64 A HISTORY OF SHORT-HORN CATTLE. 



It is said that " Isabella and her descendants 

 brought the massive yet exquisitely molded 

 fore quarters into the herd, and also the 

 straight underline of the belly, for which the 

 Warlaby animals are so remarkable," and the 

 same authority, Mr. Carr, adds: "That such a 

 cow should have had but three crosses of blood 

 is striking evidence of the impressive efficacy 

 of these early bulls, and confirms Mr, E. Booth's 

 opinion that four crosses of really first-rate 

 bulls of sterling blood upon a good market cow 

 of the ordinary Short-horn breed should suffice 

 for the production of an animal with all the 

 characteristics of the high-caste Short-horn." 

 Isabella produced among other celebrities the 

 Royal prize- winning Isabella Buckingham; and 

 of all the cows owned by Richard Booth at the 



the two best cows of their day, with a blooming bevy of fair heifers, 

 attended by Young Albion; and many a traveler lingered on his way to 

 admire their buxom forms, picturing to himself, perhaps, how the monks 

 of the old abbey would have gloried in such beeves. Isabella was the Rev. 

 Henry Berry's beau ideal of a Short-horn. In 1823, Sir Charles Morgan hav- 

 ing offered a premium to promote a trial of merit between Herefords and 

 Short-horns, Mr. Berry wrote to the editor of the Farmers' Journal request- 

 ing him to give publicity to the following offer : 'I will produce as a com- 

 petitor for Sir Charles Morgan's premium at Christmas next a Short-horned 

 cow, then nine years old, expecting to drop her eighth living calf (at sepa- 

 rate births) In June now next ensuing, against any Hereford in England 

 seven or nine years old having had calves for years in the same proportion. 

 I will also, on the same occasion, produce a Short-horn heifer three years 

 old, having had a living calf, allowing to the Herefords the same ample 

 scope all England for the production of a competitor. It will be obvious 

 to your readers that in thus pitting two individuals against so numerous a 

 tribe as the Herefords I must entertain considerable confidence in their 

 merits, and it will be as easy to draw a correct conclusion ahould my offer 

 not be accepted.' The cow and heifer which, by permission of the owners, 

 Mr. Berry proposed bringing into competition with the Herefords were Mr. 

 Whitaker's cow Moss Rose and Mr. Booth's heifer Isabella, by Pilot. The 

 challenge was not taken up." 



