the largest herds of shorthorns in the world. It is only necessary to name "Fairfax Royal," "Prince Edward Fairfax," "Velvet Jacket," "Matadore," "Lord Sackville," the "Baron" by "Baron Warlaby," "Master Butterfly," the "2d John Bull," "Lancaster Comet," "Lord Raglan," "Ivanhoe," "Lord Garlies," "Malachite," "Windsor Augustus," "Sir James the Rose," and last, though not least, "Forth "-to show the distinguished position their herd has taken. Suffice it to say that no other breeder of shorthorns can claim having owned such an array of first-class bulls. Amongst the eminent breeders of shorthorns, Mr Campbell, Kinellar, occupies a distinguished place. I believe no one is a better judge of shorthorns, and no other has been more successful as a breeder. Mr C. began to breed this class of stock about thirty years ago, and "Lord Scarboro'," "Mosstrooper,' "Beeswing," "Garioch Boy," "Scarlet Velvet," and "Diphthong," are some of the celebrated bulls that have been introduced into the herd. "Scarlet Velvet" and "Diphthong" gained the Aberdeenshire challenge cup in 1862-63. At his annual sales his bull-calves bring high prices; for some as much as sixty, eighty, and a hundred guineas each have been paid. His stock has for years taken a high position in our show-yards. Mr George Shepherd, Shethin, who succeeded his fatherin-law, Mr William Hay, had one of the largest herds of shorthorns, which were mostly sold off some years ago. Mr Shepherd's herd was of the highest blood, and won many prizes. The bull "Cherry Duke the Second," bred by Mr Bolden and bought by Mr Shepherd jun., from Mr Atherston, was invincible. After gaining every prize in the north and the challenge cup at Aberdeen, he finished his honourable career as a prize-winner at Edinburgh, when, in 1859, he took the first prize in the aged bull class. The late Mr Milne of Kinaldie was an eminent breeder of shorthorns; he outdistanced all competitors with his cows. After his

death, however, in 1871, the Kinaldie herd was dispersed. No shorthorn herd in the county has risen so rapidly since I last wrote as that of Mr Marr, Uppermill. Last two years he has been a very successful exhibitor of shorthorns at the Aberdeen and the Highland Society's Shows; while in numbers and general merit the herd has made great progress in recent years. The famous bull "Heir of Englishman" appears to have made his herd. His brother, Mr Marr, Cairnbrogie; Mr Davidson, Mains of Cairnbrogie; Mr Scott, Glendronach; Mr Bruce, Broadland; Mr Thomson, Newseat; Mr Cochrane, Little Haddo-are all eminent breeders of shorthorns. Mr Cochrane gained the challenge cup at Aberdeen finally in 1871 for shorthornshaving won it three years in succession, with different bulls each time. Mr Gordon of Cluny has a very large and fine herd of shorthorns, in selecting and maintaining which, his factor, Mr Macdonald, displays good judgment and taste.

In Banffshire we have that veteran and successful breeder, Mr Longmore, Rettie, whose stock has long borne a high character.

In Morayshire some good herds of shorthorns have been dispersed since I published the first edition-including Mr M'Kessack's at Balnaferry, and the late Mr Stephen's at Inchbroom. My much-respected friend Mr Geddes, Orbliston, however, maintains his high position as a shorthorn-breeder. He has reared shorthorns since 1838; and I was glad to observe that the average price obtained for his young bulls last year was the highest in Scotland. Mr Geddes stood at the top of the Highland Society's prize-list at the Inverness Show in 1865 as the owner of the best aged shorthorned bull, and was a winner along with Mr John M'Kessack in the class of shorthorned heifers.* Mr Bruce's herd at

*I deeply regret to add that since the above was in type Mr Geddes has died, and his herd is to be sold off next autumn.

He spares

Newton of Struthers is now large, and promises soon to be perhaps the best of the kind in the north. neither trouble nor expense in making good selections. Last autumn he got 100 guineas for a bull-calf. Mr Bruce, Burnside, lately sold his whole herd of shorthorns to Mr Cran, Kirkton, Inverness, who has now a herd of about fifty pure-bred animals.

Mr Stronach of Ardmellie was a successful breeder of shorthorns. He sold off his stock several years ago. His farm was only 100 acres, but his stock fetched high prices. One yearling quey brought £54, and a cow £53. The proceeds of the sale amounted to about £1000—a large sum, considering the smallness of the farm. Mr Stronach was for many years a successful competitor at the local shows, and sold a cow to Mr Cruickshank that carried the first prize at one of the Highland Society's shows at Aberdeen. Mr Stronach

was also an exhibitor at the Paris show.

I have only glanced at the breeders of shorthorns in the north; in conclusion, I may notice some of those noblemen and gentlemen who have distinguished themselves as breeders of Aberdeen and Angus polled cattle. Among these the late Hugh Watson, Keillor, deserves to be put in the front rank. No breeder of polled Aberdeen and Angus will grudge that well-merited honour to his memory. We all look up to him as the first great improver, and no one will question his title to this distinction. There is no herd in the country which is not indebted to the Keillor blood. For many a long year Mr Watson carried everything before him. He began to exhibit in 1810, and won during his lifetime some 200 prizes for cattle, sheep, and cart and thorough-bred horses. The heifers which he exhibited at Perth in 1829 were greatly admired; and the Smithfield heifer of 29 was so good that she was modelled, and her portrait is in the volume 'Cattle' of the publications of the Society for the Diffusion of Useful Knowledge. He gained the Purcell challenge cup at

Belfast for an Angus ox, which was kept by the Prince Consort at the Royal Farm, Windsor, till his death, when his age was seventeen. As an example of the longevity of the race, Mr Watson's celebrated cow, "Old Grannie," the first cow in the Polled Herd Book, died at thirty-five Mr Watson bred many years of age. celebrated bulls, but "Old Jock" was facile princeps. He carried everything before him, and in 1844 was sold for a hundred guineas-a large price at that time. To "Angus," who fell into my hands, I am indebted for some of the best blood in the male line. Mr Watson also bred "Strathmore," "Windsor," "Pat," and "Second Jock," which last beat all the bulls in a sweepstake at Perth in 1852, after he was thirteen. years old.

Mr Bowie, of Mains of Kelly, has been a most successful and energetic breeder of polled cattle. To him I am indebted for "Hanton," who, with “ Angus” and "Panmure" in the male line, were my "herd's fortunes." He also bred "Cup-Bearer," who did so much good for Lord Southesk's herd. "Second Earl Spencer" and "Cup-Bearer" were 1st and 2d prize bulls at Berwick. At our national shows Mr Bowie has been the most successful prize-taker in the Bull classes. Where he has exhibited he has generally carried the first honours. At Aberdeen, at Berwick, at Dumfries, and at the Royal Agricultural Society of England, his bulls were invincible. It is most deeply

to be regretted that the plague got into his stock, and he has sustained a heavy loss. Still he came out better than any of his neighbours. He saved twenty-three cattle; and his herd will, I trust, in a few years attain its wonted position. I have drawn, at one time or another, largely from Mr Bowie's stock, and have paid him high prices-as high as a hundred guineas for bulls, and forty, fifty, and sixty guineas for females. Mr Bowie is one of the best judges of Aberdeen and Angus cattle in Scotland. At Inverness,

1874, he was the breeder and exhibitor of the 1st prize aged polled bull. This animal was first at Stirling the year before, and has passed into Lord Fife's herd at Duff House. Mr Bowie's herd has revived considerably; but he had an unfortunate visit of pleuro not many years ago.

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Lord Southesk was one of our most enterprising breeders of polled stock; and before the plague decimated his fine herd in 1866, it was almost the best in the land. There was a herd of pure Angus cattle at Kinnaird for fifty years; but when his lordship succeeded to the property it got a fresh start. He introduced 66 Cup-Bearer" by "Pat" from Mr Bowie's herd, and he did good service. The well-known "Druid," of show-yard celebrity, was descended from Cup-Bearer" and from "Dora," bred to Mr Ruxton of Farnell. "Windsor" was afterwards introduced. He was bought from the late George Brown, Westertown of Fochabers, for two hundred guineas, and took the first prize at Edinburgh in the aged bull class; the silver medal to the breeder came to Tillyfour. He was carried off by the plague, at nine years of age, at Kinnaird. "Druid" was a great prize-winner, and gained more than £100 in his different journeys, and a host of medals. The Kelso heifers were very superior; and "Quadrona" gained the first prize at Smithfield in the female polled class. It is deeply to be regretted that Lord Southesk's fine herd suffered so heavily by the rinderpest. This has been indeed a national loss. Lord Southesk spared no expense in purchasing the finest animals, and had an able assistant in his brother, the Hon. Charles Carnegie, M.P., who is not only a good judge, but knows the pedigrees of the different. polled herds wonderfully well.

William Fullerton, late of Mains of Ardovie, now of Mains of Ardestie, was a celebrated breeder of Angus cattle; but pleuro-pneumonia got into his herd, and he lost no fewer than eighty cattle by the disease. One

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