JUDGING LIVE STOCK. 53 



purchased others. His guiding rule in all his purchases 

 seems to have been individual merit. He paid but little 

 attention to pedigree, and seemed to have cared very little 

 for blood lines. He required of every animal a good middle. 

 Without this they were rejected without a moment's consid- 

 eration. His claim was that the animal must possess a good, 

 vigorous constitution to enable them to withstand the se- 

 verity of the Scottish climate and to utilize feed in a profit- 

 able manner. In addition to his cardinal point of strong con- 

 stitution he desired and endeavored to secure a high degree 

 of individual excellence in all parts in the animals he pur- 

 chased. He was absolutely independent in his purchases, 

 buying of all lines of blood, including Booth and Bates cattle, 

 and cattle in his own locality. Whatever he saw that pleased 

 him he secured, providing it could be bought at a reasonable 

 price. 



He was especially free in his purchase of bulls, buying 

 many, testing them cautiously at first, and, if the results were 

 not satisfactory, disposing of them at once. He had in- 

 creased his herd to more than 100 head from 1850 to 1860, 

 and the animals were far above the average, but had, as 

 yet, failed to secure what he most sought for early develop- 

 ment and deep-fleshing qualities. At this time, while in 

 doubt as to where he could secure a bull that would suit 

 him, he wrote to an old friend, asking if he could not send 

 him one. The friend did so. This bull, Lancaster Comet, 

 "stood near the ground, had a beautiful coat of hair, a round 

 barrel, straight top and bottom lines, level quarters, nicely 

 filled thighs, carried plenty of flesh, and. was active on his 

 feet." In size he was about medium, not massive enough to 

 suit Mr. Cruickshank, and he was so unprepossessing about 

 the head that Mr. Cruickshank was decidedly displeased with 

 him and turned him out in a back pasture with some cows 

 that had failed to settle to other bulls. These he got with 

 calf, and as he was allowed to run out late in the fall, he 

 contracted rheumatism, and was sent to the shambles, before 

 any of his calves had been seen. Not more than a dozen 

 calves were sired by him. and none of the heifers were re- 

 tained. Some of the bull calves were sold, but one, that 

 attracted no special atention at the time, was retained under 

 the name of Champion of England. He was exhibited at 

 some of the live stock shows as a calf, but was not particu- 

 larly successful as a prize winner, and came near being sold. 



