 100 guineas ; Pride of Montbletton 3rd 3418, of the Zara tribe ; Melon 3837, of the Castle Fraser Mina tribe ; Princess Dagmar 6th 4827, of the Matilda branch of the Queen tribe ; and Fair Flower 4726, of the Ballindalloch Lady Fanny family. The others were from the Ardhuncart, Tillychetly, Cairnballoch, and Waulkmill herds. The Honourable M. H. Cochrane has founded an excel- lent herd at Hillhurst, Compton, Canada. In March 1881 he bought some superior animals at high prices in Forfar- shire. They comprised Beauty of Glamis 3515, by the Erica bull Elchies 563, from the Earl of Strathmore, for 120 guineas, and three yearling heifers from the same breeder, after Elcho 595. From Mr Thomas Smith, Powrie, there were obtained the cow Naomie of Powrie 3730, bred at Easter Skene, for 100 guineas ; Eosa Bon- heur 2565, and calf at foot, for 100 guineas, together with three two-year-old heifers. Since then Mr Wilken, Water- ( ( wamwBi 352 THE BREED IN FOREIGN COUNTRIES. side, selected twenty fine animals, comprising Blackbird of Corskie 2nd 3024, the first-prize ■ cow at the Highland Society's show at Perth, and representing the Mont- bletton Mayflower family. We are informed that she cost 200 guineas. Mabel 6th 4295, of the Pride family, bred by Mr Grant, Methlick, was secured at a long- price. Vine 2nd 3329 was bought from the Earl o^f Southesk, and was in the prize list at the Highland Society's show at Stirling. The Pride heifer Pride 20th, bred at Tillyfour, was acquired from Mr Auld. Animals were further obtained from the East-Town, Altyre, Skene, Dunnydeer, Cardney, Kinstair, Guisachan, and Thomas- town herds. The bull Paris 3rd, out of Proserpine 3807, a second-prize heifer at the Highland Society's show, and after Paris 1473, the first-prize two-year-old at the Paris Exhibition, was purchased from Mr M'Combie of Easter Skene for 150 guineas. He was the first-prize yearling at the Ptoyal Northern and Highland Society's shows in 1881. The herd contains specimens of the Pride, Easter Tulloch Mayflower, Mulben Ellen and Mayflower, Kinnochtry Favourite, Advie Eose, Indego Grace, Mains of Kelly Victoria, Tillyfour Charmer and Windsor, Ptothiemay Victoria, Drumin Princess, Westertown Victoria, ])rumin Lucy, Kinnochtry Emily, and other well-known families. Twenty-five bulls were also selected for the Cochrane Pianclie Company. Writing us in April last Mr Cochrane said :— " I have at present in my herd thirty-three cows and heifers, three stock bulls, and eleven calves of both sexes. Tliey have done well during the past winter. I am in every way pleased with them, and they are greatly admired by all who see tliem. The manager of our Ptanche Company in the North- Western Territory also speaks in the highest terms of the nine young bulls which I purchased at the Perth auction sale." Three very fine lots have been imported by Mr George Whitfield, The Model Farm, Eougemont, Quebec. The \l CANADIAX HEBDS. 353 The animals were selected by Mr John Grant P>nc.. .f a i • induded two buns fro. B^'a Jf o. 'l STut 19115 nf t),« « 1 -I r ,"™ ' '"'J Eougemont, out of Siren vlc«6 "^ tI ^"^ ^-r' ''"" «- celebrated Young Eobertson, Aberlou Mains-Etta Too r^^'^.'^f' , 'T ^' and Effle 4847 p J" iT ,7 , ,^ ^^^- ■*"* ''«ifer calf, Auchindellan, Gips,1o06 a£r Su^^i ^ '^^ {'- liuvvei lamiiy, a hrst-prize winner at thp "Rnvni xr ^.i, 4001, ot the Eothiemay Georaina familv . n!,^ -n "^ of the Westertown eL fam^y '''S L' anLaw'" .e. polled l^ifzs:^;:^;^^-^-^ ---- Of Mr Hanna,:o:::_^rl'S^^^^^^^^^ byCba„eu,e,andoft.e^X'G:f4irr::^ ^J !■ 354 THE BREED IN FOREIGN COUNTRIES. 4552, also of the Georgina family ; Muscatel 4553, of the Advie Ptose family; Blue Ribbon 4554, by Challenger, of the Montbletton Mayflower family, l)eing out of the first- prize Highland Society's cow Blackbird of Corskie 2nd 3024 ; Eosy Dream 4545, of the Westertown Eose family ; Flower o' the Forest 4568 ; Daydawn 4583 ; and a heifer out of Henrietta 3912, of the Eothiemay Miss Morrison family. Four females, representing Kinnochtry, Bognie, Boghead, and Ballindalloch families, were obtained from Mr Stephenson, Long Benton, Newcastle-on-Tyne ; and two females and two males from Major Godman, Smeaton Manor. The bulls were of the Kinnochtry Princess and the Easter Tulloch Mayflower families. The two-year-old bull Eosebery, out of Eose Leaf 2993, of the Westertown Eose family, and after the Erica sire Elchies 563, was also purchased from the Ballindalloch stock. Professor Lawson, Halifax, recently importe■. Grey-breasted Jock 2. ( '/. Old Favourite. d, Emily 332. Rose of Kelly 828. Old Jo.k 1. } .s. Coluiu'l of Ardestie 32'.). ( '('. Jenny 55. .( «. Grey-broastcd Jock ?. ( a/:i i;;' at ,^' ?i? o M '»■ 'I : 11 ii' ^ KINXOCHTKY VAMILIES. 363 All the existing female specimens of the Erica family are descended from either of four calves, as follows :— ERifA 843. Erica 2n(l, 1284, c. 1865, liy Cliieltain 31S. Eisa 077, c. 18C7, Eiicliantress 981, c. 18C9, Ella 1205 c 1870 by Trojan 402. l.y Trojan 402. * by Kiklo/iaA 405.' As previously explained, Erica 3rd, out of Erica 2nd 1284, and Ella 1205, were sold, the former to Mr Duff Hillochhead, and the latter to Mr Macgregor, Gariine. Eisa and Enchantress were retained in tlie herd, and the family, as bred without interruption at Ballindalloch, accordingiy traces from these two daughters of Erica, got by the admirably-bred Queen bull Trojan 402. The Erica sires that have been used in the Ballindalloch herd were— Elchies 563, out of Eisa; Elcho 595, out of Erica; Editor 1460, out of Edith 2973 ; and Young Viscount 736. The last named is at present the stock bull, being assisted by Justice 1462, a son of Elcho 595. Very few female Ericas have been parted with from Ballindalloch since the family acquired its reputation, and it is thus diffi- cult to indicate with precision the market value of the tribe. Young Viscount fetched 225 guineas in pubUc competition, and a female Erica was sold publicly in 1877 for over 100 guineas. We have heard of several female specimens of tlie tribe having been sold privately at considerably over 100 guineas, and Sir Georc^e Mac- pherson Grant has lately had submitted to him\n offer of 500 guineas for the first female Erica he can spare from his herd. The Ericas show striking uniformity of type, and display undoubted indications of high breeding. They are deep, broad, compact, low -set cattle, with short fine legs, excellent ribs and loins, beautiful quality, graceful head, and very rich cover of flesh. Princesses, Baronesses, Emilys, and Favourites. These four valuable and handsome families, cultivated f 364 THE LEADING FxVMILIES. by Mr Thomas Ferguson, Kinnoclitry, are the most closely- bred of polled cattle. They are descended from the Keillor cows Old Grannie 1 and Favourite 2, and, as we have already stated, there can be no doubt that Mr Hugh Watson practised in-breeding to a large extent, although, owing to the inexact manner in which the Keillor herd records were kept, it is difficult to give precise particulars. In 1839 Mr Ferguson purchased from Mr Watson, Young Favourite 61, out of Old Grannie 1, the foundress of the Princess and Baroness families, and Edinburgh 64, also out of Old Grannie 1, the foundress the Emily family. Shortly afterwards he acquired Favourite 2, from which the Kinnochtry Favourite family is derived. The follow- ing exhibits the line of descent of the Princess, Baroness, and Emily families : — Old Grannie 1, bred at Keillor in 1824. I Edinburgh 64, by Grey-breasted Jock 2. Young Favourite 61 , by Grey-breasted Jock 2. Emily of Kinnoclitry 588, by Old Jock 1, (Emilys). Prizie 586. by Black Jock 3. Beauty of Kinnochtry 595, by Young Jock 4. Miss Scott 913, by Hugh 130. Princess of Kinnochtry 914, by President 3d 246, (Princesses). Eliza of Kinnochtry 912, by Tiie Baronet 339, (Baronesses). The Favourite family traces directly from Favourite 2. Not only were the cattle at Keillor bred closely, but the same system has been continued by Mr Ferguson, sires having as a rule been obtained from Mr Watson, or bred from the Keillor stock at Kinnochtry. It will be un- necessary here to enter into a detailed examination of the : closely- rom the d, as we Ir Hugh Jthough, lor herd fticulars. 1, Young 3 of the 64, also family. 1 which foUow- aroness, inochtry 595, g Jock 4. )tt 913, hl30. MISti WATSON, JILT, A^'D KUTH FAMILIES. 365 pedigrees of the Kinnochtry families, as that has been done witli some minuteness in the notice of the herd. In the pedigree of Mr Ferguson's cow Eliza of Kin- nochtry 912, from whom his Baroness family is descended, we have an excellent example of the concentrated breedincr' of the purest of his cattle, all of which are noted for handsome proportions, length of frame, wealth of flesh, and vigour of constitution. The pedigree analysis is as follows : — 's. strath- j^- OltlJockl. more 5. j id. Old Grannie 1. ( s. Grey-breasted Jock 2. \d. Old Favourite. d. Beauty, bred by Hugh Watson, s. Old Jock 1. d. Old Grannie 1. 's. Hugh i" 130. 1 f s. Grey-breasted Jock 2. ( d. Old Favou»ite. / /s. Young Jock 4. 'e Is. Old Jock 1. 1 d. Octavia 331. f s. Grey-breasted Jock 2. ( d. Old Favourite. d. Beauty/ 505. \ ' s. Black Jock 3. \^d, Prizie 58(3. (?. Fav I,. s. Old Jock 1. Octavia 331, f s. Grey-breasted Jock 2. 1, I d. Old Favourite 1* I d Favourite 2 -' *• Grey-breasted Jock 2. \U. ia%ourite J. -^,, old Favourite. •ourite 2. ( s. Grey-breasted Jock ?. "( d. Old Favourite. Miss Watson 987 was purchased by Mr M'Combie of Easter Skene, and several fine animals are descended from her. Jilt 973 was acquired by Sir George Macpherson Grant, and became the foundress of an excellent family, the most distinguished members having been Juryman 404, Judge 1150, and Justice 1462. Paith 1169, before leaving Tillyfour, bred Madge of Portlethen 1217, the progenitrix of the ^larquis of Huntly's well-known Madge family, and Euth 2nd 1783, bought by Mr Barclay, Strocherie. In 1874 Paith 1169 was sold to Mr Ander- son, Wellhouse, Alford, and has produced some excellent stock there. It is a notable circumstance that these animals have all lived to extraordinary ages. Jilt 973 and Miss Watson continued breeding until they were sixteen years old; Ptuth is still alive and breeding regularly, although eighteen years old; and Madge was sold for 100 "uineas when over ten years old. KINXAIHD FANNYS, 3G7 our 2iiy of Wales 2ud 394. Prom tlie isted Jock 2. lUi'ite . isted Jock 2. lurite. ombie of ded from .cpherson b family, Juryman 9, before a 7, the 11 Madge Barclay, r Ander- excellent lat these Jilt 973 ley were breeding idge was I Kinnainl Fannys. ^ This family is valuable not only on account of tlie individual merit of its members, but also because by it is preserved one of the oldest and finest Kinnaird tribes It IS perhaps the case that it represents the earliest polled' strain of which records exist. The first animal of the family registered in the ' Herd Book ' was Old Lady Ann 743 and there is evidence that she was calved about 1820, four years prior to tlie birth of Old Grannie 1 Ihe family is represented by two branches, thus :— Old Lady Ann 743. Old Bell 98. Snmtella 329. Fanny of Kinnaird 331. Flora of Portlethen S44, Fomosa 1S6. Flora of Portlethen 244 was sold to Mr Walker Port- lethen ; and Formosa 186 was sold to Mr Scott of Easter lulloch. The following shows the composition of the lanny pedigree : — ,s. Southesk 34. is. Wattie 136. t d. Lucy G70. Fa: nv ok K;\x.AiHD 3 JO. (s. Colin 35. ( 'I. Old Bell 98. i ■'• ^}V\ *'>' ^f '■ Mnstaril, I'itliie (''. Old L:idy Ann. (s. Colin 35. /■'• Wattie 135. 'd. Smutella 329. -' ' ''" ^"'^' **""• (cf. Old Bell 98. -' i J^f';"^ ^y Mr Mustard. Fitiiit . ( d. Old Lady Ann 743. Old Lady Ann 743, we may here remark, is also re- presented by the Lavender family at Melville, Lavender of Kinnaird 1007 having been her great-gmnd-dauohter, and also by the Eebecca family nt Kaster Tulloch. ' \$ .Mil "ti-i 3G8 THE LEADING FAMILIES. Drumin and Mains of Kdbj Jaicijs. Tlie Lncy family, altliough now best known in con- nection with the i)rumin and Mains of Kelly herds, is descended from one of the oldest tribes at l^ortlethen. They are of the same strain as the bull Englan 208, for whom Mr Walker, Tortlethen, refused an offer of £230 from the Emperor Napoleon in 1856. The following exhibits the composition of the pedigree : — 'ci s. FyvielS. ^, , T , , (s. Groy-hreastrdJock 2. j-s. Old Jock 1. -( j(. okl'Favouiito. '• (/. Biea at Keillor. / s. Banks of Deo f s. Rob Roy of Leys 158. s. Sir Alexander ) 12. '( «'• Harviet of Leys 260. ((/. rortleUien Mustard 171. d. Miss Alexander 67S. ! Baads SijUls and Kates. The wonderful show-yard success of those two families is commented on in the notice of Mr Eeid's herd at Baads. The striking fact about the breeding of Mr Eeid's cattle is that Sybil 1st of Tillyfour 3524, and Halt 3525 (out of Kate 1947, the dam of Prince Albert of Baads 1336), were respectively after a son and out of a daughter of Eresident 4th 368. Isla 1965, another famous Baads cow, was a full sister of Sybil 1st 3524. We need not here repeat the statements made in the account of the Baads herd as to the prizes won by these cattle, or the high prices members of the Sybil and Kate families have realized in the public sale rings. In both respects they have established for themselves a i^osition in the front rank of polled stock. There will, of course, be some regret that the recorded pedigree is so brief ; but it must be^remembered that several excellent and fashionable fami- lies of other breeds have sprung into repute with quite as in con- lerds, is tlethen. !08, for ' £230 •llowing f Leys IDS. Leys 200. families herd at [r Eeid's It 3525 »f Baads daughter IS Baads leed not t of the I, or the iies have icts they he front be some b it must ble fami- quite as OTilEIi BALLINDALLOCII FAMILIES. 369 Short a registry. An inspection of the animals belonging, to the two Baads families-their remarkable family likeness their true polled character, and tlieir uniform excellence' -must have the effect of liberalizing o,>inion and supply.' ng a rebuke to those who may be inclined to maintain that meritorious specimens of the breed can be produced from only two or three lines. Other BallindaUoch Families. The most distinguished families associated with the BallindaUoch herd are the Ericas and Jilts, to which reference has previously been made. Sir George Mac- pherson Grant has, however, succeeded in rearing many • ^T^^l "^ ^}''' ''''''''' '^'^' ^'^^^ 'Attained no little celebrity. The cow Sybil 974, bred by Mr Shaw, Bo^.- fern, and purchased from Colonel Eraser of Castle Frase^'r had earned renown before she went to BallindaUoch' She produced there some good stock, although none of them have yet equalled the old matron's f^me. The Coquette family represents the old BallindaUoch stock, the dam of Coquette 1417 having been bred by the late Sir John Macpherson Grant. Crossed with the celebrated sires at Bal indallooh, it has produced good animals It Bad mdalloch is also preserved the Balwyllo Keepsake family tracmg from a somewhat famous cow, Keepsake 427 by I resident 205, bred at Balwyllo. The Lady Fanny family had its origin in Grannie 131, bred by Mr Grant Carnousie, the first of the sort that went to Ballin* dalloch being Young Mary 527, bred in 1852 by Mr Grant of Carron. This animal produced Lady Fanny 9 71 by King Charles 236. The Miss Burgess Lily, which has supi3^ied two first-prize cows at Highland Society's shows-Bertha 980, and Maid of Aven 2995-sprin.s from Miss Burgess 1198, by King Charles 236 this animals dam having been bred by Mr Burgess, Slack of 2 A " 1 1 i'),! 370 THE LEADING FAMILIES. Balliiiclalloch. The Nosegay family is another old Ballin- dalloch variety tracing from Nettle by Craigo 260. It i3 specially noted for its milking properties. Portlcfhcn FaiaUics. In addition to the Lucys and Fannys, several other families have been successfully reared by ^Ir Walker, Portlethen. The Ida family traces from Ida 651, by Fortitude 28, of the Kinnaird Fanny family, Ida's dam having been Inchmarlo IMaggie 301, bred by Mr Patrick Davidson of Inchmarlo. The Julia family had its origin in Jean 264, bred by Mr William Huxton, Farnell, and after the Keillor bull Adam 39. The Lively family sprinjd Balwyllo blood. The produce was^AIayfl;we 6 1 4 ^v^.o stood second as a cow at one of the Hi^h and So letys shows; but tlie animal placed before her havin' f lied to produce a calf, she actually obtained the first Mavflowt "'h "' 1 "^t"'^"'^^' '''''''y '''' «l-""o" from Ma) flower. Her daughter, Mayflower 2nd 1020 hv The Earl 291, lived till she was Seventeen year dd \and Lad> Ida a famous local prize-winner, is still alive and breedmg, last season's calf having been her JL^. To this hne sort belonged Blackbird of Corskie 2nd 3024 Montble ton was Young Charlotte 103, the first-pnVe • cow at the Highland Society's Show in 1848. st^w bred by Colonel Dalgairns, but came to Montbletto fl Tillyfour. At Montbletton she produced twin calves^ Twin Charlotte 609, and Twin Queen GIO, by the We ter Iintray Uill Fintray 125. These animals \veiVp"- Istbeliff T "f' '''^^^^^'^^'^^ - f-^ily. The Balwyllo Isabella family tracing from Isabella of Balwyllo 423 bred by Mr Fullerton, after Earl 0' Buchan 57^i mlin. ainec at Montbletton through the descendants of He rl Balwyllo 461 who was purchased by Mr M'Combie of TiHyfour and sold by him to Mr AValker. Heiress was a first-prize heifer at the Highland Society, and te stmL she represented furnished the last stock bull at Keil r-^ President 3rd 246, a half-brother of Heiress. I>oin the ow Jane of Montbletton 1266, by Black Diamond 464 sprung the dam of Innes 1934, the first-prize cow at the Aberdeen show of the Highland Society in 187-6. Th Victoria family at Montbletton traces from Victoria of Imtray 607, bred by Mr James Collie, Mid^leZ iintray, and doubtless inheriting the Wester Eintray . .'I 'I, 372 THE LEADING FAMILIES. > Maim of Kelly Families. The Victorias and Lucys, cultivated at Mains of Kelly, have already been alluded to. The other families reared by Mr Bowie — the Marthas, descended from the dam of Panmure 51 ; the Ardesties, from the Old Montrose herd ; the Guinea Pigs, from Mr FuUerton's stock ; the Jennets, tracing to Mr M'Combie's Young Jenny Lind 207; the Lizzys, going back to Brunette 745 ; and the Watties, from the Arrat stock — are fully dealt with in the notice of the Mains of Kelly herd, and their great achievements, the production of celebrated bulls, is detailed at length in that portion of the work. Easter Skene Families. Mr M'Combie's Miss Watson family has been noticed. Unfortunately several of the other Easter Skene strains are extinct. The one now most numerously represented in the herd is the Grizzle family, descended from a cow bred at Mulben. From it a great many prize stock have been bred. There also exist — although we believe not at Easter Skene— descendants of Mr M'Combie's cow Mariana 622. Mariana was after the Keillor bull Old Jock 1, and her dam Lady Clara 4 was after Grey- breasted Jock 2, and out of Old Grannie 1. The Miss Eraser family is descended from Miss Eraser 985, bred at Castle Eraser, her daughter Queen Mary 990 having been by the Kinnaird Dora sire Dc v.are 457. The Queen of Scots family springs from Quceii of Scots 1 2, a daughter of the famous Panmure 51. Driunin Families. Tne bading family at Drumin is probably the Lucys, to v7luch allusion has been made above. At the same time that the foundress of the Lucy family was introduced VARIOUS FAMILIES. 373 of Kelly, ies reared le dam of •ose herd ; ! Jennets, 207; the tties, from ice of the iients, the length in n noticed, ne strains epresented Lom a cow stock have )elieve not ibie's cow 7 bull Old :ter Grey- The Miss 985, bred 90 having 57. The icots 'li, a the Lucys, the same mtroduced to Drumin, Mr .Skinner puvchaaod Youn. lianiston 948 from Mr Bow.e, Mains of Kelly. ITon, her clesee.uls tl,e' oty ,!■ ""'""S ^'''"'«° nmnhovB was Sunshine 2ncl •«33, a cel..ljmted prize heifer, whose portrait appears in vol V. ot tne 'Herd Dook.' The iVincess fZi ; ^t Drunun .3 descended from Princess of Drun.in 950, hred hldZf f ^'"Y"''°''- ^"""''^''- Tl'e Rose family for tl e Drunim herd, but the pedigree of which was not ascertamed^ From this line was bred the famons heife 946 ^f.?' V'' ^^""""'^ f^'""y '-»' f-- «™ce »4b All these families of course owe much of their _ exceUence to the splendid sires used at Drumin. Castle Fmscr Families. Each of the Castle Fraser families has produced at teast one celebrated prize-winner. From the lilanche famdy came Bella Mary 1503, Mr Bruce's first-prizo of the Ldy famdy, was the first-prize cow of the Hi<.h- and Society in 1868; Mina 1009, the foundress°of tte Mma famdy, won the Cliallenge Cup at the Eoyal Korthcrn, and the first prize at the Highland Society in 1867; and Sybil 974, whose descendants are known and L'" ,f ?".™="°^ ™"> «>« Ballindalloch, Mulben, and Mo mtblairy herds, was the first-prize cow of the Highland Society in 1870. SotUcmay Families. Mr Tayler of Glenbarry has three well-known families —the Georginas and Miss Morrisons tracing from a purchase by the late Major Tayler about the ye°ar 1846 • and the Victorias, descended from Victoria of Glenbarry 534, bred at Mulben. Although these families have WJ^\ w 374 THE LEADING FAMILIES. been bred very similarly, they each retain distinctive characteristics, preserving the qualities of the original foundresses. The Georginas are probably the most noted, having produced Kate 2nd 1482, the first-prize cow of the Highland Society in 1874. Of the other two families tliere have also been several celebrated animals. ,: ! Westcrtovm Families. It will be sufficient to name here the families that were principally cultivated by the late Mr Brown, Wester- town, and refer for further particulars to the account of the Westcrtown herd. INIr Brown's families were the Duchesses of the Queen tribe ; the Lady Anns descended from Colonel Dalgairn's stock at Balgavies; the Boses and the Victorias. In every case the blood of Panmure 51 and the Tilly four Queens was very largely infused into these strains. Easter Tulloch Families. Among tliese must be specially noted the Duchesses, descended from tlie Keillor cow Old Grannie 1 ; the Kinnaird Fannys and the Portlethen Mayflowers, else- where referred to; the Kathleens, descended from Mr Ferguson's Ashmore herd, with a cross of Panmure 5 1 ; the Levitys, having for ancestress the first-prize cow at the Highland Society's show at Dundee in 1843, bred by Lord Panmure; and the Bluebells from the Upper Tulloch stock. Mulbcii Families. ' The Mayflower and Ellen families, bred by the late Mr Paterson, Mulben, will be found fully described in the notice of that herd. VAIMOL'S FAMILIES. 375 listinctive } original ost noted, :e cow of ither two animals. lilies that Li, Wester- iccount of were the descended the Eoses Panmure ly infused Advie Jioses. This family was founded by Old Kose of Advie 3104, bred by Sir George Macplierson Grant, after Craigo 260.' Tlie early members of the strain were by the welf-known bulls King Charles 23G, and Trojan 402, and since, tlie Balhndalloch Erica and Jilt bulls Elcho 595, and Jury- man 404, have been used, imparting the stamp of the Ballindalloch stock. 27tc Zura Family. This family, originally produced in Mr Collie's herd at Ardgay, was rendered famous by some remarkable show h-ifers— such as Zara 1228, of Battersea fame; her daugiifcer, Kate of Aberdeen; and her grand-dau-Iiter Pride of Alford 1778— all exhibited by "jMr M'Coml)ie of Tillyfour, and the last two bred by him. Duchesses, ie 1 ; the wers, else- from Mr imure 51 ; ze cow at L843, bred the Upper Fijvie Flower Fanuhj, This family is descended from Juno, bred by 'Mv Malcolm, Bodiechell, and after Angus 45. Fyvie Flower 1516 was by the prize IniU Malcolm of Brodiechell 209, and was herself a prize-taker. The family is charac- terized by exceptionally good milking properties. !i l.fH k ,1; )y the late ascribed in If \\\ ■I I Hi ^— ::::5S3C.a.'X. acstfir: ttj ■ '"-*t-::=3i« 370 I i\ f ! ^1 CHAPTEE XVIII. SYSTEM or MANAGEMENT. Littlo variety in system of management — Practice of various breeders — Air Bowie, Mains of Kelly ; Air William Fullerton ; Air Ferguson, Kinnoclitry ; ]Mr AVliyte, Spott ; Air Smith of Benholm ; Air Anderson, Wellhouso ; Air Eeid, Greystone ; Air Al'Combie of Easter Skene; Air Auld, Bridgend ; Sir George Macpherson Grant, Bart, of Ballin- dalloch ; Air Hannay of Gavenwuod ; Air Tayler of Glenbarry — Ex- periments in crossing by Air Wilken, Waterside of Forbes — Summary of system of management — Aletliods of breeding — Desirability of establisliing a few line -bred families — Natural characteristics of breed should be maintained. There is not mucli variety in the general system of management pursued by breeders of polled cattle. As a rule it is simple and natural. In the preparing of show- yard animals high feeding has of course been freely resorted to, but the great bulk of the breed has received little '' pampering " or unnatural treatment of any kind. It cannot be doubted that to this last fact the exceptional fecundity, general soundness, good health, and hardiness of polled cattle is in a large measure attributable. No race of animals can long withstand unnatural treatment, no matter how skilful it may be pursued. Breeders, as a rule, aim at having their calves dropped between the first of December and the end of March. Many come later and some earlier, but these are not in favour. There arc important advantages in having early IS breeders — Ir Ferguson, Mr Anderson, aster Skene ; t., of Ballin- jnbarry — Ex- !S — Summary esirability of ictcristics of system of tie. As a 5 of show- men freely ,s received any kind, xceptional hardiness able. No treatment, )s dropped of March, ire not in m irly REARIXG OF CALVES. 877 calves, and breeders are now endeavouring to obtain as many as possible before the end of February. Mr Alex- sTvs''Ht"f V'^'i"' '^ ''^"^ ' '^' '^^''' ^^^"^S breeder, says the best calving season is from December to the end of April. Early calves generally bring most money when sold to the butcher. Mr Bowie rears most of hi calves by the pail or "cog," giving daily at the outset one pmt, and gradually increasing the quantity till it reaches seven or eight quarts. Small quantities of cake S 'ti ^T^' ''' ''^^''''^^'^y gi^en along with the milk. The better sorts, perhaps intended for showinc. purposes, are allowed to suckle their dams for longer or shorter periods, and when weaned are shut up in°loose boxes and treated to all sorts of good things. Mr Bowie keeps his breeding cattle in moderately lean condition. He does not think it wise to serve heifers until they are two years old, as too early breeding checks their growth Few breeders of polled cattle were more methodical in the management of their herds than the late Mr William Fullerton. Writing in reference to the principles of selection which should be observed in a pure-bred herd he says : "I would say breed in line of course. Studv the docility of bulls and cows, and breed from ■good- natured beasts. You will know good nature in a calf- it is fmnJc, so to speak, even as calf. A full eye iz a fine sign of a beast too ; also plenty of hair if not over fine • JiigUersomcncss I don't like, nor a bull that needs two men to lead him. The touch of a beast's skin should be mellow and easy, and need not be very remarkably thin Both cows and bulls should stand well on their lerrs* Over crooked hind legs are not pretty, neither are knock- knees. Very wide hooks are not an Angus point, still they show off a beast. Depressed loins used to be an Angus fault, but this is now greatly mended. As to the head, who can describe it ? You know it when you see It good, to be good ; but the neck has so much to do in ' -i.i i Ki 378 SYSTEM OF MANAGEMENT. showing off the head, that Loth must he judged together, keeping an eye to a full neck-vein and brisket. A full thigh is good, hut the animal should not be double- hipped — a fault that has worn out. A neatly-l aid-in tail is a point of great beauty, but boxing-gloves at each side of the tail-head is not good, and is not Angus. A full rib is good, but it should not be like the side of a drum. AVhen a beast is in condition, if the point behind the shoulder is low and naked, a prize by that beast is not easily secured. The top of the shoulder is a splendid piece of meat, and should be full ; while the top all fdong should be broad and level, and w^ell covered, especially over the sirloin, the roast of roasts. The ears should be large, hairy, and not over wide set." I^Ir Thomas Ferguson, Kinnochtry, states that his calves suckle their dams till from six to eight months old ; and that after being weaned they get straw, turnips, and cake or bruised oats, in covered courts. He feeds the bull-calves in the same manner all the winter after weaning, and generally sells them in spring when they are a little more than a year old. After Mr Ferguson's heifers are ten months old, they get little food, excepting straw and turnips, until put upon the grass. Bulls are used when about twelve months old, and heifers mated v.lien about two years old, seldom sooner. He feeds liberally the bulls that are in use, but he keeps his cows rather lean than fa., in winter his cows before calving are fed in covered courts, with about 30 or 40 lbs. of turnips per day along with barley- wheat or oat-straw, o-enerally either of the two former, as oat-straw is scarce. After calving, they get three times as many turnips as before ; and in summer they are kept solely on the grass fields. Mr William Wliyte, Spott, Kirriemuir, informs us that his cows get a few turnips in the morning, and if the weather permit they are sent out to a hillside during the ogetlier, A full doiible- -laid-iii at each ;us. A de of a ; behind beast is splendid dl fdong ipecially lould be hat his months turnips, [e feeds :er after en they srguson's xeepting 3ulls are s mated le feeds his cows calving lbs. of at-straw, s scarce, irnips as ;he grass s us that d if the iiriug the IX BENHOLM IIKIJD. 379 day, being treated in tliis fashion till near calvin^ time wlien they get a more liberal allowance of turnips! Most of them are late calvers, winter keep bein- <.-enerallv scarce. Bullod. are kept in a thriving WorT^^ as the keep will permit, until two years okl, when they are removed to a different farm and receive better food but they are never forced till the last three or four months They are usually sold at about three years old when they weigh from 8 to 9 cwt Mr AVilliam Snnth of Eenholm, Kincardineshire, likes to Jiave calves in February and March. Calves are brought up on their dams, and are taken from them in August and September. Young bulls when taken from then- dams are put into small covered courts and fed on grass and tares until turnips are ready. They also receive 2 to 3 lbs. of linseed cake a day. Mr kith sells his bulls when about one year old. They should be ready for use at eleven to twelve months. Heifers are fed same as bulls, but do not get so much cake, and that onyin wmter. In summer they go out in the fields with the cows and calves, and do not get any extra feeding unless they are to be exhibited, when a little cake IS given to put a gloss on them. He does not thiiil. they require any cake, etc., to put them into condition-they are so easily fed. Formerly the heifers were served_ in April, but now, if possible, Mr Smith mates them in March, when about two years old, so that the calves may come in December, when they can be shown m y >ung classes ; but for those who do not intend exhibiting, he thinks it would be advantageous to serve ' old. At that age they are not so fat, and have more chance of gettmg in calf, and are quite strong enouoh Z breeding. Cows, after the calves are taken from ^h en m autumn go at large in the fields until they are put on turnips and straw, and placed into a small" court loose .1 2 !;ri! m "I' m i'^1 i ■Bbi I* I ! )\- 380 SYSTEM OF MANAGEMENT. ' I with plenty of sliclter. AVhen within two weeks of calving, th(V)^ are put in stall and kept there with tiie calf until the weather is niiltl enough for them to be again turned into the court. In summer they are day and night in the grass field. Show cattle are treated the same as the others, with the addition of a little cake before being exhibited. Mr Smith mentions an experi- ment in feeding. At one of Mr Hannay's sales he bouglit a very small heifer calf at £10, lOs. When she got to be nearly two years old, he did not think she would make a good cow ; so, to see what she would do as a feeding animal, he bought a two-year-old Shorthorn heifer, and a very good one she was, being better when bought than the polled. They were kept together under the same treatment until the Clu'istmns following, when they were showed at the fat show at Dundee. They gained the first prize, although under three years old, against all of any age. When killed, the polled heifer weighed 6Q stones 6 lbs. Imperial, and the Shorthorn GO stones. He always thought the Shorthorn consumed more food than the polled. Mv Smith thinks polled cattle should all be fat, and sold when three years old. If sooner, so nnich the better. Ho believes they can easily be made fat at that age with grass and turnips, and a little extra feeding the last three or four months. Mr William Anderson, Wellhouse, Alford, gives his experience as follows : — " I have been a breeder and a feeder of polled cattle from a conviction that they are the best beef-producing breed in existence. The polled animal produces beef of the best quality, and has the best cover of meat — more than crosses or any other breed — on the most valuable parts of the animal. You will get cross animals to stand higher on their legs, and bulk more largely to the eye than the polls ; but compare them closely, and especially the rump, loins, and along the well-padded back of the latter, and you will soon find out IN WELLIIOUSE UYAU). 7ee\\S of vith the n to be are d.iy atcd llie tie cake . experi- jales he /"hen she link she lid do as hortliorn Ler when er under ;ig, when . They cars old, ;d heifer uhorn GO onsumed :s i)oll^d ears old. they can turnips, nonths. Tives his er and a they are he polled has the her breed You will md bulk )are them Jong the 1 find out 381 why the butcher, who is the final and best judge, prefers the polled bullock to any otlier, and will buy a well-fed polled animal when crosses are a glut in the market. I have never bred polled animals for mere fancy purposes and liave never prepared them for breeding or fat-stock shows, but it has always been my practice to prepare a small lot of prime polled bullocks for the London Christmas market. I now think it would have paid me to Have given rather more attention to specially preparing show animals than I have done ; but I was afraid oi spoiling my cattle for breeding purposes, and I have never, in the management of my herd, allowed myself to depart from commercial utility. In preparing bullocks tor the London Christmas market, the first thing to attend to, after breeding from good, well-shaped, well-fleshed dams and sires, is the nursing of the calves. The calf should get milk for at least six months; but after it is SIX weeks old, if it is fed with the hand, the milk should be mixed twice a day with a small allowance of pottage made from bruised linseed or bruised oil-cake The quantity may be increased as the calf grows older and Stronger After the first six weeks the calf should also have a daily supply of cut turnips and straw. For the first fortnight the calf gets a small quantity of milk four tunes a day. After that it gets milk three times a day on to twelve weeks at least; and after about that age it gets milk twice a day, until it is weaned. It is then of special importance to attend to the calf well. Before it IS weaned it should be learned to eat lii seed-cake. It ought to receive at least 1 lb. a day of linseed-cake until It IS a year old, after which decorticated cotton-cake may be used with good results. In Minter, turnips should be given twice a day, and plenty of good oat straw. I give no cake either to yearlings or two-year-olds on the grass. They are pastured, and lie in the fields from about tl)e -0th May till — in the case of yearlings — about 1st 'l^M % ! 'I i, f-^ ii 382 SYSTKM OF MANAGEMENT. October; but two-year-olds are tied up, to l>e specially prepared for the Christmas market, about the end of August or the first week of September. When two-year- old bullocks are casting their teeth, they get their turnips cut, and, along with the turnips, 2 lbs. a day of cotton- cake until their teeth are up so that they can again eat the turnips, either yellows or Swedes. It is when they are rising three years old that I finally tie up my bullocks to prepare them for the Christmas market. When they are tied up at the end of August or beginning of Sep- tember, before turnips are ready, I provide an abundant supply of tares mixed with oats, pease and beans, to feed with. Such a mixed food, after the oats have come into the ear, is a very valuable diet. About the middle of September, in favourable circumstances, early turnips will be ready for use, and two diets a day will improve the feed. When the tares are done, which is generally about the beginning of October, I give 2 lbs. of cotton-cake a day to each animal, and three small feeds of turnips. A fortnight or three weeks later, a feed of bruised oats is added to the cotton-cake. By the beginning of November Swede turnips are ready for use, and that, along with a slight increase of bruised oats, as the state of the animal seems to require in order to thorough ripeness of fattening, constitutes the feeding until the animals are either sold or forwarded to the London Christmas market. I thus sell my polled bullocks at t\vo rising three years old. My weights average from 8 cwts. to 8^ cwts., though I have at times had animals as high as 9 cwts. or even 10 cwts. In my experience the polled Scot is the best selling animal in good times, and the best selling animal in bad times, and, as a rule, I get £2 a head, or even more, for polled animals than for crosses of the same weight ; and I am given to understand that the butcher can well enough afford that sum extra. I lately heard a statement of a leading Aberdeen butcher, that he could TX GKKY8T0XE IIKKD. 383 specially J end of iwo-year- ir turnips f cotton- igain eat hen they ' bullocks hen they g of Sep- abundant s, to feed :ome into uiddle of mips will prove the illy about )n-cake a •nips. A ?d oats is November g with a le animal fattening, ither sold . I thus ^ears old. though I . or even s the best ng animal I, or even the same le butcher y heard a he could give i,s. more per cwt. for a fat polled animal tlian for a iat cross, ])ecau,se in sliop use the polled animal, on account of smaller bone development, was a better cutthic. beast This on an animal of 8 cwts., showed a difference of value m favour of the polled bullock of £2 a head It may be asked if bullocks could be fed off at an earlier age, and the answer is in the affn-mative. liy a more iberal use of concentrated foods, and especially by -vine them cake on the grass, I could make black polls ^rim^ fat at two years old ; but it has been my habit to pipare my best cattle for Christmas, and as a whole I find the market at that time most safe and steady. In regard to the milking qualities of the polled breed, T think b^^eeders have rather neglected their duty. We have endeavoured to produce a model butcher's animal ; and we have sue ceeded in that, but we have not so well attended to the fos ering of the milking qualities of the breed. It is an undoubted fact-I remember examples myself-that the old Aberdeen unimproved polled breed were excellent milkers. There are among the breed good milkers still. I have cows that suckle two calves, and I know other breeders who have superior milkers also; but we have as already remarked, given ourselves more to producing the meat than the milk yielding animal, and that is the simple reason why the black polled cattle have not a better name as dairy stock." Mr James Eeid, Greystone, Alford, whose experience as a breeder, feeder, and exhibitor of polled cattle is of an extensive and exceptional kind, says truly, that while great care should be exercised in selecting and mating cows and bulls, it is also necessary that close attention should be given to the rearing of calves. The calf flesh he says, should be retained not by too much forcing food' but by wholesome diet, and by housing in good time, so a« imt to allow the hair to overgrow. The skin shonld jpt clean by grooming. The young animal should be k 384 SYSTEM OF MANAGEMENT. i i i 11 V I have plenty of exercise, and all food given in such quantities and at such times as that it may be eaten at once, and no portion of it left to get spoiled. If kept in a loose court or box, the animals should have a clean, dry place to stand upon at feeding time, while the bed should be dry and soft. It is well now and again to wash cattle with warm water and soft-soap, having them thoroughly well dried and rubbed afterwuuls. Mr M'Combie of Easter Skene says the calves meant for connnercial purposes are put on cake a month before being weaned, after which they are kept on cake all through the winter until next year's grass, which at Easter Skene comes away early. While being fed on the grass they do not get an allowance of cake ; but when they come off the grass as two-year-olds, they are tied up in stalls for a few months, and are finished off with a liberal supply of turnips and straw, to which are added three or four pounds of linseed-cake, bruised grain, and linsaed-meal daily. They are sold in the autumn or spring, weighing from 6.^ cwts. to 9 cwts. each. Mr R. C. Auld, Bridgend, states that while early calving gives advantages in the way of strong yearlings, it incurs great expense in keeping cows and calves during the winter and • spring, before the grass season comes round. He says that during the period of gestation cows should be kept on good pasture when outside, and fed on good food when inside; and that some days before calving it is well to take a small quantity of blood from them, as a preventive of milk fever ; and to have them closed up by themselves in a calving-box. Just after calving, the cows should be kept quiet, well " bedded " with fodder, and get a drink of milk-warm water and oat- meal. The calf should be carefully watched until it " gets its legs ;" and when the cow has been milked, a small quantity of the first milking should be given to the calf. He approves of cows being allowed to " lick " their calves, in such eaten at t kept in ;leau, dry ;d should ish cattle Loroughly es meant th before cake all which at 3d on the but when e tied up ff" with a ire added jrain, and itumn or ile early yearlings, es during Dn comes tion cows ud fed on ^s before lood from lave them Fust after ' bedded " L- and oat- il it " gets i, a small 3 the calf, eir calves, IX BALLINDALLOCII IIF.HD. 33- aud regards the process as useful to the cow herself .. . medicnial corrective. He brin-, „n fh. 1 ' ^ "" dams ■ bi,f if fi , = P *^"^ ^^^ves upon their calves are fond of this and Hiof ,> . , ^^^ ^^^ stofP« f l,nf 1 1 V ' ^ ^^ operates beneficially Re .states that his late uncle, Mr M'Combie of TiU Jr! end of til °- ^"""'"S "^''"y takes place about the laDal ?.. V '' *"'""S setons into their dew- aps) IS carefjilly attended to. Youn^ bull, nn^ In Sir George Maeplierson Grant's lierd at B-,Ib-„,),i loeh an, admirable system of managen.ent is^; S" I he calving season is made up of December „u T follow iiff months hnt ,> ^^ i, ■^' "'""""i ""d three behind " "'"^ ""' " *«" happens that cows fall behnid As a rnle, the calves are allowed to suckle their flams lor about six months. When housed It nf h cows are kept in loose-bo.xes, each cow Tav'n" fbo, to .insUak?bef:e b z ::ard"'-: 'i r™" '° .:r effort is made to retain tire I Z 'h 'Id not'll, '".I'"' fr> foil ^fc rj. -I . iic.-5ii, ana not allow them the Id f "' '"''"° "'" """^- »f "'^'' dams. When cold autumn evenings commence, care is takl to "^^0 all U,e cattle, at any rate all the young cattle. 2 B o , mi 1 1 Ki P-— • r 386 SYSTEM OF MANAGEMENT. : I r i! i i i l)ron.t,'lit into a house over-iiiglit ; and tins also helps to jnaintain tlie condition of the stock. Tlie young bulls ree gm,,. I try, a,, far ■,, I can ever to a lo«. the animals to lose the cal ..lesl, ^ d\ i .' t s v,ew I g,ve a little oilcake l,efore ami afte wea.^i ' Ihe calves here are all suckled; an,l after they are t,;; l^ays o 1.1 t ey are never tied up. b„t are allowed to , ..bo, t he hyre as they choose, clean staw heing s,,rc,< out l,el„nd the cows for then, to lie »p„„. i i" ilv^, a a caf injured hy this freedon. hei,!g acco.^. 'ft JJ I ule.= here are never ,,„t to the bull till two years ol 1. I disapprove of the practice of having then, served -hen only yearlings, as this, as a rule, dwar s tl ir growth a,.d weakens the constitution, probably lot of Lemselves and their descc.dants. It' is thj pra dee heir mothers ... fields separate f.-om the heifer calves and t he r mothers. I a.n also opposed to the use of yearlin" e, d,„g to lesson the.r s.ze a,.d destroy their sym,ne;ry, «i h a r.sk also ol unsatisfactory produce. The stock bulls hero are kept each in a loose-bo.x, opening' onan open comt, eo,ic..eted, and boarded around t^ a hdght o . 7 feet. In add.t.on to their access all day to these open c urts facng the sun, they are from time to time walked out for exercise. They are plentifully but plainly fed We sto>.e the turnips in Decembe,-, a,.d as thej arealway at hand and in good conditio.., the,-e is the le.ss need for supplementi,.g the ..atural foods. Ca.^e should always be taken to keep cattle free from draughts, and to mai^Ln 1 !' r m"; ^ t'" "'■•y ~"'^'''°"- I "'"'k a breedin.- sock should be kept habitually fron. getting into wh^t may be called poor condition, while over-feeding ou^ht to be eaually guarded against. Much caution is necessarv so as not to over-fatten two-year-old heifers for showing purposes. Indeed, it is questionable whether they should receive any extra feeding until they ai-e safely sjttled i, I 'I " Jl J Jl**^ rr 388 SYSTEM OF MANAGEMENT. I f ■ 1; ,1 I In reference to the reaving of calves, Mr Hannay ^vrites:— "I find that ^vith highly-bred animals they generally get into a frantic state ^Yhen the calve are suddenly taken off, and this has occasionally caused the best of cows to slip calf. Xow when weaning time comes, I always tie up the calf in sight of the mother for about a week, by which time many of the cows are dry, and all risk is avoided. Sometimes calves become dry m the hair and hard in the skin after being weaned. In such cases I cause warm oil to be rubbed well into the skin. This I have found to answer well, and also in most cases to be a complete cure for rheumatism." Mr Hannay gives special attention to the cultivation of docility and gentleness of temper, which have thus become a dis- tinguishing feature in his herd. He says : " From the big bulls down to the calves of two months old, the animals are used to be fondled and fed by all of us— even by quite young children,— and many of them come of themselves to ' speak ' to us in the fields." Mr Alexander Smith, manager to Mr Tayler of Glenbarry, says calves are dropped at Eothiemay from December to May, the best calving months being December, January, and February. The calves suckle their dams, and are weaned at from six to ten months. They get a full allowance of turnips and straw, with 1 lb. of beSi linseed-cake daily for the first winter. Young bulls are sold l:om ten to fourteen mouths old, and if calved in December and January they are quite fit for use in March of the following year. Mr. Smith gives young heifers the first winter alter being weaned a full allows ance of turnips, straw, and 1 lb. best cake daily. They run on the grass in summer, and the following winter they receive a limited quantity of turnips, straw, and water, with a run in a grass field daily if the weather is dry, as they are apt to lay on fat too quickly before the season of being mated, which is done in the latter end of IN WATERSIDE HERD. 380 Hanimy lis they Ive are used the ng time wther for are dry, le dry in ned. In into the 1 also in ni." Mr )f docility ine a dis- tn the big 2 animals -even by come of rayler of nay from hs being es suckle n months, with 1 lb. . Young i if calved for use in ^es young 'ull allow? ly. They \\\rass, until ) eighteen that they they have taste cake I give their lent, for a itock bulls In some nonths old, mother six checks the e advisable 3y are used [)f breeding jn set forth al cases the jdinii; have developing )ose3. The choice and uniform merit displayed by most of the leading tribes affords ample proof of the ingenious and methodieal manner in which they have been reared. But M-hile much has been done in the way of establishing tribes of high character, it is very desirable that more attention should be given to the building up of distinct, well-defined families of as pure line-breeding as may be found practicable. It seems to us that it would be well for the interests of the breed if there existed several herds or strains which could be regarded as refined and reliable fountains of that mysteriously beneficial influence ^vhlch may be generated by skilfully concentrating and assimilating the ever-present forces of heredity. With- out entering upon a discussion of the question of in-and- in breeding, we may remark that we believe it to be a most powerful agent either for good or evil. In com- petent hands it is perhaps the surest and shortest pathway to the highest pinnacle of a breeder's success. Unwisely employed, it becomes simply the broad road to ruin. We would not, therefore, desire that in-and-in breeding should be pursued by the general body of breeders. We would, however, rejoice to see a few of those best able, intellectually and financially, to under- take the work, following the example of Thomas Bates, the Booths, and other noted Shorthorn breeders, and establishing distinct line-bred families. We should like to see a few families reared in such a way as that they would not only be uniform in shape and character, but would also be possessed of one strong, unbroken, unadulterated, unvarying family current. We believe in the doctrine that "like begets like;" but if we breed from composite animals — animals containing several conflicting family currents, perhaps the living influence of dead ancestors we can have little confidence in the result. We cannot know whicli hkcncss may be produced — tliat of the im- mediate, or of more remote ancestors. Practical experience id I'! 1 I' .! I vn' h ■ s \\\i I 392 SYSTEM OF MANAGEMENT. and scientific reasoning both teach that no animal is so likely to reproduce an exact copy of itself as one that has been in-bred, or in other words, one that contains one dominant, all-prevailing family current. We therefore think that the existence of a ftw well-defined in-bred families of really high individual merit would help greatly to maintain, and even still further improve, the high character of the breed generally. These families would be as it were strong springs of rich, pure blood, from which fresh draughts might be drawn from time to time for the reviving and ameliorating of mixed herds. We are pleased to know that the importance of the point in question is being more clearly recognised than ii; has ever before been, and that by several breeders the higher and more scientific modes of breeding, to which reference has been made, are receiving greatly increased attention. Efforts, wisely and energetically sustained, are sure to produce excellent results, and we think we are not over-confident in predicting for some of our noted herds of polled cattle a future of great distinction and usefulness. While pressing these considerations upon the notice of breeders, we would also urge them to keep a jealous eye upon what are recognised as the established natural characteristics of the breed. We desire to see maintained its well-known distinguishing features, its typical symmetry and roundness of form, its hardiness and robustness of constitution, and at the same time still further developed its excellent beef-producing, early- maturing, and milking properties, as well as to have imparted to the 1) aed generally, and especially to the principal families, .i little more true high-bred character. All these are attainable objects, and with good men de- voted to the breed the great promise of the future of the celebrated polls of the North-East of Scotland can hardly fail to be abundantly fulfilled. 393 mal is so one that tains one therefore [ in-bred lid help rove, the families re blood, 1 time to herds. !e of the Lsed than eders the to which increased ined, are i we are ur noted tion and lis upon I to keep tablished e to see ares, its lardiness iime still y, early- to have ' to the haracter. men de- •e of the n hardly CHAPTER XIX. THE BREED IX THE SHOW-YARD. Achievements of the breed in the Show-yard-The Highland Society's Shows-Unique group of Tillyfour first-prize cows in 1864-FeatuL ofpolled classes at Glasgow Show in 1867- Aberdeen, 1868; Edinburgh 1869; Dumfries, 1870 ; Perth 1871; Kelso, 1872; Stirling, 1873'; Inverness. 1874 ; Glasgow, 1875 ; Aberdeen, 1876 ; Edinbur4 1877 ' Dumfries 1878; Perth, 1879; Kelso, 1880; Stirling, SSL-The Fat Stock Shows-Black Prince, the champion at Birniingham and wt n •" \'«'-^^n?."'' ^°^""^^ ''^^"'I''^"^ '' Birmingham am bmithheld in 1872-The Altyre Smithfield champions in 1881- Performances at French Exhibitions - Paris, 1856; Poissy 1857- Pans, 1862, and Paris 1878-The champion group at Paris in 1878. ' The position which the polled cattle of the Xorth-East of Scotland have taken in show-yards— local, national and international— has been almost unique. Wherever the breed has been well represented, it has attained marked distinction. It cannot be doubted that the splendid triumphs achieved by polled Aberdeen or Angus cattle in the principal British and French exhibitions have done much both to foster the im- provement of the breed at home and to spread its fame m foreign lands. By these means its rare intrinsic merit as a beef-producing race, and its truly handsome and uniform proportions, have been made known far and wide; while the sweets of victory in those hotly-con- tested fields in which the breed has won its chief laurels have operated as a powerful stimulus to its patrons, who' ■ ■in ' '' :[!; 394 THE BREED IX TUE SHOW-YAKD. r V f I i i 11 ? ; ill rearing their beautiful tribes of glossy blacks, have accomplislied work of a noble character aud lasting national value. Scotch and English Shows. liegarding the achievements of polled Aberdeen or Angus cattle in Scotch ar ' ^-orliah sliow-yards during the past twenty years, we i.r jeen favoured with some specially interesting notes oy Mr William Macdonald, Editor of the North British Agriculturist. These notes we shall present in the writer's own words. ]\Ir IMacdonald says: — "For several years prior to 1865 polled cattle, if not the largest, was one of the most meritorious features of the Highland and Agricultural Society's shows. The Tillyfour herd was in those years in its best form. At that time few could stan ^. successfully against the late Mr William M'Combie. Numerous were the honours won by those renjarkably fine animals, which traced their descent to Queen of Ardovie 29, Charlotte 203, Angus 45, Hanton 228, etc. Quite a unique spectacle it was to behold no fewer than five Tillyfour cows at the Highland show in 1864, each forward for the gold medal in virtue of former first honours in the cow class. Such a display testified to a remarkable succession of showyard achieve- ments on the part of the late Mr M'Combie. The follow- ing year at Inverness Highland show he crowned all his former National Society performances by carrying off no fewer than five of the six first prizes for polls. Than some of the Tillyfour females of that period, good judges maintain that nothing better and very little as good has. since been seen in the polled ranks. Pride of Aberdeen 581, for instance, when she came out at Aberdeen High- land show in 1858 with the first ticivct for yearlings on her head, made an impression which polled admirers have not yet forgotten. Her head, ears and neck, sliouldcrs, bosom, HiGULAxn SHOWS IN 1865 TO 1867. S95 and general character, stamped her at once in the estini-i- tion of experienced polled breeders as an anima! TZ irand fn ^ S'^'"'^'' «1«^«- And she maintained her grand form for years, winning in her classes all thronj tertticrHf ;::;:{ '"'" -«— '-"-"'«ng her chnrat ti,<. A„ , -,, lofav, and almost sweut lie Angus and Mearns country of polled cattle That disease was not so hard on the Aberdeen, Banff am strong that po Is narrowly escaped annihilation. At the Gla go^v Highland show in 1867, polled cattle were ve v easily accommodated. Only fifteen in all tC chss s Lo d Southesks Jupiter 471 had easy work in the a^ed bull class. He was a big, lengthy, substantial bull Ct so mce as h.s sire, the celebrated Windsor 221 whid cost 180 gumeas, the highest price which had ,^0 t en been pau publicly or privately, for a polled aim a^ V of r°r ; ' ^''^ "" ^'^^ remarkaUe, nor were any of the females, except the fine cow Mina 1009 and J? asei. Ihese two were compact, symmetrical and ajmrably brought out by Mr Hampt^,, and M hav tilt atT'' "? '" "'""'' ''""'''' competition, as they , d that and next year at Aberdeen in formidable con.panv h.gged, level, handsome cattle-the Jlinas and lively, which have since furnished several prize-winne., and have bred truly and regularly. ' "The following year, at the Aberdeen Highland show the polled ranks were again numerously filled°.n. Ll.I' patrons of the blaolv li 1^1: an nns got into better sj^iiits. If 596 THE BREED IN THE SHOW-YARD. the quality in every class was not quite as good as it afterwards became, there were numbers enough, and a sufficiency of general merit to stimulate breeders of polls, and from that period onwards the northern polled breed has steadily risen in public favour and increased in numbers over the country. For first honours in the old bull class there was a keen contest between Odin 2nd 499, from Bognie, and Clansman 398, from Eothiemay. The latter was the more lengthy, bigger bull of the two, but the former was rather finer in bone and more com- pact, and won accordingly. Clansman, however, rather improved during the next twelve months, and topped a very good class of aged bulls at the Edinburgh Highland show in 1 8 6 9. He was a lengthy, level bull of great sub- stance, with massive quarters, and a little white in the underline. After several years of valuable service at Rothiemay, he was transferred to Drumin, where he proved a splendid ' getter.' Easter Skene triumphed in the two-year-old bull class with Caledonian 2nd 409, a straight shapely bull of Mr M'Combie's own breeding. The yearling class was to some breeders specially interesting in that it was headed by the first animal that the late Mr George Brown, Westertown, exhibited after his valuable herd had been reduced almost to com- plete annihilation by pleuro-pneumonia, caught at the Dumfries Highland show in 1860. The animal referred to was March 355, a bull of exceedingly fine bone, great gaiety, well-covered rump, and deep hind quarters. He was not, however, very successful in after years at the Highland shows. His head was too short and thick for the Angus taste, and, excepting second at the Dumfries Highland show in 1870, he was not further noticed by the Highland Society's judges. He stamped his deep chest, strength of shoulders, perfection of hind quarcers, and, it must be added also, clumsiness of head, on his numerous progeny, several of which, nevertheless, were HIGHLAND SHOWS IN 18G8 AND 18G9. 397 as well as leading two-yeafoW J^ i ' :'™;;" If"' of Perth 357. second aged bull at St ," „ /sV.""'? hrst at Glasgow in 1875; and DucI.el'tl 044 Ih' T. two-year-old heifer at Kelso in 187^ ' '*" ^'''^ looking blooming and ladylilce took- th. 1 > ^ , ^^*' a good class of cows at the hIm J "'' "■°'"'"^' '" in 1868, where Mhnono ^S''*"^f»*' «' Aberdeen have been -,H„ f ^^OS) g<" the gold medal, and would for it. The t o-ytVoir .-f'"" T" '' P^™'"^" "> '^^ resnect th.t Z ^T- . f "' '='*'' '™^ noteworthy i„ lespect that it contained the first animil tl,=,f ^' from the Drnmin herd of M,- «l "^'"' ^^"' Society's shows t1 l,f ^'"'"''': '° "'« Highland nicely rouX in 7" , '' /^'^arkably good heifer, and since then with „ a- ^''^ *°" "'^ first ticket ; Brumin herd h^s Tet ^nn' S;UTr hist"™' '"-^ tutors to the national show The aL^ v. / "'""■ by her breeding propertie: ' augment theirerdH"'' '"' symmetry and quality captivated the ate i^ M'^o , r '" eye, and she went to TiUyfour for Ut T.'"^ "■'"iVtrS t "'' ''^'^ ^'ZJT'"' At the Edinburgh Highland show in ] SM ., was numerically a smaller turnout of bla ks l, , ': djd not suffer thereby. Clansman 398 as ah" d"" plained, ook the coveted ticket for aged buUs t t thit" maj. In the two-year-old bull class there was a ZZ derangement of anticipations Maroh ^T- "^f """s ..,.S.xi",,'!;i Iter ;-;:?:•- judges- '11 »7 308 THE BKKKl) IN TIIK HIIOW-YAIll). I price, and he was, to the astonishment of many, turneil ticketless to his stall, and the first prize bestowed on the Mulben bred bull ^ladcira, from Dunmore, who was second to March the week before at ^[anchester, as also at Aber- deen in 18G8. Madeira had a stylish head and neck, and stood higher than March, but he was not so well put together nor quite so fine in tiie bone. " It was a day of surprises. In the cow class the heavy, handsome, level-fleshed Sybil 974, from Castle Fraser, bred at Bogfern, was looked upon as a srie winner. The Angus men, however, seemed to think her rather less feminine-looking than Duchess 1st 930, from Westertown, who, being in a comparatively unfed state, was preferred, most unexpectedly by the lookers-on, for the coveted ticket. When examined after the judging, her thoroughly ' cow character ' and good milking properties, with nice shoulders and neck, went far to satisfy the critics. Next year she gained the challenge cup as the best polled ariimal at Aberdeen, though beaten in her class by Sybil, who, however, had gained that trophy in 1869, and was not again eligible. A massive, thickly-fleshed, heavily- coated heifer from Tillyfour topped the two-year-old class at Edinburgh, but she also failed as a breeder, and ' finished ' at the English fat shows. "Sybil 974 lived to fight another day, and won in a good class of cows at Dumfries in 1870, where she Fooked her best, and was followed by the three j^ear-old Erica cow Eisa 977, from Ballindalloch. Sir George Macpherson Grant shortly afterwards brought Sybil to Ballindalloch, paying 63 guineas for her at the Castle Eraser dispersion in the autumn of 1870. In the two- year-old heifer class Colonel Eraser's Lively 1164, out of the prize cow Lily 1114, made a hard tussle to repeat her first Edinburgh honours. She was rather small in size, but exceedingly neat and feminine-looking, and afterwards went at 67 guineas to found the valuable , turneil on the i second it Abei- d neck, veil put [ass the i Castle winner. ;her less tertown, referred, coveted n-oiighly itli nice . Next t polled ly Sybil, and was lieavily- year-old ider, and ,von in a lere she year-cld George Sybil to e Castle the two- L64, out ussle to ,s rather -looking, valuable niGlILAXD snows IN ]870. 3j),j Imt too short-lived lierd of the Marauk of it i Eventually, however, she had to .ivH- v ^t 1^ I'' S".::;,-:; *'"■'■"•■ • ■""• -«• ■» '» •:- - "In the bull classes the cream of the Iiononv. n f and l.e l.ad rathe.- much of bone but 1 r ""'' ' wealth of flesh were remaiknble V , "l""'"^ ''""^ «.-st. After ieaviurz,t:;i:Lr;r,nrr''^'' 404oftlw. T f -t " •^'''^^'=1»«»ay fomou. Juryman 404 of the J, t tnbe, from Lallindalloch, the „laee of }2 Wr"^ H^ fi-tappearanoe in the Uon^aUb:" iJumines. His frame was tlien, as always iust i trifle buThr:" n ''"1 -^"^^'^^^ "'-1-^ -the Too m :, ' out Ins quality under tl)P Ivmri i.- i . "M^uca, shouldersld Lne ^"d tll^If Sf '.J t ^'"^ popularly placed first, a Ballindafloeh 'd tu^r„: Eath't:^tix^:Li-£- .nouey ^i.es for cows on the U^S "o Vrtll 1871 Eisa was easily first, and a remarkably swee adyhke evenly, balanced cow she was. Meed i ha dly think that for genuine cow-character ouaTitv and symmetry combined, any of the Highland So'eJ^ I. Ill A ii\ m 'Ml i i f 1 1'. 400 THE DUEED IN THE SHOW-YAKD. winners since would favourably compare witii her. To the Ericas yet another premier honour went on that eventful occasion. linchantress 981 of Ballindallocli, an animal of no great substance or size, but of extra- ordinary sweetness, quality, and style, won the first ticket in the two-year-old heifer class. A neat little heifer, considerably under size, from Rothiemay, un- l)opularly won in the yearling class. The favourite for first honours was Duchess 4th 944, from Westertown. She ht^d revenge at Kelso the following year, where she was clearly the first two-year-old. The Rothiemay heifer had not growth enough to enable her to keep her place. "The cow class at Kelso in 1872 was a very good one. Six cows came from Ballindalloch on that occasion, the like of which I have never at any otlier time seen exhibited from one herd. They included Sybil and Eisa for the gold medals, and four beauties headed by Enchantress in the ordinary class. After a close pull, however, substance prevailed, and a Tillyfour, Charmer 1172, was placed first. She was very thick through the heart, and had a good, hardy -looking head, but she lacked the sweetness of the Ballindallocli cows that pressed her so closely. The Tillyfour herd was fortunate that day, for it finished with the test of a hard struggle in the yearling heifer class, the combatants having been Pride of Alford 1778, from Tillyfour, and Kate 2nd 1482, from Eothiemay. The former was as plump and as ripe as a pear, but the latter had more feminine character and a grand head and ears, and great promise. In fact, I con- sidered her one of the best yearlings that have appeared since Pride of Aberdeen came on the scene at Aberdeen in ;!858. The tables were turned as between these two heifers at Stirling in 1873, and Kate 2nd finished her National Society's career at the early age of three years, with full honours in a good class of cows at Inverness Hidiland show in 1874. IIICIILANI) SHOWS IN 1872 TO 1874. 40I " rerimps tI,o most attractive specimen of the polled Adrian^Vo ; '" i''' ^™^ "'« «--y-r-oldtul Adrian 4o9, from Fasque, bred at Portletl.en W„ followed Baron Settrington at Perth, but mpToved" iveed. II,s build was true, and his symmetrv and •luahty were very fascinating. His breedings,, "' ^ver were comparatively early at an end Size aTd substance earned Colonel of Castle Fraser 443 f,Tm I. dybank, and Scotsman 474, from Ballindalloch toX front m the two-year-old and yearling bull classes At Stirling the Ladybank bull, handling sweetlv but unk in the belly, and not symmetrical, won ," Kd lass, the more symmetrical but smaller Duke o Perth oo7 ranking second. Mr Bowie sent in Gainsborou" o96. a very well brought out, handsome bull hat wf 980, from BaUindalloch, with prominent shoulders bu splendid quality, was a fairly p„p„,ar UrTf^Z cows. A big, lengthy heifer, with a little white about the flank. f,om Easter Skene.-Young Grizzle 1807 was preferred in the yearling class ; but sl^ Lckea ;■;: Huahty to keep her position afterwards, although Je b d «ome very good animals at Easter Skene "The Inverness show in 1874 was remarkable for the fir appearance in public of two animals which live with their progeny founded highly nrized f.mn t allude to Sybil 1st of TiUyfour" ^4 "id fa t 3525 froni the same herd, which Jere the firs a'^ s d ti ' .vearhngs, and afterwards passed into the hanX of M wcome lamous. The yearling bull class, too, was topoed hy an animal hat turned out even a more notewortl v peeimenof the breed,- Young Viscount 736!!.he b ghest priced bull, and perhaps the be.,t InohV .ni^l of the breed, that has yet been shown; sa'ving^po" 1 .'la m THE BREED IN THE SHOW- YARD. Prince Albert of Baads 1336, first winner at Pertli, Kelso, and Carlisle in 1879 and 1880. These two bulls have been the best looking of modern show-yard polled males at anyrate. Gainsborough 596, in virtue of his symmetry and quality, won at Inverness over the much heavier aged bulls John Bright 642 and Scotsman 474. While on the same principle Mr Scott's Bluebeard 468, from Easter Tulloch, won rightly enough in the two-year-old class. "At the Glasgow Highland show in 1875 there was a select if not not a large display of the northern polls. The Marquis of Huntly's Westertown bred Duke of Pertli 357, and Sir George Macpherson-GrfvUt's Tillyfour bred Scotsman 474, were the only combatants in the aged bull class, and a protracted engagement they had. Scotsman was the bigger and the fatter of the two, and his head and neck, barring the objectionable * scurs,' w^ere decidedly better than his rival possessed. The Duke, on the other hand, had better synmietry and quality, with great neatness over the loin and hind quarter. Still the size, substance, and gayer head of Scotsman impressed themselves favourably on Mr Bowie, who, however, eventually gave way to Mr Ferguson and Mr Mackessack, and after nearly an hour's tussle the award was in favour of the Aboyne bull. Scotsman went from that show to the butcher, and the Duke returned to some years of useful service in Lord Huntly's herd. "Young Viscount 736, in a fairly good class of two- year-olds, looking compact and shapely, though less striking than he afterwards appeared, was a clear first. Sir Thomas Gladstone's Adrian 2nd 622, of handsome proportions but rather hard hair, stood second, and was then transferred to Mr Skinner's herd at Drumin, where he begot several prize winners. In the yearling bull class Lord Fife's Erica bull St Clair 1160, sired by Palmerston 37 -prize ull at the Highland ' at Pertli, These two show-yard 1, in virtue iss over the d Scotsman I Bhiebeard ugh in the ) there was ihern polls. ke of Perth lyfoiir bred 1 the aged they had. le two, and 5curs,' were e Duke, on lality, with , Still the impressed , however, lackessack, s in favour that show le years of ,ss of two- lougli less clear first. handsome 1, and was nin, where rling bull , sired by Highland HIGHLAND SHOWS IN 1875 AND 1876. 403 Zttlf !. ''^ '" ^^' ^^^^^-^^^^ ''^' that of cows, Erfcas werHf ^.""'^^^ "'" ^^^^ ^^^ Ballindalloch reZeTZ " ^'y -^^^-t - ticket, having been le^araed by the judges as somewliat deficient iS sub tiXf , , ^T" "*"' *^^ °>'°^«' for the premier ticket, closely pushed, however, by Lord Fife's very thick Jeep, and ,^,^^^ ^^^^^ q„a,,ered cow Corriemul f 17oi' Indeed 7"' T '"'" '''''' ''"' '''''^ "' -rvellousVa hty Indeed her coat was as soft and fine ahnost as a seaF^ Ihat, combined with evident milking and true breeding !S:ir^' '"'■ '"""=" -- p-haps than :!% nviting shapes, as was the case at Aberdeen the year 1 ltd Inilf" 'T'^'' *^"^"»« »"P - "- ^ been the T '. *°''' «°"'«""'l-ie then having been the runner up.' There was nothing verv re markable rn the heifer classes. Mr M-Combi^ of eIs e h d d the In r ^''^ '"'^ '°"S ''^^" f^'ou*, .BiacKberry 1813, who started well as a cow Sir rhomas Gladstone led ofif in a moderate dass o oidtr " '"" ^'^'" "' "■« ^^-"'^ p"- 1- yea:. "The Highland show of 1870 was held at Aberdeen • and there the turnout of blackskins was the latest a„"l' witnessed It then became the feature of the bovine sections of the yard, and made an exceedingly favourlble .™pre.ss.on upon visitors. It niay be doubted if the ar„e numbe. and genera, excellence of the polled animals t r :!".^lt''^.f r^' f-1-nt comment among ,1 ,,„.„ .u ,hc euitie Classes. One thing more remark- able than even the excellence of the polls; was prXwv ill ■•*^- :^r ;i! 1 404 THE BKEP:D IX THE SHOW-YAKD. the extraordinary success of the Earl of Fife's exhibits. With one exception, Lord Fife and his factor, Mr Hannay, carried all the firs*, prizes for polled cattle — a most won- derful feature in such formidable company. " Young Viscount 736 here looked almost perfect in form. Deep, square, and level, he lacked length of neck a trifle, but he had no other fault, and was ' head and shoulders ' above his compeers in the aged class. The shift to Drumin did not prevent Adrian 2nd 632 from again following Young Viscount. For his position Adrian 2nd was indebted to his remarkable depth of fore-rib and great fore-flank development. St Clair, also from Duff House, had lengthened out considerably since the previous year, and was a popular enough first in the two-year-old class. Mr Hannay, with Sir Wilfrid 1157, a very strong yeaiiing of Eothiemay breeding, and a future 100 guinea purchase by Lord Strathmore, was a creditable first in a large class, closely run by the Ballindalloch bred Jilt bull Judge 1150 of Paris fame, and also sold at a hundred guineas for exportation to Canada. " An immense class of cows was headed by Lord Fife's four-year-old deep, massive, wealthy cow Innes 1934. There was no denying her that position. Shapely and well brought out she was. Eva 984, from Ballindalloch, rather hardly dealt with the year before, got second honours, leaving third to the Easter Skene's Blackberry 1813, first as a two-year-old at Glasgow, as noted above. Mr Hannay won in a splendid class of two-year- old heifers with Ziugra 2471, a remarkably well brought out, well proportioned heifer, bred by Mr Hunter, Confunderland. She never, however, did much as a cow. Nor was the future sliowyard career of Mr Skinner's winning yearling Gaiety 2219 more successful, although she bred well, and is still a massive round-ribbed cow at Drumin. The favourite yearling heifer, with experienced e's exhibits. Mr Hannay, I most woii- it perfect in igth of neck I 'head and class. The I 632 from lis position le depth of It Clair, also erably since first in the ilfrid 1157, ling, and a more, was a Lun by the Paris fame, portation to ■ Lord Fife's nnes 1934. Shapely and allindalloch, got second Blackberry loted above, two-year- kably well Mr Hunter, )h as a cow. r Skinner's Lil, although •bed cow at experienced iiiGiiLAXD snow IX 1877. 405 "At Edinburgh in 1877 the superiority of the black- skms was maintained. Any falling off i numbera L compared with Aberdeen was not at the e~ o bulls CoTo °rr' ""* '" '* '-^'y ■''™"=" olas 'oraVd bis Colo, 1 ierguson's 1 00 guinea Main^ of Kelly bred r^^^taai roof 'r\'!r f™" ™ou, which hd revenge. The former winner failed to grow «o mu,-!, t'lit" b"'; '"' /'^ r "^^'- ^'- ^^'^f"" "»i - not only big but handsome, and won wifh " ""'^ ^ oomni^id tirt eTcfother T :' ■"'"'"'* ^""g^''"^" ">^y followed each other m the two-year-old class, although both were beaten, unfairly as many good judges thought, by Serip s S98, an Easter Skene bred bull from Fasoue X winner had plenty of substance, but he was 2 "o eve^ in the ilesh over the ribs as could have been desired and moreover, had rather prominent ■ scurs.' A .o! yearlim: bull class was headed by Warrior 1291, of jrHannav"^ breeding fiom the 111 guinea Eotiiiem y b..d p^f." cTw Heather Blossom 1703, and after the 225 guC buH Young Viscount 736. Warrior was thick, lep an uS ^"* 7'-'^''">' "--^t "•»? and haildsom'e' hi quaiteis. A few months afterwards he became rt,P Marquis of Huntly's property at 155 guineas, a, "roved a good stock getter as well as a prize-taker, althoiHi 1 e .he BaUindallocli Enca eowEva and the Baads-bred liilyfour cow Sybil 1st 3524, that made her first appear- ance in the Highland show at Edinburgh since her victory „i the yeariing class at Inverness i„°1874, had a bard pull for priority in a splendid class of cows, hill the protracted struggle, the veteran owner of Sybil, seeing du. the real pull was narrowed to the two, remarked to ■(! m IJ * ; .mm^- 406 THE BREED IX THE SHO\\'-YARr>. i L M i VM the writer, ' ]\Iind you, I could not say anything although the judgment went against nie there.' It was pretty much a toss up, but victory eventually went to Tillyfour, and without any complaints on the other side. " In the two-year-old heifer class, however, a very decided mistake was made in the awards. A heifer, owned and bred by Mr Eeid, Baads, was most unex- pectedly placed first. She had a calf at foot, but except that she had begun to breed very early, she had no other claim to the position over the excellent heifers shown against her by the Earl of Fife and the Marquis of Huntly. Mr M'Combie's Sybil 2nd 3526, daughter of the first-prize cow, was considered by many to have been safe for the first premium in the yearling class, but the judges, or at least a majority of them, preferred the rather leaner heifer from Drumin named Sunshine 2nd 3333. By future development as a heifer Sunshine 2nd justified the choice, although Sybil 2nd proved the more meri- torious cow. " The year 1878 will remain memorable in the history of polled cattle. In that year the late Mr M'Combie of Tillyfour achieved for himself a crowning victory, and for the polls a great triumph, by gaining the champion prize at the Paris International Exhibition for the group of cattle of any variety, and also the champion prize for the best beef-producing group, with four females and a bull bi-ed at Tillyfour. Sir George Macpherson Grant, Bart., of Ballindalloch, beat Mr M'Combie in some of the classes at Paris, and ran him hard in the group contest, so that the polled breed interest had, so to speak, on that important representative occasion, more than one string to its bow. Mr M'Combie's remarkable feat at Paris did more, perhaps, than a-v other single showyard perform- ance to bring the Nort_ of Scotland polls into national repute. The quarantine restrictions on the return of animals from France interfered considerablv \vitli the HIGHLAND SHOW OF 1878. 407 ing although was pretty- to Tillyfoiir, k .'• ver, a very A heifer, most unex- , but except ad no other ifers shown Marquis of dauditer of D have been iss, but the [I the rather 2nd 3333. nd justified more meri- the history I'Combie of ictory, and J champion r the group 3n prize for lales and a rson Grant, some of the up contest, speak, on ! than one eat at Paris rd perform- to national return of ' with the display of polled Aberdeen or Angus cattle at the i^umfries Highland show in July of 1 8 78. That circum- stance was possibly not alone to blame for the compara- tively small turnout at Dumfries. The distance of the show-yard from the stronghold of the breed also affected their muster prejudicially. In a moderately good class of aged buUs, the Tilly four bred bull the Shah 680, from Kmnochtry where he did good service, was a worthy first. He was big, lengthy, and massive, with good cover of flesh In the two-year-old bull class Mr Tayler's Sir Maurice lol9, bred at Fyvie Castle, turned tlie tables on Warrior i-yi, irom Aboyne, who was second, closely followed bv the Aboyne-bred bull Monarch 1182, of whom mo/e anon Size and substance more than character and quality, pulled Mr Cartwright's Black Prince 1244 to the front in the yearling bull class. Mr lieid's sym- iiietncal, little, ladylike cow Isla 1965, from Baads, was a distinct first in her class, and testified to the good material in the Baads herd, of which exhibitors had a taste in Inverness in 1874. Sunshine 2nd 3333 from Drumin, led away very easily in the two-year-old hei er class. She was really a grand two-year-old,, far better than slie was as a yearling, or than slie afterwards appeared. Deep-quartered, round-ribbed, full of hair of excellent symmetry and quality, she was perhaps the best northern poll at Dumfiies-I say northern, because the polled Galloways formed tlie leading feature of the bovine sections at tlie Highland show of 1878. Mr Fei-uson Kmnochtry, with a capital representative of his fine old 1 rincess tribe of Keillor descent, had a hard pull in the yearling heifer class, with a well brought out heifer from Easter Skene. To Kinnochtiy ultimately the coveted icket was sent ; and not unworthily so, for the Princess heiter had a head, neck, and front generally that were hard to get over. " Before I come to the Perth Highland show in 1870 ''I -'If u If: If '■•**f?^ m-' 1 1 408 THE BREED IN THE SHOW-YARD. I must glance at the polls exhibited at tlie International Kilburn show in the end of June of that year. They ^"^re necessarily few, but good. Young Viscount 736, .Jiich the previous autumn had become the property of Sir George Macpherson Grant at 225 guineas, was not to be gainsaid. He, looking a little paunchy, but otherwise remarkably well, gained the first prize in his class, and the champion prize as the best polled animal worthily indeed. All the bloom of youth and quality which the three-year-old bull Monarch 1182, from Aboyne, could command, failed to bring him in higher in such com- pany tlian second. The Pitfour bull Logic the Laird 3rd 862, first at Edinburgh in 1877, having lost form somewhat, was only commended. Madge 1217, from Aboyne, the dam of Monarch, was the winning cow easily, and also the best female. "At Perth Highland show, three weeks afterwards, Monarch was a sure first, followed by Sir Maurice, fron^ Rothiemay, which topped the two-year-old class the year before, but had become less even and compact than Monarch, who, barring a slight deficiency in thighs, would have been very bad to beat. Monarch was very Avell filled behind the fore-arm, and all over was much more than an average specimen, having possibly been the best animal from a showyard point of view bred in the Marquis of Huntly's herd. " The best polled animal at Perth, as at Aberdeen the week before, was Mr Anderson's Prince Albert of Baads 1336, from Daugh, Tarland, bred at Baads. This bull won very clearly in the two-year-old class, and was alto- gether an astonishingly good animal, big, handsome, and quality all over— rare combinations. Sir George Mac- pherson Grant came to the front in a really good class of yearlings with the splendidly brought out bull Justice 1462, the last calf from the seventeen-year-old Tillyfour bred cow Jilt 973, of kindred breeding to the Madges nteinational year. They scoiint 730, property of I, was not to -it otherwise is class, and :al worthily ' which the •oyne, could such com- } the Laird I lost form .217, from cow easily, afterwards, Lurice, fron^ ss the year apact than in thighs, i was very was much y been the red in the erdeen the b of Baads This bull I was alto- Isome, and Drge Mac- 3d class of II Justice [ Tillyfour e Madges HIGHLAND CHOWS IN 1879 AND 1880. 409 and Monarchs, all tracing back tlirough the Tillyfour herd to that at Keillor. Youth, and consequent lack of deptli of carcass and substance in the cow class were pit ed successfully against good type, great wealth of flesh, and no httle character. Three young cows had a hard run w.th Eva, from Ballindalloch: and' Madge, ront Aboyne Ihe judges ultimately left the elder^dr in the background but many looking on would have placed them m the order named first and second. Mr Ha inav's four-year-old Blackbird 2nd 3024, of Montbletton descent a sweet stylish animal, rather bare of flesh and li^ht of scale but full of bloom, w.s placed first, followed by Sunshme 2nd 3333, and Sybil 2nd 3526, the two latter retammg their Edinburgh positions of 1877. Symmetry and remarkable neatness pulled Sir Geor-e Macnherson Grant's Birthday 3373 to the front in a ver^ 4 a' d C breed and the prize ultimately went to Mr Hannay's dir n 1 76 ^" ''""n' '''''''' '''' '^^''^^"^ ^' ^^^^^ o 1. ; ""'^ ""'^^' '' ^''^ ^''' P^^^^' «l^^ ^vas able to produce a daughter to repeat the mother's performance The daughter, a neater and also fatter heifer than the mother was at the age, topped a large and good class of yearlings at Perth in 1879, though, fike her^^mother she never did much more in breeding showyards "At Kelso in 1880, unlike the Perth and Aberdeen experiences, the northern polls did not form the best filled bovine classes Numbers, however, were relatively shorter than ciuality. Prince Albert of Baads, after ™ni„g the first prize at the lioyal English sh^w at (.ariislea fortnight before, was an easy winner in the .ged bull class. By this time he had developed into possibly the best polled animal that has been shown in modern times, if not indeed at any time. His shoulders were a trifle strong, but he had not another faults Justice, from Ballindalloch, through a little iiohtnes. ^ inn ft; 1. m 11 11 < '11 1/' 410 THE BREED IX THE SHOW-YARD. vH '• iii round the girth, was unable to keep the premier position he secured at Pertli. The more colossal proportions and better filling up behind the shoulder possessed by Mr Ferguson's Princess bull Prince of the Ptealni 1695, from Kinnochtry, rightly enough weighed with the judges, and the coveted ticket went to the I'rincess instead of the Jilt tribe. Mr H. D. Adamson's Pride bull Knight of the Shire 1699 easily repeated his first royal honours at Carlisle in tlie yearling class, althougli at Aberdeen the week before a Drumin bred Lucy bull from Pitfour, here second, was put before him. The last-named bull, although lengthy and stylish, was not so good over the fore-rib as the Pride bull. " Sybil 2nd, formerly referred to, had even before the l*erth show become the property of Mr H. D. Adamson. And like every other animal that had constitution to stand liberal feeding, she improved in his hands, and at Carlisle Eoyal show she walked ahead of the Baads, Isla and the Drumin Sunshine 2nd, and again at Kelso stood easily first. Mr Skinner was in bad luck at Kelso as well as at Carlisle, and the Perth winning yearling had to be contented with a commended ticket on the banks of the Tweed. Lord Airlie's Pavilion 3772, of Mr Hannay's breeding and Drumin descent, the second winner at Perth, when she obviously had more outcome in her than the first, was invincible in the two-year-old class at Kelso as well as at Carlisle. But unfortunately she, like many other sliowyard heroines, died before she was able to add to a herd's numbers. Lord Airlie was also distinctly ahead of the others in the yearling heifer class with an animal of his own breeding, that kept her place next year at Stirling, and promises well for the future. This is Miranda 4204. "At the Stirling Highland show in 1881 the polls were once more the great feature of the cattle depart- ment. Prince of tlie Pealm and Justice fouglit their HIGHLAND SHOW IN 1881. 411 Kelso battle over again, with a different result The oimer not having been so fat and so sweet-looking as the latter, lost h,s place ; but had his advocates for the first premium although the extraordinary quality and the grand out-bringing of Justice left little or no room or cavil. Knight of the Shire 1699, by this time the property of Messrs Auld & Anderson at 145 guineas kepthis place in the two-year-old class, and looked compact and handsome. Mr M'Combie of Easter Skene had decidedly the best yearling bull in the out-eomin,. pecmen of that fine old herd. The cow class was no^ popularly judged. The Ballindalloch cow Maid of Aven 2995 placed first had a beautiful skin, and looked her be.st, but her shoulders were rather prominent to win in T-l'i^r^T^ "' ^""^ Tweedmouth's Pride 18th 4321 of TiUfour descent. This three-year-old, which cost lUo' guineas at Mr Adamson's sale the previous April and was second to Pavilion at Carlisle and Kelso in 1880 was generally regarded as the best in the cow class at btiilmg, although only placed third. The writer certainlv considered her the best, with possibly a little to spare Lord Airhe s Kelso yearling Miranda 4204 improved n In interval, and was clearly abreast of her opponents in the tw^o-yeai-old class at Stirling. The yearlin. heifer from Glamis, a 110 guinea purchase at Mr Ad^mso' sale and daughter of Sybil 2nd, was handsome, but "00 hick m the skin. I liked better the second he for from Kmnaird Castle, Essence 4547, a veiy s.veet Erica, tha V a good judicial bench at the Forfarshire show a week afterwards was placed before the Glamis heifer So much for the diversity of opinion among jud<.es ' ■• In the leading national fat shows, as" well as in breeding stock exhibitions, Scotch breeders and feeder, of polled cattle have during the last twenty years done much to bring their cherished variety into popular favoii^ la 18C/ the late Mr M'Combie occasioned no little / in! ■' I*' 'fill i ill 5 m< 412 THE BREED IN THE SHUW-YAUl). sensation by the exliibition of his ponderous four-year-old ox Black Prince, who carried the championship at Birmingham and Smithfield, and from whose sirloin the Boyal baron of beef for (1n-istmas-day was cut. The extraordinary scale, wealth of liesh, and^ymmetry of that noble bullock showed the public what witli time and c?/e the polls could be brought to. More important features and qualities in the breed had, however, still to be demonstrated. An impression got abroad that the polls were show maturers. In 1872 that erroneous idea was somewhat rudely shaken by the fact that the late Mr M'Combie carried the Birmingham championship with a tliree-year and some months old polled ox, bred at Tullochallum, Dufftown; and that Mr Bruce, Burnside, Fochabers, secured the Smithfield 'blue ribbon' with' a polled ox of the same age, bred at Achlochrach, Duff- town— five miles distant from tlie birthplace of the Birmingham champion. The Tillyfour ox was level and nice, but not so firm under the hand as could be desired. Indeed, he was a lucky winner. The Burnside bullock was riper, displaying more length, a grand back, but a rather light u'ulerline. The judging struggle, which eventuated in his favour at Islington in December 1872, was the most protracted and exciting that I have yet witnessed. It lasted over an hour and a half, and after all the ordinary set of judges could not finish it. Their breed partizanship apparently brought them to a dead- lock. Three fresh men were chosen, and in a short time they gave the fiat in favour of the Scot. *' Now and again since the polls have had a nibble at the 'big things' in the tat shows, bat the crowning effort as regards both polled superiority and early maturity was left to Mr Walker, Altyre, factor for Sir William Gordon Gumming, Bart. Mr Walker accom- plished the task only last December (1881), when with a pair of polls little more than two and a half years old ur-year-old ionsliip at sirloin the cut. The try of that le and cp/e it features itill to be the polls idea was 3 late Mv lip with a :, bred at Burnside, bon ' with ach, Duff- e of the level and e desired, e bullock ,ck, but a le, which 3er 1872, have yet md after t. Their a dead- lort time nibble at crowning nd early .^ for Sir I' accom- len with 'ears old I'KENCII EXIIIDITION I\ 1856. 413 Smithfield; wlule for the 100 guinea champion plate he con est ultimately lay solely between these two terred Th.t unexampled performance in thc^ Smithfield how history redounded to Mr Walker's credit, and a . the credit of the early maturing and splendid fl' 1 forming properties of the polled breed." Performances at Fnncli ExUUtions. In France the polled cattle of the North-East of Scot- and have on four notable occasions displayed their superionty over most other breeds-at the Internation ami « -7 ^' I ''^'''"'' ^" ^^'' Exhibitions of 185G and 18o7, we have been favoured with some very useful notes from the able and facile pen of M. F R de h Trehonnais, the well^known agricultural authority, who by his valuable work, entitled Hevue AgrloU de l^^etcrre, and by other means, has done'm.^h t make Ins countrymen acquainted with a-ricultuinl progress in the British Isles, more particularly^ ! " ^live-stock matters. At the first Internatfonal E^hi- b^i na Pans in 1855, no polled cattle were shown trom this country, but one bull of the Aberdeen or Angus breed was exhibited by Mens. Dutrone, who was tor many years a passionate advocate of polled cattle and who never lost an opportunity of extoll Lr u^: virtues of the northern Scotch polls. The "fl exhibited in 1855, which M^as awarded a premium was Monk 149, bred by Sir James Carneo-ie, o-oVby Bdna moon 36, and out of Meg 7 08. ^ The Exhibition of 1856 was carried out on a liberal hit; tfTV^ '' ""■ ^-^-"--ys:-'«itw:: l^appy thought, for in my long recollection of similar 'fiin i. •lii 4U THE BREED IN THE SHOW-YAKD. agricultural gatherings, both in England and abroad, I do not remember anytliing more splendid and successful than the great International Exhibition of 1856. It was held beneath the glass roof of that marvellous palace of industry erected in the most beautiful public gardens in the world, those in the Champs Elysees. On that occasion the Aberdeen or Angus breed appeared in all its excellence and splendour. That great champion, the late Mr M'Combie of Tillyfour, came forward with a lot of sucli perfection, as that I doubt whether those he brought out in the last International Exhibition in 1878 were of equal merit. Certainly the last lot did not surpass the former, and I well remember the laudatory and wondering remarks of foreign visitors w^hen passing round the stalls where the stately masses of the polled cattle were drawn in a black and imposing array, even and level, as if the cliisel of the sculptor had been plied over their grand fleshy frames. It is sufficient to name the exhibitors to give an idea of the excellent and complete representation of the breed. In the front rank, as remarked above, was Mr William M'Combie of Tillyfour. Then came Mr Hugh Watson of Keillor ; the Earl of Southesk, Kinnaird Castle; Mr John Collier, Panlathie, Forfarshire; Mr James Stewart, Aberdeen; Mr Allan Pollok, Ireland; Mr Eobert Walker, Portlethen Mains, Aberdeen ; Mr E. Wardlaw Ptamsay ; Mr Thomas Carnegie of Craigo ; Mr J. Anderson of Gillespie ; Mr James Beattie ; Sir George Macpherson Grant, Part., of Ballindalloch ; Pord Talbot de Malahide ; the Executors of the late Mr Scott, Easter Tullocli; Mr A. Bowie, Mains of Kelly; Mr John Hutchison ; and last, but not least. His Grace the Duke of Buccleuch, who showed some very fine Galloways." The muster of polled cattle, including a few Galloways, at the 1856 Exhibition numbered no fewer than thirty- nine animals — thirteen males and twenty-six females. In the bull class Mr M'Combie of Tillyfour won the first FRENCH EXHIBITION IN 18ii(3. 41 i) broiid, I do lessfiil than t was held of industry the world, casion the excellence late Mr )t of sucli rought out 8 were of urpass the wondering the stalls ere drawn as if the leir grand hibitors to ^esentation ,bove, was came Mr , Kinnaird shire ; ^Ir , Ireland ; n; Mr E. raigo ; Mr 5ir George : Talbot de tt, Easter Mr Jolm the Duke >ways." jralloways, an thirty- <. females. >n the first pnze--a gold medal and 900 francs— with Ilanton 228- Mr Lobert Walker, Portlethen, the second prize-a silver medal and 700 francs-with Marquis 212; Mr Hu^h Watson, Keillor, Forfarsliire, the third prize-a bronze meckl and 600 francs-with Strathmore 5; Mr James Beattie, Dumfries, the fourth prize-a bronze medal and oOO francs-most likely with a Galloway bull; the Earl of Southesk the fifth prize-a bronze medal and 400 irancs-with Cupbearer 59; and Mr James Stewart, Aberdeen the sixLh prize-a bronze medal and 300 rancs. Commendations (bronze medals) were awarded as lollows : Very high commendation to Mr R. Walker, for itaglan .08; the second commendation to Mr John Collier, Panlathie; the third commendation to Mr T^. Wardlaw Enmsay, Whitehill, near Edinburgh ; the fourth commendation to Mr John Anderson of Gillespie ; the fifth commemlation to Mons. Dutrone of Trousseauville near Dives, Calvados, France, for the bull Monk, already' referred to. It is thus seen that of the thirteen bulls exhibited no fewer than eleven received official recognition of their merit. Mr Hugh Watson's third-prize bull Strathmore 5 was sold to the Emperor Napoleon for 50 guineas Mr E. Walker's bull Eaglan 208 was actually placed third in the order of mert, but as, by the rules of the exhibition, each exhibitor could take only one money prize in each class, this fine bull had to pass down to the position of the animal most highly commended In the female class, the first prize-a gold medal and 600 francs-was awarded to Mr M'Combie for Charlotte : V !i^ f "^""'^ prize— a silver medal and 500 francs— to the Earl of Southesk for Dora 333 ; the third prize— a bronze medal and 400 francs-to Mr John Collier • the fourth prize— a bronze medal and 350 francs-to Mr E f o'VT ^'^'^ ^''^ ' '^'' ^^''^' P"^^-^^ ^^•^"-^ niedal and o 00 francs— to Mr A. Bowie, Mains of Kelly the sixth prize— a bronze medal and 250 francs-to Lord I Si',' s f if.n k ■■jim^^ 416 THE BREED IN THE SHOW-YARD. !l Talbot (le Malaliide; and the seventh prize — a bronze medal and 200 francs — to the Executors of the late Mr Scott, Balwyllo. The commendations (bronze medals) were awarded to the following exhibitors in the order given — viz. to Mr M'Combie for Bloomer 201 and for two other cows ; to Lord Southesk ; Mr James Beattie, Dumfries ; the Executors of the late Mr li. Scott ; Mr A. Bowie ; and Mr James Stewart. Mr M'Combie's beautiful cow Bloomer 201 stood second in order of merit in the class, but for the reason already explained could not carry off a money prize. On the recommendation of the judges, a special gold medal was awarded to Mr M'Combie of Tillyfour for the tout cnsemhle of liis collection of polls. The judges, in their official report on the polled cattle at the Exhibition in 1856, say: "The hornless breed, hitherto little known out of England, must have drawn attention in more than one respect. The specimens brought to our notice possessed in fact the following characteristic points : perfect honiogenity of race, beauty, richness, and regularity of form, softness of skin, mellow- ness in handling, the whole united to a muscular system sufficiently developed. They presented, besides, a con- siderable mass of flesh supported by a comparatively small volume of bone. We are aware, besides, that that breed joined sobriety to a great aptitude to fatten, and that it supplies the butcher's stall with beef of much esteemed quality; that it i)roduces milk in satisfactory quantity, is of sweet temper, and is also endowed witli prolific qualities." Special mention is made in the report of the tine animals shown by Mr M'Combie, Mr 1{. Walker, the Earl of Southesk, and others, and this interesting official document concludes by " demanding " a "grand gold medal for Mr William M'Combie as a testimony of particular distinction." The Exhibition of 1856 was confined to breeding stock, and the French Government, encouraged by its success, — a bronze he late Mr ze medals) the order 01 and for es Beattie, Qtt ; Mr A. 's beautiful 3rit in the d not carry the judges, 'Combie of of polls, illed cattle less breed, ave drawn specimens following ce, beauty, n, mellow- lar system .es, a con- iparatively , that that 'atten, and f of much latisfactory jwed witli the report ie, Mr 1{. and this jmanding " mbie as a ding stock, ts success, POISSY EXHIBITIOx^ IN 1857. 417 SHn'%'^?? '' f''''^ '" '''^ -- International cat IT 1'' ''''^' ^''''' ''''' '^^'^^^ for polled cattle m two classes-one for oxen above three years and tlllt w : ''"u '^ ^^'^^ ^^^^ ^°- '^^ ^^- ^^'" class theie were eight oxen, nearly all of the Aberdeen or ivlLombie of Tillyfour~one was 33 months old and weiglied (hve weight) 17 cwt. and 1 quarter; another "4 ritrif cTf'^'/'^T-^ ^^^^^'^'' 34'monthrand ^elghed 15 cvyt ; and another, age not stated, weidunr. 18 cw In this class Mr M'Combie won the first °S -^a gold medal and 1500 francs_as well as t e th rd pnze-consisting of a bronze medal and 1000 fr^'s the second pnze--a silver m^ lal and 1200 francs-goi g M James Stewart, Aberdeen, for a 35 months old ■ ^^;;"«<^^^^;veighing 15 cwts. The other exhibits" t ' young class were Mr William Heath, Norfolk, and Mr J Ivnowles, Aberdeen. In the class for oxen over three years* oH t^h^^^^^ were four entries. Here Mr William M'Com ofTillyfour showed two splendid oxen-one 53 months old and weiglnng no less than 25 cwt, and the other 48 months od and weighing 21 cwt. For these two he oba d the first and second premiums, tlie first consisting o a gold medal and- 1200 francs, and the second of a silver inedal and 900 francs— was awarded to Mr James Stewart or a 49 months polled ox weighing 21 cwt. The oth Hon e, Fifeshire, who showed a 48 months ox of the ialldand breed^^ 18 ewt. Commenting u^ w 1 ?r^ ""^ '''' ^"'"' ^^'^^'^^ for polled oxen Mr Wilham M'Combie obtained four: viz two firsts ' one fnnt^rtnTt'r^'' ^T^^^ '' ^^^^"^^ '^ ^^^^ irancs, or £178 sterling, with two gold medals, one silver ■'-^ -- Wnze medal. Never was there in nnv exhibi- ilH :n I'M •fi' D any i'jmm-^ 418 THE BREED IN THE SHOW-YABD. ill i !.i tioii tlie name of any individual exhibitor so intimately associated with a breed of cattle as that of the late lamented Mr M'Combie on this memorable occasion." An exhibition of fat stock was held at Paris in 1862, when tlie polled breed achieved a great victory. At that gathering a polled ox exhibited by Mr M'Combie of Tillyfoiir gained, besides the class prizes, the two great prizes of honour : viz. the great gold medal of France for the best ox in any of the classes of foreign stock, and the Prince Albert 100 guinea cup competed for between the two winners of prizes of honour for foreign and French oxen. That great " crowning victory " of the polled Aberdeen or Angus breed at the Paris International Exhibition in 1878 has been more than once referred to in preceding portions of the work. There were only fifteen polled Aberdeen or Angus cattle shown on that occasion, and yet in this small collection the race was, in regard to general merit, remarkably well represented. The late Mr William M'Combie of Tillyfour exhibited eight ; Sir George Mac- pherson Grant, Bart, of Ballindalloch, M.P., six; and Mr George Bruce, late of Keig, one. As evidence of the high and uniform character of the muster of polls, it may be stated that every one of the fifteen animals was awarded either a prize ticket or an " honourable mention " — dis- tinction not attained by any of the other sixty-four varieties of cattle represented. Then for the two £ 1 champion prizes — the one for the best group of cattle in the division foreign to France, and the other for the best group of beef producing animals in the exhibition. Mr M'Combie and Sir George Mac- pherson Grant practically had the contest to themselves. Each group had to consist of at least four females and one bull all bred by the exhibitor. The Tillyfour group was made up of a four-year-old cow, four heifers, and a yearling bull. The cow was Gaily 1793, that obtained intimately e lamented in 1862, At that ZJombie of two great of France stock, and r between ,nd French . Aberdeen hibition in preceding een polled m, and yet to general Ir William iorge Mac- ■; and Mr )f the high it may be s awarded on " — dis- sixty-four one for the 'ranee, and animals in )rge Mac- hemselves. males and four group fers, and a ,t ubtaiued PARTS EXHIBITION IN 1878. 419 an "honourable mention " in her class • u.ln'lo fi i •.. were bestowed in the class for yearlincr^s ivfr A/r mi ™ Paris 1473, the first pLe^iinf Tml^: a loci, group comprised the six anfmals shown from Ut heid-two cows eleven and seven years old, two ve^rW heifers, a three-year-old and a yearling bn 1 rf ° we. Eisa 977 and Eva 984, hormembers-of ' : Z' brated Erica family, the latter the winner of tbf ti !, pn.e.and the former of an .M>onourable mention ■ ^e heifers were Birthday 3373, and Maid of Aven 2995 to which were awarded respectively the seconrnlv ^ an "honourable mention." %he mulZtlTuto Sli-r/ir ''''-' -'"' "— ''''• — ^" th^e to uTvlZf"""^"-?^ ^ ^™"P °f ^'""*«™' belonging to Lady ligot, were drawn up for the final tussle for th^ £100 offered in tlie division foreign to France To adjudicating bench numbering 16, first voted as betw en 0, ner won by a larg. majority— 14 to 2, we believe 1> tween the two groups of polled cattle no divSn to Mr M C.ombie, whose beautiful young n-roun ha,l o, was evident to the on-lookers, captivatedMir ^e o^'u^^ S otcli judge, Mr H. D. Adamson, late of Balmd arn Alford, on whom, of course, the responsibiWy o the decmon mainly devolved. A jury of 31 gave the awarf in the contest for the ilOO for the best gi-oup of beef producing cattle in the exhibition. Mr MCombfe was declared the victor by a majority of 24 to 7 Th minority voted for a group of French shorthorns bl„ J, ! to Count du Massoi of Souhey, Cote d'Or. : li in ; u (<.l '6 .'stim^.. "^ ! [ I fi it 420 THE BREFD IN THE SHOW-YARD. The preference of the Tillyfour group over that from Ballindalloch has been the subject of considerable dis- cussion, and still, as at the time it was declared, the writer regards it as a point upon which there is ample room for difference of opinion. The Tillyfour group, as will have been gathered, had the bloom of youth on its side, while it was most skilfully and uniformly. The fine, gay young animals were arranged like steps of stairs, and the even proportions of the lot excited much admira- tion among the on-lookers. Tlie Ballindalloch, group on the other hand, lost in appearance by the inequality in size of the animals composing it ; but closely examined, its intrinsic merit, as representing a breeding herd, could not have been easily excelled. In the polled cow class at the exhibition referred to, Mr George Bruce won the first prize with Bella Mary 1503, a very heavy richly fleshed cow, bred by the iate Mr Dingwall Fordyce of Brucklay. Mr M'Combie stood second with the beautiful cow Sybil 1st 3524, bred at Baads. The second prize in the aged bull class fell to Cluny 1283, a three-year-old Erica bull of excel- lent quality. 421 that from ■able clis- [ared, the is ample group, as ith on its ily. The of stairs, [\ admira- group ou quality in examined, 3rd, could sferred to, 11a Mary I by the ^'Combie St 3524, bull class of excel- CHAPTER XX. THE BREED IN THE SHOW-YARD-— COXTIXUED. *' Senior Wranglers" We believe it will be found useful to have in collected lorm a note of the winners of the first prizes in the classes of aged bulls and cows at all the shows of the Highland Society at which prizes were given for polled breeding stock. A few remarks are added to assist in the identification of the various animals. These become more brief as regards the later shows, ample information being already criven as to recent winners. For the title and plan of this p^rt of tlie work we are indebted to the late Mr H H Dixon who drew up a similar sketch of prize Shorthorns at the shows of the Eoyal Agricultural Society of England. Perth, 1829. Bull, Black Jock, bred and exhibited by Hugh Watson, K.eillor. ' Cow, Old Grannie 1, bred and exhibited by Huah Watson, Keillor. ^ Black Jock has not been entered in ' Herd Book ' He was the sire of Grey-breasted Jock 2, and was the third bull named Jock used at Keillor. Old Grannie l,the prima cow of the 'Herd Book,' was i 422 THE BREED IN THE SHOW-YARD. one of the most remarkable animals of the bovine race that ever lived. She attained to tlie great age of thirty- five years, and produced twenty-five calves. Inverness, 1831. Bull, bred by Mr Robinson, Mains of Eden, near Banff, exhibited by Peter Bi-own, Linkwood, Elginshire. Cow, bred by Mr Aberdeen, Skene, Aberdeensliire, exhibited by Major Forbes Mackenzie of Fodderty, Cro- marty. Aberdeen, 1834. Bull, exhibited by E. Findlay, Balmain, Kincardine- shire. Cow, bred by Mr Walker, Suttie, Aberdeenshire, exhi- bited by the Earl of Kintore. Perth, 1836. Bull, bred and exhibited by Hugh Watson, Keillor. Cow, bred and exhibited by Hugh Watson, Keillor. Inverness, 1839. Bull, bred by Eobert Colville, Balnabreich, exhibited by Hugh Watson, Keillor. Cow, bred by George Leslie of Rothie, and exhibited by the Duke of Richmond, Gordon Castle, Fochabers. Aberdeen, 1840. Bull, bred by Mr Brown, Banchory, exhibited by Isaac Machray, Torry Farm, Kincardineshire. Cow, exhibited by James Walker, Wester Fintray, Aberdeenshire. INVERNESS, 1846. 423 >viue race of thirty- ear Banff, ieensliire, 3rty, Cro- ncardine- ire, exhi- eillor. sillor. exhibited exhibited bers. by Isaac Fintray, Dundee, 1843. Bull, Panmuije 51, bred by Lord Panmure, exhibited by A\il]iam Fullertoii, Mains of Ardovie, Forfarshire. Cow, bred by Lord Panmure, exhibited by Colonel Dalgairns of Balgavies. Panmure has been described as " the Hubback of the polled breed." Perhaps the complete accuracy of the phrase may be questioned by some ; but of this, at all events, there can be no doubt, that Panmure 5 1 stands in the same relation to the polled herds north of the Grampians that Hubback holds in reference to the early Shortho: n herds. A full description of his breeding is given m another page. After his success at Dundee" he passed into the possession of Uv Farquharson Taylor, Wellhouse, Aberdeenshire, in whose herd he was emi- nently useful, and to whom he gained numerous prizes. Colonel Dalgairns' first-prize cow has not been entered in the ' Herd Book.' A daughter of hers. Lady Ingliston 6 belonged to Mr. Ferguson, Kinnochtry. It was a striking' testimony to the excellence of the stock bred by Lord Panmure, that in the very close competition at Dundee this year, animals bred by him secured the two leadin^r prizes of the show. ° At the shows at Glasgow in 1844 and Dumfries in 1845, prizes were offered only for oxen of the polled Aberdeen or Angus breed. Inverness, 1846. Bull, Old Jock 1, bred and exhibited by Hugh Wat- son, Keillor. Cow, exhibited by Alexander Craig, Kirkton, Golspie. Old Jock 1, of whom the official return of the Hish- land Society simply stated that he was " aged 3 years I ''i'.'i ¥ .a-«^-V ■.^. 424 THE BREED IN THE SHOW-YARD. and 5 inontlis, bred by exhibitor," was regarded by Mr Watson as the best bull he ever bred. In a note we have from a well-known breeder he is described as " the best polled bull he ever saw." Other testimony is equally favourable to his merits. He was one of the most im- pressive of the Keillor sires, and the stock got by him, which were numerous, have been of the highest celebrity! In short, he and Panmure 51 stand in the front rank among the early polled sires that have most contributed to the improvement of the breed. Aberdeen, 1847. 33ull, bred and exhibited by Hugh Watson, Keillor. Cow, bred by William M'Combie of Tillyfour, exhibited by Eobert Scott, Balwyllo. The first-prize bull is thus entered in the official records of the Highland Society : " Aged 3 years and 5 months, bred by exhibitor." Unfortunately we know nothing more about him. The first-prize cow had for dam what Mr M'Combie lias described as " the first female of note at Tillyfour." She was bred by Mr Wilson, Netherton of Clatt. Sdmhirgh, 1848. Bull, Angus 45, bred and exhibited by Hugh Watson, Keillor. Cow, Young CHARLOirE 103, bred by Colonel Dal-airns Balgavies, exhibited by William M'Combie of Tillyfour. ' Angus was a pure Keillor bull, his sire being Old Jock 1, and his dam Old Favourite, bred by Huoh^ Wat- son. He was calved in 1846, not in 1836, as s'tated in vol. 1. of ' Herd Book.' Mr M'Combie (whose Victor 46 was second at this show) bought Angus for £36, and he PERTH, 1852. 425 i by Mr , note we 1 as " the s equally most im- by him, celebrity. )nt rank itributed dllor. ixhibited official s and 5 e know 'Combie lyfour." ^Vatson, Igairns, ^four. ig Old h Wat- ated in 3tor 46 and he became sire of those celebrated Tillyfour cows, Charlotte 203, The Belle 205, Young Jenny Lind 207, and Fair Maid of Perth 313. Of the pedigree of Young Charlotte nothing is known, except that the cow was bred by Colonel Dalgairns and was after Black Hugh 316. The judges speak in high terms of the animal. She was purchased at Mr M'Com- bie's sale in 1850 by Mr Walker, Montbletton, and a valuable family trace to her through her twin daughters Twm Charlotte 609 and Twin Queen 610, by Fintray 125. Glasgow, 1850. Bull, Earl o' Buchan 57, bred by William Cooper, Hillbrae, exhibited by William Fullerton, Mains of Ardestie. Cow, bred and exhibited by Hugh Watson, Keillor. Earl o' Buchan was bred by Mr Cooper, Hillbrae, Aberdeenshire, and was bought by Mr. Fullerton as a calf. His blood circulates through many good tribes as the sire of Isabella of Balwyllo 423 (the dam of Presi- dent 3rd 246) and of Lively 256, etc. Mr. Watson's cow was a daughter of Old Grannie 1. She was sold at the Keillor sale a non-breeder. Mr Ferguson, Kinnochtry, bought a daughter of hers, Glas- gow 58, but has now none of her produce. Perth, 1852. Bull, Young Jock 4, bred and exhibited by Hugh Watson, Keillor (Mr Watson also won the sweepstak°es for best bull with Old Jock 1). Cow, Bloomer 201, bred and exhibited by William M'Combie, Tillyfour. Young Jock 4 was after Old Jock 1, and was bought and used by Mr Ferguson, Kinnochtry. Of his sire. Old I H ril jw\ i -?. f':?I (W 4'2e THE BREED IN THE SHOW-YARD. I Jock, the winner of the sweepstakes, tlie ofiicial report of the Perth show remarks : " He was particularly reported by the judges as an extraordinary animal, and unrivalled for strength, symmetry, and quality, though now four- teen--[,3h;.ma ve ten or eleven]— years old. In fact he showed the perfection to which judgment and attention can bring this valuable breed." Mr M'Combie, with Bloome; 201, on this occasion commenced in earnest that extraordinary nm of show- yard success with meir.bers of the Queen tribe which has few parallels in the annals of cattle exhibitions, iiloomer was out of Queen Motlier 348, and after Mon- arch 44, a son and daughter of Panmure 51, bein- thus an example of close breeding. The cow was regarded by Mr M'Combie as one of his best. She bred some fine stock, chief among which may be named The Belle 205 and Mr Tayler's famoi;s bull Napoleon 257. " Bloomer was larger than Charlotte 203, but not so level and sweet nor so fine in the bone." It was this year that the polled Aberdeen or Angus cattle ehc ted the highest encomiums of the directors°of Society, and their pronouncement nndoubtedly stimulated the extension and still further improvement of the breed "The directors rejoice that this and preceding shows indicate a praiseworthy amount of effort and'ca- on the part of breeders of polled stock followed by a cor- responding improvement in the stock. They cannot but regard it as the most valuable breed of Scotland, combin- mg as it does in a great measure the constitution of the Highlander with the feeding properties of the Shorthorn " On this historic occasion Mr Watson, as we havb seen was first for aged bulls, and also gained the sweepstakes! JMr Bowie was first for two-year-old bulls with Cupbearer o9. Mr M'Combie was not only first for cows, but also for two-year-old heifers ; Mr Scott, Balwyllo, being first lor yearling heifers. INVERNESS, 1856. 427 As tliis is the last time Mr Watson's name appears in this list, we may note that he was able to send forward ten of our " Senior Wranglers." Berwicic, 1854. Bull, CuPBEAi^Eii 59, bred by Alexander Bowie, Mains of Kelly, exhibited by Sir James Carnegie. Cow, Windsor 202, bred and exhil)ited by AVilliam M'Combie, Tillyfour. Cupbearer 59 is fully referred to elsewhere. He was the first of Mr Bowie's great champions, and his progeny are alike numerous and excellent. He was indeed'' not only a splendid-looking bull, but one of exceptional im- pressiveness. There are credited to him in vol i. of ' Herd Book' no fewer than 38 calves. Mr Bowie had great success at this show, being first and second for •iged bulls, and first for two-year-old bulls. The animals were Cupbearer, Earl Spencer 2nd 25, and Hanton 228. Windsor, who deiived her name from the fact that she was first at the Eoyal English sliow at Windsor as a year- lii g in 1851, was an in-bred Queen. She was from Queen Mother 34.f! (by Panmure 51 and out of Dueen of Ardovie 29), and if^er Victor 46, whose dam, J an Ann 206, was also aft^r Panmui •- and out of Queen of Ardovie 29. As the dam of the biul Windsor 221, so famous in the Westertown and Kinnaird herds, and of lloh Boy Macgregor 267, the sire of that impressive Tillyfour bull Black Prince 366, she must hold a high place in thQ history of polled cattle. \\\ Invcrm&s, 1856. Bull, Hanton 228, bred by Alexander Bowie, Mains of Kelly, e.vliibited by William M'Combie, Tillyfour. f't ! ii,., 8 IP w n \ 423 THE BREED IN THE SHOW- YARD. Cow, Charlotte 203, bred and exhibited bv William M'Combie. Again a Mains of Kelly bull heads the list. Hanton, the sire of numerous celebrated animals, demands only a passing reference here. He was out of Lizzie 227, who had the Panmure blood through her sire, Spencer's Son 154, and after the choicely-bred Keillor bull Pat 29, a son of Old Jock 1 and Favourite 2. Mr M'Combie bought him for £105, and he was kept till he was eight years old, winning the great gold medal at Paris in 1856. When sold fat he fetched £40. Charlotte 203, got by Angus 45, and out of the Queen cow Lola Montes 208, stands in the first rank among polled matrons. After her victory here she was sent across to the Paris exhibition, where she carried the first prize and the gold medal as best of all the cows and heifers. On account of these distinctions, she is generally spoken of as the 'I Paris cow." " She was all over a sweet-looking, level, nice, touching cow, with fine temper. Whether lean or fat, she was always level without patchiness of any kind about her." Her most renowned offspring are : Pride of Aberdeen 581, Daisy of Tillyfour, Crinoline°204, and Empress of France 578. Pride, Daisy, and Empress were full sisters. Glasgoio, 1857. Bull, Druid 225, bred and exhibited by the Earl of Southesk. Cow, Nightingale 262, bred by Sir Alexander Burnett Bart., of Crathes, exhibited by Eobert Walker, Portlethen.' Druid, one of the many celebrated animals of Cup- bearer's get, was out of Dora 333, bred at Keillor. The strain seems to be extinct in the female line, but it was considered tlic best at Kinnaird. Druid and liis sire KDINBURGII, 1859. 429 William Han ton, s only a 127, who :er's Son •at 29, a ['ComLie •as eight n 1856. e Queen ig polled cross to rize and rs. On okeu of •looking, A^liether iness of ing are : ne 204, Empress Earl of Burnett, tlethen. )f Cup- r. The ; it was lis sire Cupbearer are illustrated in volume i. of 'Herd Book.' "As a two-year-old, there has probably never been a finer specimen of the breed. He combined large size with fine quality and a most excellent temper." Un- fortunately he was not very useful at the stud, but the stock after him were uniformly good. Niglitingale was purchased at Sir A. Burnett's sale in 185G for £32, 5s. On the dam's side she represented the old established Aberdrenshire herd of Mr Walker, Wester Fintray. She passed successively into the Tilly- four and Ballindalloch herds. Aberdeen, 1858. Bull, Standard-bearer 229, bred by Alexander Bowie, Mains of Kelly, exhibited by William M'Combie, Tilly- four. Cow, The Belle 205, bred and exhibited by William M'Combie of Tillyfour. Standard-Bearer w\as after Hatton 30, and out of Lady Ann 2nd 346. The bull subsequently passed into the possession of Mr M'Kenzie, Lyne of Carron. His fame has not been perpetuated. The Belle was out of Bloomer 201, of the Queen tribe, and after Angus 45. With her breeder she was a favourite cow. Edinhiirgh, 1859. Bull, Windsor 221, bred by William M'Combie of Tillyfour, exhibited by the Earl of Southesk. Cow, Fair Maid of Perth 313, bred by William M'Combie, Tillyfour, exhibited by John Collie, Ardgay. Windsor, a son of the Queen cow Windsor 202 and Hanton 228, was bought from Mr Brown, Westertown, for £150 in money, and the bull calf King Charles 236.' m ii*WtSteii^,. 430 THE BREED IX THE SHOW-YAHl). He M'as a very fine animal, with grand fore-end and back, and left a great many good stock, both at Westertowii and Kinnaird. Fair Maid of Pertli \vas out of Young Jean Ann 144, and after Angus 45. She was first prize cow at the Eoyal English show at Carlisle in 1855. Mr Collie bought her at the Tillyfour sale in 1857 for £86. Duhifrics, 1860. Bull, Young Panmure 232, bred by AVilliam M'Corn- bie, Tillyfour, exhibited by Alexander Bowie, Mains of Kelly. Cow, Pride of Aberdeen 581^ bred and exhibited by William M'Combie, Tillyfour. Young Panmure was after Hanton 228, and out of Crinoline 204, a daughter of the Queen cow Charlotte 203. The first-prize cow of this year. Pride of Aberdeen, was one of the best of the breed. She was out of Chailotte 203, and after Hanton 228. As a yearling, two-year-old, and cow, she was invincible at the national shows. She was the best polled heifer that has yet been seen, and she founded a tribe that has acquired rare value. Perth, 1861. Bull, Tom Pipes 301, bred and exhibited by Thomas Lvell, ShielhiU. Cow, Mayflower 314, bred by Alexander Paterson, Mulben, exhibited by John Collie, Ardgay. This was the *' ShielhiU year." Tom I'ipes having been the first-prize aged bull, and his half-brother Prospero 302, also belonging to Mr Lyell, the first-prize two-year- okl Pioth animals were after the Kinnaird bull Mariner KELSO, 1863. 431 md back, ?stertown inn 144, ;Iie Eoyal )ugiit lier M'Com- Mains of ibited by d out of otte 203. ieen, was Chailotte ■year-olil, ,vs. She , and she ■ Tliomas Paterson, ring been Prospero wo-year- Mariiier 148 and their dams were descended from the early estabhslied Leuchland herd. Mayflower was a descendant of the Mulben Iierd established in 1842. International, Battcrsca, 18G2. T/n'"c;K*Tr' ^^'^' ^^''^ '"^ '^^^'''^''^ V Thomas Lyell, Shielhill. w?r'''' \T^' ^'^ ^^^^^'^^^^'^^ ^81, bred and exhibited by William M'Combie of Tillyfour. Prospero and Pride of Aberdeen are referred to in notes on the Perth winners of 1801. The International show at Lattersea is included here, as at that exhibition the Highland Society gave the prizes for Scotch stock and did not hold their own show on account of it It was noted as regards this International exhibition that the two best females shown in the various classes were I ride of Aberdeen, bred by Mr M'Combie of Tilly- lour and Queen of the Ocean, bred Iiy Mr E. Booth of \V arlaby In one report of the exhibition it is stated : I ride of Aberdeen, five years old, closely resembles the first-prize cow in the class for Shorthorns, Queen of the Ocean three years old. The poll is, however, much fatter and there is the difference of two years in favour of the polled cow. When measured, these two very symmetri- cal cows correspond as to girth, height, breadth across loins, length of quarters. Both possess that mellowness ot touch and general levelness which distinguish the best specimens of both breeds." (( TT Kelso, 1SG3. Bull, Fox Maule 305, bred and exhibited by Robert ' aiker, rortlethen. if mMy SSSSrr- 432 THE BREED IN THE SHOW-YARD. ■ t f Cow, Nancy, by Hantou 228, bred by William M'Combie, Tillyfour, exhibited by Erskirie Wemyss, M.P., Wemyss Castle, Kirkcaldy. Fox Maule was after Marquis 212 (bred at Keillor, a son of Old Jock 1, and the sire of 28 registered calves). His dam, Matilda Fox 302, was after Cupbearer. We can give no further particulars than those stated regarding the breeding of Nancy. Stiiiing, 1864. Bull, Prince of Wales 453, bred by George Brown, Westertown, exhibited by Alexander Paterson, Mulben. Cow, Daisy 1165, bred and exhibited by William M'Combie, Tillyfour. Prince of Wales was after Prince Albert of Wester- town 237, a son of Windsor 221, and out of Paris Kate 309, bred by Mr Ruxton, Farnell. Daisy was full sister of Pride of Aberdeen, and was the foundress of the Daisy or Vine branch of the Queen tribe. Inverness, 1865. Bull, Champion, by Eob Eoy Macgregor 267, bred and exhibited by AVilliam M'Combie, Tillyfour. Cow, Lovely 1166, bred and exhibited by William M'Combie, Tillyfour. Champion has unfortunately not been registered. His sire, Rob Eoy Macgregor, was after Hanton 228, and out of Windsor 202. Lovely, also by Eob Eoy Macgregor, was out of The Belle, the first-prize cow at Aberdeen in 1858. She was first-prize two-year-old at Battersea. At this show ;Mr M'Combie gained five of the six first prizes offered. EDINBUEGH, 1869. 433 Glasgow, 1867. SoJ^lti'"""' '''■ ""''' ""'* ->"b''«^ ^y the Earl of Frr;fSere;.'''^''™^-''^''^'^^'^^ Colonel Qulr:;^^.r :rru.ffV"'' °" -^ ^■^'"•^•"» stance, but, like „,„;:f^,eBW^^^^^^^ •'""' -"^- I'ough in the Irnir >,nf ., 1 ^"''^^'M" «tocK-, was a trifle defect." ' °' '"""=''' ''''"•^^^^' to be a very grave an '^E^'l^f :f Kntef ™'^'"" ''' ^'^ -' "^ Canton from th cLtL ?' r, ""' °',«''»"^' ''-^-"^J Keillor blood! ' '' ''"' '''"'S^'y ^^^^ »" Aherdccn, 1868. Mc^l ofToS: "'"■ '"" ^""^ ^^■"'^''^'' ^^ ^'— "- of C^le'iw!''' '"' ■^'^ ^•^'"^''^'' ''^ C^l-ei Eraser -nici; .prang fro,n M;«:;;Li:::K,<;:^';^,,«>'^. Tilly four S^'s. "'' ^"'''" ^"" "'''^k Jock of Edinhirgh, 1869 Clansman was l)v Lord Soutliesk's Dor. 2e am o^ M a bull Damascus -!fper^ 3S3= 434 THE BREED IN THE SHOW-YAHD. 495, and out of Magdelina 817, thus representing one of oldest families in the liothieniay herd. Duchess 1st 930, was a daughter of the foundress of (he "^.Vestertown Puthess family of the Queen tribe. She was after President of Westertown 354, a son of Windsor 221. Dumfries, 1870. Bull, Palmerston 374, bred and exhibited by Eobert Walker, Portlethen. Cow, Sybil 974, bred and exhibited by Harry Shaw, Bogfern, Tarland, exhibited by Colonel Fraser of Castle Eraser. Palmerston was got by Jehu 362, and was out of Prima-Ponna 851, being thus a descendent of Nightingale 262, the winner in 1857. He passed into the herd of the Earl of Fife, and was a successful stock sire. Sybil \ 'as a very beautiful cow. She was after Black Prince of Bogfern 501, and out of Ann of Bogfern 530. Going into the possession of Sir George Macpherson Grant, ]5art., M.P., she won many other prizes, and was the I'oundress of a well-known Ballindalloch family. Perth, 1871. Bull, Juryman 404, bred and exhibited by Sir George Macpherson Grant, Bart., of Ballindalloch. Cow, EISA 977, bred and exhibited by Sir George Macpherson Grant, Bart., of Ballindalloch. This was the " Ballindalloch year." Sir George Mac- pherson Grant was first for aged bulls and cows, also second and third for cows, antl first for two-year-old heiCers. Juryman, out of Jilt 973, and alter Bright 454, was IXVERNESS, 1874. . 43, appearance. J ^ uy oeaiititul feminine AW50, 1872. exlSAX nl'^r^, r "^>'<-. Po.t.et.,e„, i^y oir J nomas Gladstone, Bart, of ra-^mvp The Thorn, and o.it of lovely of Tillvfo„r 1 ir« r n Queen tribe, the first-prize cow i,> I8C5 ' " Stirlinrj, 1873. teSS^x°C,°lS J^x^T 111' ';;l.^^ ^-'- Melville House "^ ^'^'''^^' Carbwright, 1867. ' "^^ fii'st-pr]ze co^y in Bertha, after Trnin-. ztno •, 11Q« .. . , -^ ^^''' ''^"^^ ^"t of Miss Bur Jenny 1017 was from the Montbletton herd thAV""vf"T-^°''f *'"■" ^^'^ fi™»°^^^ mentioned in p r ^ ^''fT""!^' ^^^^^l »° tewer than five first puzes The first-prize aged bull, the first-prize two-year- old bu 1 and the second-prize cow at this show, were of the BaUindalloch Erica family. Edinhurfili, 1877. Bull LoGiE THE Laikd 3ed 862, bred by Alexander Bovne, Ma.ns of Kelly, exhibited by Colonel Ferguson of P„-?'l' ^V^ ^^^ °^ TiLLYFOUR 3524, bred by Geor<.e of TmSn "■""""' """''''^ ^' ^^"^^^^ ^^^'C-"ie fnr^i°nA "'•' ^''^J'^ ^™ purchased from Mr Bowie lor 100 guineas. He was after Gainsborough 596 the first-prize bull in 1874, and out of Lizzie 4Th 2249 of the Mams of Kelly tribe of that name. This ^1 th<> a£d Zi: '"" "' ''' ''""'^'^ '^'■^^'^'"° -- «-' '^ ^ Sybil 1st of Tillyfour 3524, was after Sir William / 05 and out of Fancy of Baads (a son and dauMiteTof Resident 4th 368), a strain whicli rapidly acquS a high reputation in the show-yard and sale-rin<.. She was sold to Lord Airlie at the Tillyfour dispersion in 1880 tor 110 guineas. Dumfries, 1878. Bull, SiiATi 680, bred by William M'Combie, Tillyfour exhibited by Thomas Ferguson, Kinnochtry, Coupar-' — q' — » .^a^im^.. 438 THE I3KEED IN THE SIIOW-VAKD. Cow, IsLA 19G5, bred and exhibited by George Reid, liuads, Peterciilter. Shall was after Prince of Wales 2nd 394, and out of Pride of Aberdeen 5th 1174. He was the thirteenth specimen of the Ardovie and Tilly four Queen tribe that flourished among the "senior wranglers;" a success perhaps unique in the annals of any family of any breed of cattle. Isla was a full sister of Sybil 1st 3524, being after Sir AVilliam 705, and out of Fancy of Baads 1948. Perth, 1879. Bull, Monarch 1182, bred and exhibited by the Marquis of Huntly. Cow, Blackbird of Corskie 2nd 3024, bred by the Earl of Pife, exhibited by John Hannay, Gavenwood, Banff. Monarch was out of the first-rate cow Madge of Port- lethen 1217, a descendant of the Keillor Favourite 2, and was after Pluto 602. Blackbird 2nd is one of a race of splendid breeding cows at Montbletton, named the "Mayflowers. She was after John Bright 642, and out of Blackbird of Corskie 1704. Kclso, 1880. Bull, Prince Albert of Baads 1336, bred by George lieid, Baads, Peterculter, exhibited by liobert Anderson, Daugh, Tarland. Cow, Sybil 2nd of Tillyfour 3526, exhibited by Henry D. Adamson, Balquharn, Alford. Prince Albert of Baads was after Bachelor, a son of Bertha 980, the Ballindalloch first-prize cow at Stirling Reid, ABERDEEX SHOWS. 430 4tli d68 He was the first-prize bull at the Eoyal J^.nghsh show tiie same year, and was one of the finest polled bulls that has been seen in recent years Sybil 2nd of Tillyfour. out of Sybil 1st of Tillyfour .3024, the first-prize cow in 1877, and after Sir Garnet 684, was one of the Tillyfour champion group at the International show at Paris in 1878. She was sold in 1881 to Lord Southesk for 180 guineas. Both the senior wranglers this year were representatives of Mr Jieid s herd at Baads. Stirliiuj, 1881. Bull. Justice 1462, bred and exhibited by Sir Georr^e ]\Iacpherson Grant, Bart., of Ballindalloch. Cow, Maid of Avex 2995, bred and exhibited by Sir George Macpherson Grant, Bart., of Ballindalloch. Justice 1462 was one of the three prize-winning sons ot Jilfc J73, the others being Juryman 404 the first prize bull at Perth in 1871 ; and Judge, th^ first-prize bul at Jans m 1878. Justice was by the Erica sire Llcho 59o. Maid of Aven 2995 was out of Bertha 980, the first- prize cow at Stirling in 1873, and after the Erica bull Elchies 5 03. I THE EOYAL NORTHERN AGRICULTURAL SOCIETY. Second in importance to the Highland Society's shows are those of the Poyal Northern Agricultural Society at Aberdeen. Frequently indeed the national meetin/has been little more than a rej^etition of that at Aberdeen 111 so far as the sections for polled Aberdeen or An-us cattle are concerned. The most important conipetitiuns It •^1 440 THE BREED IN THE SUOW-YAKD. at the Eoyal Northern show are those for the Challenge Cup, the M'Combie prize, and the Family prize. On each of these we have had prepared information hich will be interesting and useful : — Challenge Cup, (Value £50, to be won three years in succession.) This cup was won in three consecutive years — 1860, 1861, and 1862— by Mr W. M'Combie of Tillyfour, and it therefore became his property. The successful animals were Pride of Aberdeen 581, Charlotte 203, and Lovely of Tillyfour 1166. A new Challenge Cup was obtained in 1863, and is still being competed for. The winners since that year have been — 1863. R. WA.LKER, Portlethen. Bull Fox Maule 305, bred by E. Walker ; s. Mar- quis 212, d. Matilda Fox 302. 1864. W. M'COMBIE of Tillyfour. Cow Daisy 1165, bred by W. M'Combie ; s. Hanton 228, d. Charlotte 203. 1865. W. M'Combie of Tillyfour. Two-year-old heifer Kate of Aberdeen, bred by W. M'Combie ; d. Zara 1228. 1866. No show in consequence of Rinderpest. 1867. Colonel Feaser of Castle Fraser. Cow Mina 1009, bred by Colonel Fraser; s. Black Jock 365, d. Grace. 1868. No show in consequence of Highland Society's show being held at Aberdeen. 1869. Colonel Fraser of Castle Fraser. Cow Sybil 974, bred by H. Shaw, Bogfern ; s. Black Prince of Bogfern 501, d. Ann of Bogfern 539. •^♦'i* Challenge On each h will be !on.) — 1860, our, and animals iOvely of d is still iar have s. Mar- Hanton 3red hy s. Black 7*B, show Pern ; s. Bogfem THE M'COMBI PKIZE. 441 1870. George Browx, Westertown, Fo abors for cow!^ ^IT ^"\T^ '^'' ^''' ^'''''' ^^ '^'^ «^^tion Cun n 1809, slie could not comi. te. he i 4 aw.uded the cup to the seconcl.,L winner L sH ;vg, Duchess 1st 930. This is possibly the o^ o. easiun on record when a Challenge Cup has oiecl by Mr Brown; s ^resilIpn^ •'•■^J. j n i of Westertown 927. ' ''• °^''"='' IS71. W DixowALL FoHDYCE of Brucklay, M P Bull M'Combie 430, 3 years, s'montls, and 18 1872. Geouge Brown, W .tertown, Fochabers. Lull Baron Se' frington 356, 3 years and 3 months ; ^2L:n"o27."''' ^- '''"' '''■ '■ ^-'-^ «^ 1873. Sib Geokge Macphersom Grant, Bart, of Bullin- clalioch. Cow Eisa 977, 6 years, 6 months, and U days: 1874 T 7r ''^''^''''' '' ^^'^J'^^" ^^2, d. Erica 843: 1674. IHE Marquis op Huxtly, Aboyne Castle Cow Dora of Aboyne 1282, 6 years and 4 months ■ bredby William M'Combie,M.P., Tillyfour; . Br git 454, d Vine of Tillyfour 1167 1875. The Earl of Fife, K.T., Duff House, Banff b J^i^ ^n? "^T"'''^ ^^^' ^ y'^'' ^"^ 4 months ; bred by A\illiam Duff, Hillockhead, Glass; s. Hamp ton 492, cl Erica 3d 1249. ^ 1876. No SHOW in consequence of Highland Society's show taking place at Aberdeen. 1877. William M'Combie of Tillyfour Cow Sybil 1st of Tillyfour 352, 4 years ; bred by George Eeid, Baads, Peterculter ; s. Sir William 705 c?. iancy of Baads, 1948, = m I ■>%, ,^. -''■■ v**----"^' IMAGE EVALUATION TEST TARGET {MT-3) k /, 1 445 CHAPTER XXL THE BREED IN THE SALE RING. Lord Panmure's sale in 1841--Mr Fullerton's sale in 1844-KeilIor sale ia llrt'r\^ "'^^''' ^'''' ''^' ^" ^«^0-The Auchtertyre sale in sale ■;; tr M uVi'-^'' ^™'^^ '^^^ ^^ ISSr-Inchn^arlo 860 MrM.;^ K-^^T^^'' ''^' '"^ 1857-Keillor dispersion in sale iiT m^ 'Zombie s sale in 1860-Kinnaird sale in 1861-BalwylIo sale in 1863-Kinnaird sale in 1865-TiIlyfour sale in 1867-Port- cthen sale in 1869-Castle Fraser s.]. in 1870-TiIlyfour sale in 1871-R^ecent public sales-Average for Prides-High prices for Prl'.'!7. «f 17- '' ^'' ^''^' Sybils-Prices for exported animals- rrices at 82 public sales. Much interesting and useful information regardincr the history of the breed is derived from a study of the catalogues and price lists of important sales of polled cattle Of many of the early sales we are without record. The first of which we have any notice is that of Lord Panmure, held at Brechin Castle in October 1841, when Mr FuUerton purchased the celebrated bull Panmure 51 for £l7, 17s. The next sale we know of was Mr Fullerton's, at Ardovie in 1844, when a number ot important transactions took place. Mr M'Combie of Tillyfour bought at this sale the heifers Queen Mother 348 for £12, 10s., and Jean Ann 206. Mr Bowie Mams of Kelly, here purchased Earl Spencer 24 and Mr Puxton, Farnell, Monarch 44, both famous bulls.' Mr Watson had a sale at Keillor in 1848, but of it we have been unable to procure a complete record. Mr M'Combie i-| 446 THE BREED IN THE SALE KING. il of Tillyfonr on that occasion purchased the bull Angus 45 for £36, and Mr Bowie bought Old Favourite, the dam of this bull and of Old Jock, for 40 guineas. The bull Old Jock 1 Mas also offered at Mr Watson's sale in 1848, and Mr Ferguson, Kinnochtry, informs us he was taken in at 180 guineas. Mr M'Combie of Tillyfour held his first public sale at Bridgend on 2Cth September 1850, and through the kindness of Mr Auld, Bridgend, we have obtained^a full price list of it. Mr Walker, Montbletton, bought for £35 the Highland Society's first-prize cow Young Char- lotte 103, that founded a well-known family in his herd ; Anabella, bred by Mr Walker, Wester Fintray, was bought by Sir Alex. Burnett for 29 guineas; Matchless (out of Matilda, bred by Mr Williamson, St. John's Wells) was bought by Sir John Macpherson Grant, Bart., of Ballin- dalloch, for 30 guineas, and Sir John also acquired Mie cow Young Mary and the bull Victor 2nd 47. Among other purchasers at this rather famous sale were Mr M'Combie of Cairnballoch ; Mr Taylor, Wellhouse ; Mr 'M'Combie of Easter Skene ; Mr M'Innes, Pandaleith ; Mr Brown, Westertown ; Mr Scott, Balwyllo ; Mr Morison of Bognie; Mr liuxton, Farnell, etc. The next sale was at Auchtertyre in 1863, when Mr Hugh Watson disposed of a number of fine animals. Of this sale we have a copy of the catalogue priced by Mr James lerguson, -'allunie. The highest price was paid by the Earl of SouLiesk for lot 8 (Octavia 331), the dam of Mr Ferguson's Young Jock 4. The price was 44 guineas. Lot 20 was a one° year-old heifer, entered in the catalogue as " by Old Jock, dam Beauty, the dam of Sir T. Burnett's famous bull.'' Lord Southesk bought this heifer for 39 guineas, and she was registered in the ' Herd Book ' as Emily 332. Emily, as our readers are aware, became the dam of Sir George Macpherson Grant's celebrated Erica 843. Sir Alexander Burnett, Bart., held a sale at Crathes Castle in May 185G. ull Angus )iirite, the eas. The 's sale in s he was ic sale at oiigh the ed a full ought for ing Char- his herd ; as bought 3 (out of ''ells) was 3f Ballin- Liired "^he Among were Mr 3use; Mr eitli; Mr Morison sale was disposed ve a copy ^^allunie. Liesk for s Young IS a one- )ld Jock, >us bull." and she Emily, L' George lexander ly 185G. SALES m 18G0 AND 18G1. , 447 At it Mr Walker, Portlethen. purchased for £32 5s the Fn Lfl ^"^7^^;^/;-nd out of Mary of Weste^ Tand SodS f ' '''' '''' '^^^-P^^^^ ''^ ^' the High- land Society s show at Glasgow in 1857 and h«. ll many noteworthy descendants ' '' ^'^^ Mr Bowie's sale at West Scryne, in 1857 was re 1 . anunal was winner of the first prize It the ZuLi .te "obtS t TuTrl 'Vf ^'■^»"' «"^''-- " iftPr Mr w 11 . .T, ' }^^- "^®™ Of Inchmarlo 522, the Mnlhen BUerfa'^. I^y^V^oUr:?: :[ Brjdgend in 1857, Fair Maid of Perth 313 o the Quee. tnbe, a very successful prize cow, was sold to Mr Colli iHi bflaw lor £20, her daughter Mariana 622 aoin" to Dr Garden. Balfluig, for £27; Jenny of TiilyfouTs53 ?enn:f;°°"- 'f "' ^ """""^^'^ "' ^^e Mains of Kely • outofrt^'" ^^ '^'''' '"' -621 ; Napoleon 257 out of the best cow and after the best bull fn the work m the op,mon of the e^poser," was bought by Mr t1 r Ids'trT " -^''J „^""''« ^''"»'- 232, X! hovv at nLf ''"'', of^ "' '^' H'SW^"-! Society's for £20 t »? "" .^^^*'' ^"^ P"^''^'^'! ''y Mr Bowie lor £20, being then three months old. The Keillor herd >vas dispersed in 1860. The most notable tri sac o^t there were the sale of Beauty of Tillyfour 2nd to M MCombie,and President 3rd to Mr ieslie, The lliorn ft: 448 THE BREED IN THE SALE RING. Mr M'Combie's next sale took place at Dorsell in 1860. Lord Southesk bought Empress of France 578, a daughter of Charlotte 203 and full sister of Pride of Aberdeen 581, for 60 guineas. Three wonderful old cows were sold at this sale. Lola Montes 208, one of the most renowned of polled matrons, was offered, being then fourteen years old, and was bought by Mr Bowie, Mains of Kelly, for 29 guineas. Windsor 202, her sister, as famous as a breeder of bulls as Lola Montes was of heifers, was sold in her tenth year to Mr Wemyss of Wemyss Castle for 40 guineas. Jean Ann 206, one of Mr M'Combie's purchases at Ardovie in 1844, and that had done good service at Tillyfour by producing the Victors, was sold in her seventeenth year to Mr Watson, Keillor, for 15 guineas. Nightingale 262, that had by this time been bought at one of the Portlethen sales for £68, 5s., was now sold to Sir George Macpherson Grant for 47 guineas. Heiress of Balwyllo 461 went to Mr Walker, Montbletton, at 53 guineas, and the money proved to have been well invested. Mr Barclay, Yonder- ton, took out at 32 guineas the yearling heifer Matilda 1712, after Hanton 228, and out of Lola Montes 208. It was at this sale also Mr Brown, Westertown, acquired for 19 guineas Duchess 927, the foundress of the Duchess branch of the Queen tribe, the animal being then a mere calf. Two very fine bulls were sold ; Garibaldi 707, out of Pride of Aberdeen, going to Mr Farquharson of Haughton for 33 guineas, and Tam o' Shanter 491, stated in the catalogue to be out of Maid of Orleans 508, but entered in the *Herd Book' as out of Lola Montes 208, to Mr Walker, Montbletton, for 47 guineas. The Earl of Southesk had an important sale at Kinnaird Home Farm in 1861. Some excellent animals were dis- posed of ; but it is a lamentable circumstance that only a few of them are now represented in the female line. This is doubtless due to the fact that many of the cattle were 'I TILLYFOUR SALE IN 18G7. , 449 at the sale was Uric., 84,' , , '"S''<^«'-P'-'<=ed animal rhe^on U„„t fo. J'et 1 ; ^^^'^ «-«« Mae- Bake 427 went to Mr Colli In ^'Y^'"^ ^"'P' Perdita 8i8, by whom thTw w °'''^' ^"^ ^^ S"i"«as. letheu is preseLTlw k ^'S'^'-S"'" family at Port- guineas. AmoT. ti,rb„n°"° ', '^ "^'^ ^""^^ f- 25 animals-DeTaware 457 ir ""' '''" ""^ ^"P"™^ Draco 338, told, uL^:.t° ;™' " ^«*^ S'^^"^; lour; Dan/ascus 495 To P„^, '^"'"""^'' ''^' "> ^"'y- «90. to Easter Uo,;^^:fiT7• ^"^ King Henry family. At Mr W it.' > " "*'''' "^ "'« """-a the hlhesTprice ^f 't "' """'""tton in 1862. of TiflJ onrTr ^l'"T'^ "^^ f'" "-^ ^r M'Combie foundress of the mZ:^^:.^'^ "^ '"« reference to the Kinnaird sak ofTsfin » r '''"''* '" increased force to tb^ p , , ,.° ''PP'"'^ ^"«' even Alice Maud 724 the bit?"" '^''^P'^''^'"" '" 1863. guinea, is allst\e of a^^^^^^^^^^^ '» «^ descendants. Eu<-e„ie 45S .nH .1'"''" ''""« f^"* stone, is also wortl ' ^ rep tse^ed in :; 'p™'" ^'^''- Mr Cran, Morlich bom-bt Vf fT , ,^ ^''"1"" '^''"J- Eclipse 78 1 n'e bnv ! 'f "^' ''»" ^^^'^yUo -'e in 1865 a^t;! •nyr;:cf:;!//""''^^^^^^ took place while rindern».f * ""^ ""'=''01 Empress of l4aLe 578 , T '■'°'°° "' "'^ '=»"'"y- to Mr Scott, E^ r T. lloe "ftlfi '"" °"' ~^ '°^ fortunate purchase bv Ct . ^?'"""- ^ "'°'-<= 186, of the Earn^ tribe w! "T? ""■ ™" ^»»°» sale a cow nan J ^: ol:;^^? T f' "'I Erica 843, and after Windsor 22 !' /'"'" "^ Alexander, Eeut, for 23 " „e.s An '^ '" ^' these Forfarshire sale, Inf , "-lamination of to the havoc mu'ht reT" T ' '^''^""""^ «« At tbA T.-ii ; ° , ^'■'^'''' ^y <='"tlo Plaaue At the MIyfour sale in 1807, Jlr Skinner: Drumin 2 F ' 450 THE BREED IN THE SALE RING. boiiglit Dandy 949, of the Empress branch of the Queen tribe, for 46 guineas; Sir George Macpherson Grant, Jilt 973 'for 70 guineas (highest price of the sale); General Forbes of Inverernan, Sylph 1774. of the Queen tribe, for 45 guineas; Mr Walker, Portlethen, Chaff 855, of the Crinoline branch of the Queen tribe, for 48 guineas ; Mr M'Combie of Easter Skene, Miss Watson 987, grand- daughter of the Keillor cow Favourite 2, for 33 guineas. Norraahal 726, from whom descends the Zaras, went to Mr M'Knight, Boghead, for 34 guineas; and Keepsake 427 to Sir George Macpherson Grant, for 27 guineas. At the Portlethen sale in 1869, the Earl of Dunmore purchased several of the highest -priced animals. Sir Thomas Gladstone bought as a calf, for 27 guineas, Adrian 439, that subsequently became a first-prize bull of the Highland Society. The highest-priced animal at the Castle Eraser sale in 1870 was Lively 1164, bought by the Marquis of Huntly for 67 guineas. The famous Sybil 974 was acquired by Sir George Macpherson Grant for 63 guineas, her twin daughters going to Mulben and Bo^^nie. This sale is notable as furnishing the nucleus of sev^'eral distinguished herds, such as the Aboyne Castle, Duff House, Brucklay, etc. At the Thorn sale m 1871, Colonel of Castle Eraser 443 was sold to Mr Cartwright of Melville for 48 guineas, and won the Highland Society's first prize. Among the noteworthy sales at Tilly four in 1871, was that of Dora 1282 to the Marquis of Huntly for 49 guineas. This cow afterwards gained the first prize at the Highland Society's show. Here Pride of Mulben 1919 was sold as a calf to Mr Paterson, Mulben, for 29 guineas, and Madge 1217, as a calf, to Mr Walker, Portlethen, for 15 guineas. The highest average that had up to this time been obtained was realized at Mr Tayler's sale at Eothiemay in 1872 when 30 head made £32, 6s. The highest price was 60 guineas, for the cow Nicety 1076, bought IIKOENT I'UBUC SALES. 44, highest n„ce, 60 guineas, was given by the Earl of Rfe H„n ?, ' *" ''^^^S-^ «f o^r -£40 was realized Lord Hm,tly taking Gem 1595, of tl,e Pride family for 70 guineas. At Portlethen m 1874, Lord Huntly bou-dit the famous cow Madge 1217 for 51 guineas " Ihe transactions at subsequent sales enter oloselv into he current history of the breed, and will be found deta^d n the notices of the various herds. We may iust note the outstanding features. .The highest prio % d fofa polled animal at a public sale up to the date of its occur when 7", f?' 1 "" ^-'-'°-" d-persion in I87I Perth 3/7 ^TT: "'r""'' *■» «>^ bull Duke of b.!bvf fi . *^""'"' <"«P«"'™ in 1876 was pro- bably the first occasion when there was a decided run bv 01 me rtide ot Aberdeen family averagin.' over ifiS wh;i„ the general average of the sale%vas M HHi avelt year. At the TuUochallum dispersion in 1877 the Erica cow Miss Macpherson 1252 brought 90 guineas The Erica cow Erica 4th 1697 mi,l»ini "^ ^^ "Ihe Corskie sale. Heathe!.'Bj* ms"'Z:e,'\Ti gameas; Warrior 1291, 155 guineas; and S tlllL at which prices went into the " three fi ' Banffshire, polled cattle in, 29, 66. 13ison, 35. > . . Bos frontosus, 2. longifrons, 2, 4, 9. taurus, 6, 8. trochoceros, 2. urus, 2-9. Breeding, principles of, 390-selection T. ^•?-' t ^^^ ancient nations, 16. British cattle, origin of, 7-9, 25. Buchan, polled cattle in, 33, 34, 36. Cadzow Park wild cattle, 19, Cassar on the Bos urus, 2. ^^390^' ^'^oPPiHg and rearing of, 376- ^ wf'S^^T.-o^^'^'''"'' °° Kinnaird III ^^S-on Balwyllo herd, 156- Cattle rearing, early improvement in, Cliaracteristics of ancient Ang.'s dod- dies, 72— of ancient Buchan humlies. r./f~of ""proved polled breed, 76. Chilling.iam wild cattle, 6. mure (^[),'^97"' '" ""'"''^^'^ «^ ^^»- Colour of polled breed, 76. Darwin on loss of horns, 12 Domestic cattle, origin of^ 1, 6, 8, Fife breed of cattle, 47. Foreign countries, the breed in, 339. Forfarshire, polled cattle in. 27 456 INDEX. Fiillerton, tlie late Mr William, 58— on breeding of Black Meg (776) and runmure (51), 92-97. Galloway polled cattle, 21, 26— in Aberdeenshire, 36, 39, 41— in For- farshire, 33, Herds in Scotland— Altergeldie Mains, 181. Aberlour Mains, 181. Aboyne Castle, 1G7. Altyre, 183. Aquorthies, 311. Ardgay, 163. Ardhuncart, 184. Ardovie, 113, 116. Arratsniill, 178. Auchindellan, 312. Auchlin,312. Aiichlossan, 179. Anchmaliddy, 312, Auchorachan, 179, 185. Aytoun, 313. Baads, 187. Balfluig, 313. Balgreen, 313. Balhaggardy, 314. Ballindalloch, 60, 97, 190. Ballintomb, 197. Ballunie, 198. Balquhain, 199, 201. Balquharn, 74, 173. Balvenie, 314. Balwyllo, 58, 156, 164. Benholm Castle, 201. Bents, 314.i Blairshinnoch, 202. Bogarrow, 314. Boghead, 315. Bognie, 176. Brucehill, 315. Burnside (Kintore), 315. Cairdseat, 208. Cairnfield, 315. Cardney, 316. Castle Craig, 315. Castle Eraser, 165, 167. Clinterty, 209. Collithie, 210. Coniniieston, ?,16. Conglass, 212. Cortachy, 214. Craigo, 178. Crathes, 178. Cullen House, 316. Dainiore, 316. Daiigh, 316. Drunifergue, 216. Druniin, 217. Duff House, 170. I ear Earnside, 220. Easter Skene, 223. Easter TuUoch, 226, East Town, 222. Ecclesgreig, 316. Fasque, 228. Fernyflatt, 177. Fintray, 229. Fyvie Castle, 174. Garline, 178. Gavenwood, 230. Glaniis, 234. Glencorrie, 237. Greystone, 239. Guisachan, 24l». Haddo House, 178, 242. Hatton Castle, 243. Haughton, 244. Heads of Auchinderran, 317, Hill of SkihiiafiUy, 245. Hiilockliead, 246. Inchcorsie, 317. Inchmarlo, 178. Indego, 176. Johnston, 247. Keillor, 48, 107, 113. Keilyford, 317. Keir, 318. Kiubate, 318. Kiucraic;, 251. Kiunaird, 55, 135, 153, 248. Kinnochtry, 55, 253. Kinstair, 318. Leuchland, 58. Lewes of Fyvie, 318. Little Endovie, 319. Lyne of Carron, 319. Mains of Advie, 262. Mains of Ardlaw, 319. Mains of Kelly, 55, 266. Mains of Wardhouse, 319. Melville, 272. Methlick, 273. Midtown, 320. Millhill, 320. Mill of Wester Coull, 320. Miltown of Kemnay, 320. Minniore, 276. Montbletton, 276. Montcoffer, 280. Monyruy, 321. Morlich, 282. Mountblairy, 321. Mulben, 164. .T-etlier Kildrumniy, 321. Novar, 321. Oakliill, 321. Pitfour, 282. Pitgair, 285. Portlethen, 69, 287. Poi-tmore, 293. INDEX. 457 Powrie, 293, Raasay, 322. Rothiemay, 295. Riithven, 322. Semiel, 322. Shielhill, 178. Skene, 299. Skillyniarno, 300. South Ythsie, 303. Spott, 300. Strocherie, 302. The Burn, 323. The Thorn, 303. Thomastown, 304. Tillychetly, 323. Tillyfour, 62, 116, 131. TuUochalluni, 175. Turtory, 323. Waterside of Forbes, 305. Wellhouse, 307. Wester Fordel, 323. Wester Fowlis, 309 Westertown, Q7, 132, 135. Westside of Brux, 311. Herds in England, 324. Baliol College Farm, 325. Beeehwood, 327. Bradley Hall, 328. Ewell, 330. Felcourt, 331. Goodwood, 331. Horsted, 331. Roos, 331. Smeaton Manor, 332. South Ella, 334. Studley Priory, 335. Plerds in Ireland, 336. II United States of America, 341. II Canada, 349. . IT "j T,°*'^^'' foreign countries, 354. Herd Book,' 68— entries in, 70— errors in vol. i., 90-106. Humped cattle, 6. Humpless cattle, 6, 9. Ireland, the breed in, 336. '^''^''"?^"^5^ '^^^''^^s F., as to Black Meg (766) and Panmure (51), 92 126^29^""'''"' on Tillyfoiu- cattle, Keillor families, table of. 111 Kincardineshire, early polled breeder in, 69— polled cattle in, 29, 59. Leading families, 356— Annie Laurie (Balwyllo), 162 Baroness, 109, 363. Beauty prumin), 373, ill^Telfe"'^' '''' '''' Castle Fraser families, 378. Catherine (Drumin), 373. Charmer (Queen), 360. ■ Coquette, 196, 369. Crinoline (Queen), 360. — — — (Mulben), 164. Daisy (Queen), 360. Dora, 110, 139. Drumin families, 372. Duchess (Queen), 133, 374. Mster Skene families, 372 Ellen family, 374, Emily (Balwyllo), 163. — — (Kinnochtry), 109. 363. Erica, 110, 147, 191, 196' ^anny (Kinnaird), 139, 367. Favourite, 109, 363. Flower (Fyvie), 375. Georgina, 373. Grizzle, 372. Guinea Pig, 372. Isabella (Balwyllo), 159. Jennet, 372, Jilt, 110, 125, 195, Kate (Baads), 368. Keepsake, 162, 369. Lady Ann (Kinnaird), 138. r , ^ ■ (Westertown), 133. Lady Fanny, 196, 369. Levity, 3/4. Lily (Castle Fraser), 373. Lucys, 368. Madge, 110, 169. Mayflower (Montbletton), 370 (Mulben), 164, 374*. -— (Portlethen), 370. Mams of Kelly families, 372 Martha, 372. Matilda (Queen), 360. Mina (Castle Fraser), 373. Miss Burgess, 196, 369. Miss Morrison, 373. Miss Watson, 110, 125, 365. Montliletton families, 370. Nosegay, 370. Pansy, 110. Portlethen families, 370. Pride of Aberdeen, 358. Princess (Kinnochtry), 109, 363 (Drumin), 373. (Balwyllo), 157. Queen, 118, 125, 356. Rose (Westertown), 132. (Advie), 3, 75. (Drumin), 373. Rothiemay families, 373. Ruth, 110, 125, 365. 458 INDEX. Sarali (Kinnaird), 139. SybiHP ads), 188, 189, 368. (iiallindalloch, 167, 196, 369. Victoria (Queen), 361. (Rothieinay), 373. (Westertown), 133. (Balwyllo), 160. Wiudsor (Queen), 360. Zara, 153, 154, 375. Loss of horns in cattle, 12, 14 — Dar- win on, 12 — Dr Alexander Smith on, 13 — Professor Low on, 13 — ten- dency to, 28, Low, Professor, on variations in ani- mals, 9. Management — At Ballindalloch, 385. Benholm, 379. Bridgend, 384. Easter Skene, 384. Gavenwood, 386. Greystone, 383. Kinnochtry, 378. Mains of Kelly, 377. Rothiemay, 388. Spott, 378. Watersidie, 389. Wellhouse, 380. Fullerton, Mr W., on, 377. Summary of, 390. System of, in herds, 376. M'Combie, the late Mr William, M.P., 62 — his show-yard success, 63— his system of breeding, 120-123. Moray, polled herds in, 66. Nilsson on Bos longifrons, 5 — on Bos urus, 3. Norfolk and Suffolk polled breed, 23, 26. Origin of domestic cattle, 1, 25— of polled Aberdeen and Angus breed, 26, 33, 38, 44— of polled varieties of cattle, 11. Owen on Bos longifrons, 4— on Bos urus, ^ Panmure, Lord, as a patron and breed- er of polled cattle, 55. Pedigree, unstained, 77. Pliny on Bos urus, 3. Polled cattle, antiquity of, 17 — classed as distinct breeds, 14 — distribution of, 17 — in Aberdeenshire, 29 — in Banffshire, 29— in early shows, 67 —in England, 18, 23 — in foreign countries, 17, 86— in Forfarshire, 29— in Galloway, 21— in Ireland, 21 — in Kincardineshire, 29 — in Lan- arkshire, 19— in Morayshire, 66— in Scotch Highlands, ■20—origin of, 11, 13. ^ Polled Cattle Society, 70— its objects, * Polled Herd Book,' 68, 70. Principles of breeding, 390. Rearing calves, &c., 376, 390. Riitimeyer on the genus Bos, 2. Sales, public, 444. 1841— Brechin Castle, 445. 1844 — Ardovie, 445. 1848— Keillor, 445. 1850— Bridgend, 446. 1853— Auchtertyre, 446. 1856— Crathes Castle, 446. 1857— West Scryne, 447. 1857— Inchmario, 447. 1857— Bridgend, 447. 1860— Keillor, 447. I860— Dorsell, 448. 1861— Kinnaird, 448, 1862— Montbletton, 449. 1863— Balwyllo, 449. 1865— Kinnaird, 449. 1867— Tillyfour, 449. 1869— Portlethen, 450. 1870— Castle Eraser, 450. 1871— The Thorn, 450. 1871— Tillyfour, 450. 1872— Rothiemay, 450. 1871— Ballindalloch, 451. 1873— Drumin, 451. 1874— Portlethen, 451. 1874— Westertown, 451. 1876— Mulben, 451. 1877— TuUochallum, 451. 1878— Montcoffer, 451. 1880— Tillyfour, 452. 1881— Balquharn, 452. Sales, private, 451. rise in price of bulls at, 452. average prices at, from 1850 to 1881, 452. Scotch cattle, breeds of, 26, 68— dif- ferences in, 26— origin of, 25. Scurs, 77. Selection in breeding, 14— Colum- ella on, 16 — in ancient nations, 16— Palladius on, 16 — "Virgil on. 16. Senior Wranglers, 421. Shorthorn cattle in Aberdeenshire, 60 — threatened extinction of polls, 61— crosses in Buchan, 73. Show-yards, the breed in, 393. INDEX. Show-yards— J^Jl (Highland), 394. 459 1867 ( 1868 1869 ( 1870 { 1871 ( 1872 ( 1873 ( 1874 1875 1876 ( 1877 ( -Inverness), 394 —Glasgow), 395. —Aberdeen), 395, —Edinburgh), 397, —Dumfries), 398. —Perth), 399. —Kelso), 400, —Stirling), 40], —Inverness), 401, —Glasgow), 402. —Aberdeen), 403, isso (H^gh^an'l-Perth), 408. 1881 " -Kelso), 409, Fat'stU,411.-'*^^^^'^^)'^l«- *\^?r]^ Exhibitions, 413. 1856 |Paris), 413. 1857 (Poissy), 417 1862 (Paris), 418. ^878 { „ Ins, gampions at Aberdeen, 439, Senior Wranglers, 421. bmith, Dr Alexander, on origin of Jomestic cattle, 8-o'n loss ofTomf Spontaneous variations in cattle, 12 Stnrt:*'"'^'."':^ to, in cattle, 28, ' ' btorer on origin of wild cattle, 7. Sy|te^n of management in' herds, Tv5?"J ^"?'"' ^^'""y table, 124. Types of ancient Buchan cattle, 74. Watson, the late Mr Hugh. 48-hi. JJSuclS;-^' ^^-^^ ''^-- ^Slltgt*6.^-^-- ^^^>^' ^^- Wilhamson, the late Mr G., on Aber- deenshire cattle, 35. ' ^ Working cattle in Scotland, 46, 21-Norfolk anfsuffolir ?4,"°"'^'' PRINTED BY WaUAM BI.ACK,VOOD AND SONS.