156 ON THE AGRICULTURE OF 



the two-year-old heifer class ; while, at the same show at Kelso 

 in 1880, a Baroness bull, of his own breeding and got by the 

 " Shah," headed the two-year-old class. He has also frequently 

 obtained very high prices for animals bred at Kinnochtry. At 

 the Highland Show at Perth in 1879 he sold some young heifers 

 and a young bull for exportation to the United States of America. 



At Gwynd the representatives of the late Mr Pearson have 

 still some very good polled cattle. 



Kincardineshire has also played a not unimportant part in the 

 developing and establishing of the improved polled breed. The 

 late Mr E. Walker, Portlethen, was, for over fifty years, one of 

 the leading breeders of polled cattle in the country. He 

 obtained his first bull, "Colonel," in 1818, and had at that time 

 a stock of good nonpedigreed black polled cows, most of them 

 having a brown stripe along the back and also partially light- 

 brown ears. By 1826 his pedigreed lierd w^as fully established, 

 and he carried it on with OTeat success as long as he lived. It 

 usually numbered from 80 to 100, but sometimes comprised 

 as many as 110 or 115. The greater portion was dispersed 

 in 1874, but a part was retained and is still successfully carried 

 on by his son, Mr E. B. Walker, who succeeded him in the 

 Mains of Portlethen. The late Mr AValker's success in the 

 showyard was quite exceptional. Mr M'Combie says — " It 

 Vv'ould be endless to attempt to sum up his victories — local, 

 national, and international — they are spread over such a large 

 surface." Mr Walker bred a large number of celebrated 

 animals, both male and female. Among his more noted bulls 

 was "Fox Maule" (305), got by "Marquis of Keillor" (212), 

 and out of "Matilda Fox" (302), bred at Mains of Kelly, and 

 got by the famous "Cupbearer" (59). "Fox Maule" won 

 many showyard honours, and is descrilied by Mr M'Combie 

 as " one of the best polled bulls ever exhibited." The " Banks 

 of Dee " is also said to have carried everything before him in 

 showyards, while, in one season, "his descendants gained 

 seven first and one second prize." One of the best animals 

 in the herd at the time of its dispersion was "Madge" 

 (1217), which was secured by Mr William Macdonald for the 

 Marquis of Huntly. This fine cow has herself achieved 

 many victories, while her stock have been jDerhaps still more 

 successful. Her son, " ]\Ionarch," now at Powrie, w^on first 

 prize both at the Aberdeen and Highland Shows in 1880; 

 while, at the former, the special prize for the best family of 

 the breed, consisting of a cow and two or more of her own 

 produce, was awarded to "Madge" and her stock, against a 

 very fine group of "Ericas" from^Ballindalloch. "Madge" was 

 bred at Tillyfour. 



