OF THE SADDLE AND SIRLOIN CLUB 189 



that he was going to build the "best breed" of Shorthorns from 

 her. That he accomplished his purpose is a matter of history. 

 He inbred and interbred her descendants until a natural tendency 

 to shy breeding forced him to seek elsewhere for sires. This 

 contingency was due more to the physical absence of bulls rather 

 than lack of courage on BATES' part to continue his methods, and 

 the justification of his judgment is found in the fact that only one 

 of several bulls introduced had any permanent effect of improve- 

 ment. In fact most of the outside bulls were actually detrimental 

 to his operations. 



The one bull from external sources that made him fame and 

 fortune was selected on his pedigree alone, the bull Belvedere, 

 full of the blood of CHARLES COLLING'S old Princess. This cow 

 too carried only the heritage of Favorite and Hubback, and hence 

 brought to MR. BATES again the blood he so earnestly was con- 

 centrating in his Duchesses. Selected on his pedigree alone, MR. 

 BATES found his judgment confirmed by a glimpse of the bull's 

 head, and completed his transaction for the animal before he 

 examined the remainder of its conformation. From Belvedere 

 he obtained his magnificent Duke of Northumberland and the 

 show herd that placed him undisputably as Britain's premier 

 breeder. From that day forward his family increased in value 

 until in 1873 the best Duchess brought $40,600 and the average 

 of fourteen Duchesses in the sale was practically $18,750. 



In 1821 MR. BATES removed from Halton to Ridley Hall and 

 in May 1830 he transferred to his permanent estate at Kirkleving- 

 ton, purchased in 1811, driving his herd with him. His fifty cows 

 and heifers by 2d Hubback excited an interest of unrivalled in- 

 tensity. One further service MR. BATES performed for the breed- 



