Robertson has given much attention to the milking-properties of the breed; and his experience is that, by very little extra trouble, it is possible, without sacrificing the merits of the breed in beef-production, to rear animals that will yield a copious supply of milk of choice quality. Mr Robertson has made some important private sales. The Erica cow Ella was sold to Mr Stevenson, Blairshinnoch, for 100 guineas; the Erica cows Editha 1737 and Elf 3751 went to Mr Wallis, Bradley Hall, at long prices; the Erica cow Esther 4843 was bought for Mr Stephenson, Newcastle-onTyne; Honesty 4th 3757 was sold for exportation, as were also three Erica females. Mr Stewart, Auchindellan, secured an Erica heifer, and the Erica bull Whig 1867 was sold to Major Smith, Minmore, for 100 guineas.

Altyre.

Sir William G. Gordon Cumming, Bart. of Altyre, and his factor Mr Robert Walker, have done much in recent years to popularise the polled breed. On several occasions animals from Altyre have won cups for Scotch cattle at the Smithfield Fat Stock shows; and, as noticed elsewhere, Sir William had the unique honour of gaining, not only the Scotch cup, but also the champion cups for heifers and oxen, and the "blue ribbon" of the show, with polled animals at London last year. The breeding herd at Altyre has not hitherto appeared much in public competitions, but it is of high merit, and contains a great deal of good blood. The herd has been in existence since 1874. At the Westertown dispersion, specimens of Mr Brown's Rose and Victoria families were acquired. At Mulben, in 1875, some of Mr Paterson's Mayflowers were introduced. The heifer Oakleaf 1836, by Bon Accord 446, was bought at Rothiemay that year for 54 guineas. In the summer of 1876, 60 guineas were paid to Mr Ferguson for Princess of Altyre 3126, of the Kinnochtry Princess family. From

Mr Gordon, Tullochallum, Pride of the Findhorn 3243, and Pride of Altyre 32-14, 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, Earnside, for whom the cow Dido 3257, and Flora of Earnside 2113, had been secured at Tillyfour in 1871. The Kinnochtry 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 Tilly four 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 comprises members of the following families: Pride, Daisy, Princess, Favourite, Westertown Rose, 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 Ardhuncart, 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 Ross, Oldtown, Tarland. Stock from the Crathes and Mains of Kelly herds were also introduced. That splendidly 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

been pampered or fed for show purposes, but has always been kept in good breeding condition, and has stood high in the prize-lists at the local shows. The cows are all good milkers, some of them yielding very heavily at the pail.

Auchorachan.

This herd, belonging to Mr George Smith Grant, was founded in 1875 by the purchase from Mr Skinner, Drumin, of the heifer Bella 3136, representing the Catherine family. Bella's first calf, Bella 2d 3551, got by the Pride bull Thane 1243, is still in the herd. She has had other four heifer calves, all in the herd, except Barbara 4754, calved in 1880, who was sold in December 1881 to Mr Wilken, Waterside, for 60 guineas. They are a fine breeding family, splendid milkers, and large - framed. Another purchase from the Drumin herd was Mavis 2211, of the Lucy family, bought at Mr Skinner's sale in 1876 for £48. She only left one calf, Lady Lucy 3552, who was the dam of Linnet 4751, calved in 1880, still in the herd. This family has produced good milkers and breeders. The next animal purchased was Christian 2nd 3549, at the Easter Tulloch sale in 1876. Bought at 22 guineas, she has turned out a very profitable investment. She is after the Erica bull Emperor 396, and her dam is by Cavalier 411. She has bred three heifers and two bulls. The heifers are all retained, being of a fine milking and easily kept strain. The bulls were sold privately, and left superior stock. Nosegay 2155, bred by Sir George Macpherson Grant, was added to the herd in 1876; and although then fifteen years old, she bred a calf every year until 1881, when, proving barren, she went to the butcher. Unfortunately, her produce consisted of three bull calves and only one heifer. The heifer, calved in 1879, got by Victory 1364, bred by Mr Melville Cartwright, is still in the herd, and has proved an excellent milker. She is a

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 bestlooking animals in the herd. Silvia 3073, of the Sybil family, bred by Sir George Macpherson Grant, and purchased at Mr Gordon's sale in 1877, was the next addition. 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 Viscount Duff 1365, bred by Lord Fife. For the two a high price was paid. Erica 8th-herself, as her name implies, 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 the 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 Marquess 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 Robertson, Burnside, 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 Regina 1179, a granddaughter of

Pride of Aberdeen 581, and noticed elsewhere as the dam. of some capital stock. In calf when Mr Grant bought her, she produced in May 1881 a heifer by the Pride bull Knight of the Shire 1699. This calf is one of the purestbred Prides living, and promises to become an animal of great merit. This year Regina had a bull calf, after Young Viscount 736. The stock bull is Viscount Duff 1365, grandson of the well-known Heather Blossom 1703, and after Young Viscount 736. The herd is in excellent breeding condition, in no way pampered, forcing for show-yard purposes having been avoided. With scarcely an exception, each cow has a calf every year. Auchorachan is situated about 900 feet above sea-level, and the thriving state of the herd shows that the polled cattle will do well where other breeds of a less hardy constitution could not thrive.

Baads.

In recent years no herd of polled cattle has had a more distinguished show-yard record than that of Mr George Reid, Baads, Peterculter. It supplied the first-prize cows at the Highland Society's and Royal Northern Society's shows in 1877, 1878, and 1880; the first-prize aged bull at these shows in 1880; the winners of the Challenge cups at Aberdeen in 1877, 1879, and 1880; the winners of the M'Combie prize at Aberdeen in 1879 and 1880; the first-prize heifer and the second-prize cow at the Paris Exhibition in 1878; and the first-prize bull and the first and second prize cows at the Royal English show at Carlisle in 1880. These animals were not all exhibited by Mr Reid, but they were either bred by him or descended from his stock, and, moreover, they were all of two strains of blood. This brief statement affords the most striking proof it is possible to give of the excellent material of which the Baads herd is composed. It is now nearly twenty-eight years ago since polled cattle were introduced