150 ON THE AGKICULTUKE OF 



affinity or blood." He evidently pursued in-and-in breeding to a 

 considerable extent, and also aimed at rearing up separate and 

 distinct families. He devoted a good deal of attention to the 

 preparing of animals for shows, and in the hottest contests of 

 the day he generally carried off the lion's share of the honours. 

 After a brilUant and useful career of over fifty years his fine 

 herd was dispersed in 1860. Shortly before, pleuro-pneumonia 

 had dealt it a heavy blow, and in consequence it did not show 

 to advantage. Moreover, the times were then unpropitious for 

 polled cattle, and the prices obtained were comparatively low. 

 The two highest priced cows went to the late Mr W. M'Combie 

 of Tillyfour and Mr Thomas Ferguson, Kinnochtry, at £64 and 

 £58, 10s. respectively. That Keillor blood has exercised a power- 

 ful influence in establishing the improved polled breed there can 

 be no doubt ; but as to the real extent of that influence we cannot 

 stop to inquire. 



Of the other early breeders few had a better grasp of the 

 important subject in hand, or really did more to develop and 

 perpetuate the good qualities of the polled breed, than the late 

 Mr William Eullerton, Mains of Ardestie (formerly Ardovie). 

 Had he done nothing- else than establish the foundation of the 

 celebrated Queen tribe, his name would have been indelibly 

 associated with the breed as one of the most prominent of its 

 earlier improvers. From his cow " Queen of Ardovie " (29), by 

 " Captain " (97), and calved in 1836, he founded a famous and 

 valuable strain ; and from her in direct descent we have the 

 Prides of Aberdeen, the Vines, the Duchesses, the Charmers-, 

 the Victorias, and the Dandies, the first of which, in the hands of 

 the late Mr M'Combie of Tillyfour and others, attained a fame 

 and value unrivalled by any family, excepting perhaps the 

 Ericas of Ballindalloch. Then as to the Balwyllo herd, which 

 was long one of the largest and best known in the country, we 

 have in several existing herds unmistakable testimony of its 

 exceptionally high character. Mr Scott's well-known bulls, 

 " President " (205), " President 2d " (54), and " President 3d '* 

 (246), all appear in the pedigree of the 270 guinea cow " Pride 

 of Aberdeen 9th," in the possession of Mr Auld, Bridgend ; 

 while the Balwyllo Queens have long been well known. On the 

 death of Mr Scott, his mother, who still survives, carried on the 

 herd successfully, but unfortunately the plague made sad havoc 

 here also. Both Mr Fullerton and Mr Scott won many show- 

 yard honours, both in local and national shows. The former lost 

 no fewer than eighty fine animals from pleuro-pneumonia. The 

 Shielhill herd produced many excellent animals, notably the 

 bulls " Prospero " and " Tom Pipes," which were victorious both 

 at the Highland Show at Perth in 1861, and at the Eoyal Show 



