106 REPORT OF THE AGRICULTURE OF AYRSHIRE. 



APPENDIX. 



The Committee appointed by the General Meeting of the Ayr- 

 shire Agricultural Association of 17th May 1853, "to fix the 

 points in Ayrshire Cattle which shall be held of most importance 

 as indicating superior quality," after careful inquiry and con- 

 sideration, report the following as the points which should, in 

 their opinion, be attended to : — 



Head short, forehead wide, nose fine between the muzzle and eyes, muzzle 

 moderately large, eyes full and lively; horns wide set on, inclining upwards, 

 and curving slightly inwards. 



Neck long and straight from the head to the top of the shoulder ; free 

 from loose skin of the under side, fine at its junction with the head, and the 

 muscles symmetrically enlarging towards the shoulders. 



Shoulders thin at the top, brisket light, the whole fore-quarters thin in 

 front, and gradually increasing in depth and width backwards. 



Back short and straight ; spine well defined, especially at shoulders ; the 

 short ribs arched, the body deep at the flanks, and the milk- veins well 

 developed. 



Pelvis long, broad, and straight ; hook bones (ilium) wide apart, and 

 not much overlaid with fat ; thighs deep and broad ; tail long and slender, 

 and set on level with the back. 



Milk- Vessel capacious, and extending well forward ; hinder-part broad, 

 and firmly attached to the body ; the sole or under surface nearly level. 

 The teats from two to two and a half inches in length, equal in thickness, 

 and hanging perpendicularly ; their distance apart at the sides should be 

 equal to about one-third of the length of the vessel ; and across to about 

 one-half of the breadth. 



Legs short, the bones fine, and the joints firm. 



Skin soft and elastic, and covered with soft, close, woolly hair. 



Thi Colours preferred are brown ; or brown and white ; the colours 

 being distinctly defined. 



REPORT OF IMPROVEMENTS ON THE ESTATES OF MURKLE 

 AND DOUNREAY, IN THE COUNTY OF CAITHNESS. 



By William R. Tait, C.E., Factor, Oldfield, Thurso. 

 Premium — The Gold Medal 



The estate of Murkle, containing 2216 imperial acres, lies in the 

 parishes of Thurso and Olrig. Its northern boundary is Dunnet 

 Bay, and the bluff headland of Dunnet (the most northerly point 

 of the mainland of Scotland) is its only shelter from the piercing 

 winds of the north-east. The soil is a clayey loam, resting on 

 the Caithness flagstone. The flagstone lies,on the average, with- 

 in three feet of the surface. The crops principally grown are 

 turnips, oats, and grass. 



The estate of Dounreay, containing 16,4G4 imperial acres, 



