ON THE AGEICULTURE OF THE COUNTY OF FIFE. 49 



highest commendation. A much more profitable system, how- 

 ever, would be to rear from j^olled Angus cows and shorthorn 

 hulls. The beef markets of every successive year convince us 

 more and more strongly that the most profitable " commercial " 

 cattle beast that can be produced is a cross between a polled 

 Angus cow and a shorthorn bull. The size of frame and early 

 maturing qualities of the shorthorn bull, when judiciously 

 blended with the hardy constitution and rich quality of beef 

 of the Angus cow, form an animal which for general commercial 

 purposes could scarcely be surpassed. The cows between Gal- 

 loways and shorthorns have also much to recommend them, but 

 they generally partake a little too largely of the somewhat coarse 

 and buffalo characteristics of the ancient Galloway. Angus 

 cows are conspicuous by their absence in the south of Scotland, 

 but they are abundant in the northern counties. To introduce 

 Angus cows would entail a consideralily heavier outlay than the 

 buying of Galloways ; but we are con\anced that the difference 

 in the price is not nearly equal to the advantages that would 

 be derived from breeding from Angus instead of Galloway 

 cows. In the north-eastern counties of Scotland, where the 

 Angus breed has had its headquarters for so long a period, the 

 system of cattle-breeding which we have recommended is pur- 

 sued very largely, and is found to be most profitable and satis- 

 factory. 



An ancient account of the agriculture of Fifeshire says that 

 the county *' has long been distinguished for the excellence of 

 its herd of cattle. The prevailing colour is black, though in the 

 true county breed great variety of colour prevails ; they are 

 hardy, fleet, travel well, are tame, good feeders, and fatten 

 quickly." The date or authorship of this report we have failed 

 to discover; but, nevertheless, it was the case that in "the 

 good old days " of the past century Fifeshire enjoyed a well- 

 deserved fame for its black cattle. All these have long ago 

 disappeared, however, and now the few cattle that are kept are 

 of a very different stamp. Fifeshire has never had great pre- 

 tences in the way of rearing fine bred cattle. A few have all along 

 been bred in the county, but the system never obtained great 

 popularity among the farmers. The name of the county, how- 

 ever, is very closely connected with the history of shorthorns on 

 this side the Tweed, on account of its having at one time boasted 

 of one of the best shorthorn herds in the kingdom — the late 

 Keavil herd, bred by Mr G. R Barclay. This famous stock, 

 managed for several years so carefully and well by Mr Easton, 

 took a very prominent position in its day. It was dispersed in 

 September 1869, and its members and their descendants are 

 spread all over the country, commanding notice and admiration 

 wherever they appear. The Seraphinas of Keavil have long 



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