168 ON THE AGEICULTUliE OF 



Mr Goodlet's flock, one of the best in the country, was established 

 in 1863 by selections chiefly of Mellendean blood, subsequent 

 additions being made of Courthill, Costerton, Castlemains, and 

 Blainslie strains, while high-priced tups from the Polwarth, 

 Blainslie, Castlemains, and Mellendean stocks have been used. 

 The Bolshan shearling tups brought the highest average obtained 

 at the Perth Border Leicester sale in 1880. At Kinnochtry a 

 large and very fine flock of Border Leicesters is kept ; while Mr 

 Johnston, Cairnbeg, Laurencekirk, has a very well-bred stock, 

 tracing mostly to the flocks at Oldhamstocks and Castlemains. 

 At Powrie near Dundee, Mr Thomas Smith has a large and very 

 fine flock of English Leicesters. It numbers about 120 ewes, and 

 has been bred at Powrie for thirty-five years. Tups are intro- 

 duced at high prices from the best English stocks, and the 

 general character of the flock is indeed very high. The animals 

 are beautifully formed, stylish, and of very fine quality. 



The rapidity with which crosses from Shropshire tups are 

 gaining in popularity gives special importance to the few very 

 line stocks of pure Shropshires kept in Eorfarshire. That 

 belonging to the Earl of Strathmore is both the largest and 

 best. Shropshires were first brought to Glamis about 1862, 

 with the view of breeding lambs to fatten on turnips, and of 

 seeing whether or not they would suit the climate. The trial 

 was most successful. They were found to suit the climate 

 well and to please the butchers admirably, being "heavy killers" 

 and full of lean mutton. Therefore in 1867 a visit was made to 

 the great annual sale at Shrewsbury, and twenty one-year-old 

 ewes and a couple of rams were purchased as a foundation for a 

 flock at Glamis. The ewes came from the celel)rated flock of the 

 late Mr Price Bowen, and were by the famous tup " Maccaroni," 

 while the rams were bought from the Messrs Crane. In the fol- 

 lowing year another lot of twenty ewes was bought, including 

 the first prize yearlings at Leicester; and at the same time a ram 

 was purchased from Mr Mansell, and got by " Conservative," 

 who was the sire of the first prize ewes at the Highland Show 

 at Dumfries in 1878. Again, in the following year the highly- 

 commended ram at the Eoyal Show at Manchester was purchased 

 at 40 guineas, and from him was bred the first prize ram and 

 also the first prize ewes at Kelso, and also the first prize ewes 

 and the second prize ram at the Eoyal Irish Show at Belfast 

 in 1880. In 1870 the renowned " Standard Bearer," the first 

 prize winner at the Eoyal Show at Bedford, was introduced ; 

 while about the same time about forty yearling ewes were 

 purchased, all got by the famous " Cardinal," also a first Eoyal 

 winner. Then followed " Potentate," the first prize old tup at 

 the Eoyal Show at Cardiff, and in 1873 a ram was hired from 

 Mr Mansell at £105. This latter animal, after being used at 



