FAMOUS CRUICKSHANK BULLS 77 



Up till 1860 the policy was ; .to purchase stock bulls; 

 consequently the uniformity of type derivable from in-breed- 

 ing was not a characteristic of the herd, which, however, did 

 not lack robustness of constitution nor quality. The good 

 results which followed the use of one of the most famous of 

 the Cruickshank bulls, "Champion of England" (17526), are 

 said to have altered the policy in favour of the use of 

 home-bred bulls, but consanguineous breeding was adopted 

 only with moderation and to a degree which secured benefits 

 without such evil consequences as have followed the excessive 

 practice of it among Booth and Bates cattle. 



The following are some of the Shorthorn families which 

 are closely associated with the Sittyton herd, and many of 

 them are names to conjure with in the sale catalogues of 

 the present day : viz. the Avalanches, Broadhooks, Butter- 

 flies, Brawith Buds, Barmpton (and other) Roses, Clippers, 

 Cicelys, Duchess of Gloucesters, Ladies, Lancasters, Lovelys, 

 Lavenders, Nonpareils, Orange Blossoms, Secrets, Spicys, 

 Violets, Venuses, and Victorias. 



Bulls were at times hired for a season or more, in con- 

 formity with the common practice among Shorthorn breeders, 

 and cows and heifers were at one time sent to neighbouring bulls. 

 The first bulls used at Sittyton came from Barclay of Ury. 



The following are the most famous bulls used by 

 Cruickshank in the order adopted by A. H. Sanders, 1 who 

 also recorded the fact that Cruickshank recognised the great 

 importance of studying the qualities of the dam and grand- 

 dam of a bull : " Fairfax Royal " (6987), a rich dark roan, 

 from W. Torr, said to " rank with the famous bull ' Forth ' 

 as one of the best bulls ever owned in Aberdeenshire " ; 

 " Hudson " (9228), a yellow red, from W. Linton, Sheriff Hutton, 

 Yorks ; " Report " (10704), a roan, from S. Wiley of Brandsby ; 

 " Velvet Jacket " ( 1 0998), a roan, from J. Douglas of Athelstane- 

 ford, East Lothian ; " Matadore " (i 1800), a dark roan, from 

 W. Smith, West Rasen, Lincolnshire a famous bull-getter 

 and own brother to the red roan " Mazurka " cow, which was 

 sold to the United States for $3050; " Plantagenet " (11906), 

 a red and white, from Col. Towneley, through " Douglas," the 

 sire of the heavy milking twin heifers " Virtue " and 



1 Shorthorn Cattle in the United States and Canada, by A. H. 

 Sanders. (Sanders Publishing Co., Chicago.) 



