THE BEEF BEEEDS OF CATTLE 243 



during the Scoto-Saxon period." George Buchanan, 

 tutor to James I, of England, writing about 1566, says 

 of Galloway : " It is more fruitful in cattle than in 



corn." 



The breed was of great importance during the Scoto- 

 Saxon period. In the early ages dairying was an object 

 of considerable attention. Large quantities of cheese 

 were made and the people consumed much animal flesh. 

 There was also an extensive export trade in hides. At a 

 later period, immediately after the union of England and 

 Scotland, the farmers of England became extensive pur- 

 chasers of Galloway cattle. During this activity the 

 Galloways found much favor among the graziers of the 

 south of England and the butchers of Smithfield market, 

 and they invariably sold at an average price 2 a head 

 above that of any other breed of the same weight. The 

 breed was much improved during this period as well as 

 later when turnip husbandry was introduced into the 

 province of Galloway. A circumstance worthy of atten- 

 tion is that the breed has never been affected by crossing 

 with any other breed. The improvement has been brought 

 about entirely by the diligent attention and careful 

 management of the breeders of Galloway and of the corn- 

 belt of America. 



Although the Galloway is the oldest of the pure breeds 

 of Britain, there has been very little written about the 

 breed, and the records that were collected during the 

 early part of the last century were destroyed by fire 

 in the Highland and Agricultural Society's Museum 

 and Records in Edinburgh in 1851. Some time later, 

 about the year 1862, a book of pedigrees was compiled, 

 which contained pedigrees of both Aberdeen-Angus and 

 Galloways. Still a little later, about the year 1878, the 



