THE FARMER'S MAGAZINE. 



133 



the sliortlioni breed. This event is not only memo- 

 rable from the success of its results in a pecuniary 

 sense, but still more so from the excellence of the ar- 

 rangements, the spirit exhibited by the bidders, the 

 energy of the auctioneer, and the unmistakeable tokens 

 of the esteem and value in which the Kirkleavington 

 blood continues to be hold, 



Before we proceed with the narrative let us 

 pay a well-deserved compliment to Mr. Bolden 

 for his hospitality, and the reception he gave to 

 his numerous visitors. The refreshments were every- 

 thing that could be desired, and were liberally 

 provided for all comers, without stint or distinction, 

 the only test of admission to the tables being a decent 

 appearance and a respectable mien. Mr. Bolden him- 

 self, appeared almot^t possessed of the power of 

 ubiquity, being always at hand when an explanation 

 was asked, or the name and pedigree of an animal 

 wanted. And there was no lack of enquiries among 

 the admiring crowd that congregated, before and after 

 the sale, in the reserved corner of the mansion, where 

 the pure Duchesses — the unalloyed gems of Booth 

 blood, and the felicitous results of a judicious blend- 

 ing of the Kirkleavington and Warlaby elements were 

 gathered together. In that corner an assemblage was 

 seen, such as can scarcely be contemplated anywhei-e 

 else in England, or in the whole world. 'So expres- 

 sions of ours could give an adequate idea of the magni- 

 ficent animals that were gathered in that grassy nook 

 under the shelter of the mansion; bounded on one side 

 by the neat flower-borders, studding the lawn like 

 fragrant gems, and on the other by a cluster of trees, 

 under the sombre foliage of which stood, in conspicuous 

 and dazzling relief, those far-famed Duchesses, the 

 splendid moulds into which the " Grand Dukes" were 

 cast and quickened. 



From an early hour, a numerous company began lo 

 assemble, and appeared deeply engaged in the examina- 

 tion of the animals offered for sale. At certain intervals 

 the 3rd Grand Duke, by which most of the cows and 

 heifers were served, was paraded in the paddock ; and 

 a nobler animal, one more worthy of his lineage, and one 

 more fully justifying the fame of his blood, could not 

 be seen. His depth of frame, his quality of flesh, the 

 harmony of his lines, the noble expression of his coun- 

 tenance, were the themes of universal admiration and 

 eulogy. 



But luncheon is over: the last batch of guests have 

 satisfied their appetite, keenly whetted by that bracing 

 air laden with moisture and enervating aroma that blows 

 from the sandy expanse of Morecumb Bay ; the thirteen- 

 side polygon that forms the ring is already lined with 

 an anxious crowd, among whom we notice the following 

 well-known upholders of shorthorns : Messrs. Ambler, 

 Torr, Bell, M'Intosh, EUison, Hatherton, Taylor, 

 Lampson, S. Jepherson, R. Jepherson, J. D. Jepher- 

 son, Heskett, Logan, J. Robinson, C. Howard, Barber, 

 Gell, J. Culshaw, J. Knowles, the agent of the Duke of 

 Devonshire, the agent of Harewood,Trehonnais, &c., &c. 



At length the buzz of conversation is hushed. Mr. 

 Strafford ascended his rostrum, and after the usual pre- 

 liminary admonition and a few appropriate remarks, in- 

 troduced Lot the 1st. 



Our readers must know that the bulls of the sale 

 were composed of the whole AVaterloo tribe in the pos- 

 session of Mr. Bolden. This tribe, the history of which 

 has been already given in the Farmer's Magazine, 

 was derived from the Kirkleavington herd ; and there- 

 fore, chiefly crossed as it has been in the case under our 

 notice with the bulls of pure " Bates's" blood, may be 

 reckoned as belonging to one of the most valuable fa- 

 milies of the shorthorn breed. That they were so held 



by the bidders at the Springfield Hall sale on Thursday 

 last is shown by the following result : — 



The total amount of the sale is .£2,548 7s., which 

 gives a general average of £87 17s. 6d. for the twenty- 

 nine animals sold. The average of the females, includ- 

 ing the young calves, barren heifers, and the aged cows, 

 reaches the sum of £87 3s. lid. The average of the 

 six bulls is £90 9s. 6d, 



Out of the twenty-nine lots twenty belonged to the 

 Waterloo tribe, viz., eighteen females and two males. 

 The general average price obtained by the twenty 

 Waterloo lots is £92 13s. 3d, The average of the 

 eighteen females, eight of which were young calves, 

 two aged cowe, and one barren, is £90 10s. 6fd. The 

 two bulls, lots 2 and 3, realized £221 lis., which gives 

 an average of £110 15s. 6d. 



It was a remarkable feature of this sale, that when- 

 ever a pure Bates was offered, the bids were as brisk 

 and spirited as the most fastidious auctioneer could 

 wish; whereas, when other blood was introduced into 

 the ring, the offers were comparatively languid, and the 

 auctioneer's exertions correspondingly great. Even 

 the influence of the 3rd Grand Duke's bulling or pater- 

 nity told with a manifest and unmistakable weight on 

 the biddings ; and, notwithstanding the individual merits 

 of " Prince Imperial," and the acknowledged excellence 

 and well-deserved celebrity of the Warlaby herd it 

 must be admitted that it was the Kirkleavington blood 

 that commanded the greatest eagerness on the part of 

 the buyers, and, consequently, the highest prices. 



The sale only lasted about an hour and a half. When- 

 ever a " Waterloo" entered the ring, the biddings were 

 rapid, spirited, and bold, sometimes commencing with 

 a start of one hundred guineas ; and towards the close 

 of the contest, when the bids had reached their utmost 

 limits, nothing can give an idea of the anxiety with which 



