200 MILCH CATTLE IN IRELAND 



The conditions of South Africa invite a greater number of 

 Ayrshire cattle than are there now, of dark colour of hair 

 and underlying skin. The skins of most white or light 

 Ayrshires are liable to burn and blister with the sun during 

 bright weather, even in this country, and the animals give 

 unsatisfactory results in consequence. As in some Channel 

 Islands cows the white hair and light skin do not correspond, 

 but the dark skin extends under the white hair for an inch 

 or less, so that it forms a ring of dark skin covered with white 

 hair round a dark spot. The areas are easily recognised 

 during the heat of summer by the dark colour shining 

 through the thin coat of white hair and by the hair lying 

 smoothly, while that on the fair and sunburnt surface stands 

 up like a coat " staring " from cold. 



The following is a list of names of important breeders of 

 Ayrshire cattle : 



John Cochrane, Nethercraig, Kilmarnock ; Alex. Cross of 

 Knockdon, Maybole ; John Drennan, Hillhouse, Galston ; 

 James Howie, Hillhouse, Kilmarnock ; William Howie, Burn- 

 houses, Galston ; James Lawrie, West Newton, Strathaven ; 

 T'homas Lindsay, Carsegowan, Wigtown ; Thomas C. Lindsay, 

 Aitkenbrae, Monkton ; A. W. Montgomerie, Lessnessock, 

 Ochiltree ; Andrew Mitchell, Barcheskie, Kirkcudbright ; 

 John Murray, Carston, Ochiltree ; William Murray, Borrow- 

 moss, Wigtown ; John M'Alister, Ardyne, Toward ; R. 

 M'Kinlay, Hillhouse, Lanark; R. Osborne, Morton Mains, 

 Thornhill ; Sir Hugh Shaw Stewart of Ardgowan, Greenock ; 

 Sir Mark J. M'Taggart Stewart of Southwick, Dumfries ; 

 P. Wardrop, GarlafT, Cumnock ; R. Wilson, Manswrae, Bridge 

 of Weir ; J. R. W. Wallace, Auchenbrack and Auchenbainzie, 

 Thornhill, Dumfriesshire. 



The predominating cattle of Ireland are Shorthorns, the 

 blood of which has been more or less mingled with that of the 

 most numerously represented of the ancient Irish breed, the 

 Longhorn. The last three or four decades have seen an 

 enormous improvement in the feeding qualities of the general 

 run of Irish graziers and milch kine, brought over in large 

 numbers, and sold at fairs and markets in both Scotland and 

 England. 



In some secluded districts, such as a poor tract of moory 



