396 A HISTORY OF SHORT-HORN CATTLE. 



York Mills to follow Gibson's advice and go 

 gunning for Sheldon with Booth weapons. 



Gibson buys Booths for New York Mills. 

 T. C. Booth of Warlaby was now at the cli- 

 max of his show-yard renown. Commander- 

 in-Chief (21415) and the marvelous Lady Fra- 

 grant had been champions of the breed at the 

 Leicester Royal of 1868.* While the Bates men 

 had forced prices for their favorites to a high 

 point Warlaby also had a powerful following 

 throughout the United Kingdom, and nothing 

 but very tempting offers would induce Mr. 

 Booth to part with any of his best cattle to 

 come to America. Mr. Gibson had not gone so 

 far, however, for the purpose of purchasing in- 

 ferior specimens, and at the handsome figure 

 of $5,000 secured the great roan heifer Bride of 

 the Vale, sired by Lord of the Valley (14837) 

 out of the famous Soldier's Bride. He also 

 bought the roan bull calf Royal Briton (27351), 

 .bred at Warlaby from Lord Blithe (22126), tra- 

 cing through Crown Prince to Bride Elect. 

 From the same noted nursery of show-yard 

 champions came the roan heifer Merry Peal, 

 by Commander-in-Chief, and the white heifer 

 White Rose, by Mountain Chief. From R. 

 Chaloner, King's Fort, Ireland, he bought the 



*The last appearance of the Booths at the English Royal was at Man- 

 chester in 1869, upon which occasion Lady Fragrant was champion female 

 and Earl of Derby (21638), bred and shown by Wiley of Brandsby, was cham- 

 pion bull. 



