DEVELOPMENT OF THE IMPROVED TYPE. 45 



by pure Short-horn blood there was an effort 

 subsequently made to discredit them, but hap- 

 pily the controversy once waged over them no 

 longer interests practical breeders. 



As to Robert Colling. In his youth Robert 

 had been apprenticed to a grocer, but his health 

 declining he embraced farming. He had often 

 visited Mr. Culley, a noted farmer, stock- 

 breeder and agricultural writer, and took les- 

 sons from him in farming, turnip-growing and 

 stock-feeding. He had obtained Leicester sheep 

 from Bakewell, and for many years bred and 

 sold them with great success, simultaneous with 

 his pursuit of cattle-breeding. His annual ram- 

 lettings were extensive and profitable. 



Some of his earliest stock he obtained from 

 Mr. Milbank of Barningham. They were con- 

 sidered as among the best of the Teeswater 

 cattle, and noted for their excellent grazing 

 properties. He also selected the best cows to 

 be obtained from other breeders, and having 

 the bull Hubback (319), as previously stated, in 

 the year 1783, by which he had seventeen cows 

 served, it may well be supposed that he made 

 a ready and sure start through the best blood 

 and the best animals he could obtain in the 

 foundation of his herd. He bred with skill and 

 judgment, and founded several different fami- 

 lies, among the rest the Wildair, the Red 

 Rose, the Princess, the Bright Eyes, and oth- 



