554 A HISTORY OF SHORT-HORN CATTLE. 



from the Valley of the Tees across the border 

 into the district lying between the River Tweed 

 and the Firth of Forth. Robertson of Lady- 

 kirk and Rennie of Phantassie were the pio- 

 neers in this forward movement toward the 

 North; and after the introduction of Short- 

 horn bulls had aroused the spirit of improve- 

 ment among the farmers of the higher latitude 

 the blood of these earliest Scottish herds be- 

 came an important element in the evolution of 

 the Aberdeenshire type. 



Robertson of Lady kirk. Residing near 

 Coldstream, Berwickshire, close by the placid 

 waters of the Tweed, Robertson of Ladykirk, 

 Scotland's first breeder of Short-horn cattle, 

 acquired an early familiarity with the merits 

 of the original Short-horn stock of Northum- 

 berland and Durham. A contemporary of the 

 Collings, Mason, Grey of Dilston, Bates and 

 Thomas Booth he had ample opportunities for 

 making a thorough study of the breed while 

 still in its infancy. Quick to adopt practical 

 ideas into his own farming operations he re- 

 solved to transfer to Scottish territory some of 

 the best of the Ketton and Barmpton blood. 

 Cows and heifers of the most approved Tees- 

 water type were selected mainly on their mer- 

 its as individuals and crossed by herd-book 

 bulls of Colling and kindred breeding. The 

 canny Scot, however, was opposed to the whole 



