300 ON THE POLLED ANGUS OR ABERDEEN 



to supply our markets with those important commodities we can 

 no longer grow entirely for ourselves. Butchers' meat, once re- 

 garded as a luxury among the working classes, is at the present 

 time looked upon as a necessriry, and forms a part of their every- 

 day diet. With respect to the import of animal food, all attempts 

 have hitherto resulted in partial or entire failure,* so that the 

 community of meat-consumers must look to the farmer at home 

 to supply their requirements. This is the cause why beef and 

 mutton have been enhanced so much in value— rates being 

 almost double what they were twsnty-five, or even twenty years 

 ago. In order to keep pace with the times in which they live, 

 agriculturists of almost every degree have drifted in either to 

 mixed farming, or exclusive stocking. Flocks of sheep have 

 multiplied ; cattle-breeding, rearing, and feeding have been more 

 industriously prosecuted, and many sorts of extraneous feeding 

 substances introduced, with the view of furthering^ the desired 

 object, namely, the early maturity and rapid development 

 of stock. With this brief notice of the marked aoricultural 

 changes which have occurred within the experience of the present 

 generation of farmers, we pass on to the subject of our report — 

 the polled Angus or Aberdeen breed of cattle. The rapid rise in 

 the price of butchers' meat could not fail to arouse the breeders 

 of the black skins to greater exertion, for they are alike noted for 

 hardihood, early maturing qualities, firmness of flesh, and being 

 capable of converting a minimum amount of farm produce into 

 a maximum quantity of animal food for the support of the great 

 human population. The breed has, therefore, of late years, got 

 into the good graces of graziers and cattle-feeders, who generally 

 have an eye to the financial aspect of the question, and is not 

 only supplanting other less-favoured cattle upon the soil which 

 gave it birth, but is also gradually gaining preponderance over 

 the native cattle in the districts adjoining. 



The Home of the Race. 



We have already intimated that the polled Angus or Aberdeen 

 tribe is rapidly extending the breadth of its territory. It is now 

 no longer confined to the shires of Forfar and Abeideen, where it 

 had its origin — if confined be a proper term to use in speaking of 

 such an extensive tract of country — but the breed exists largely 

 in Kincardine, Banff, Moray, and perhaps iSTairn. A few solitary 

 herds are also to be found dotted over various parts of Scotland, 

 but not to the extent we should like to see them, for we feel con- 

 fident they would answer better in many high-lying districts than 

 the bovine race which presently inhabit them. The six counties 

 lying in the north-east of Scotland, which we have already 



* Since the aboA' e was written, the American beef trade has sprang up, but whethe 

 it will have a lasting effect remains to be proved. 



