AMOS CRUICKSHANK OF SITTYTON. 577 



exacting requirements of his native heath; 

 competing with a class of farmers probably un- 

 matched in all the world in respect to the in- 

 telligence and skill with which they manage 

 their lands and live stock; leaving all beaten 

 tracks and marking out a distinctive policy of 

 his own; loyally supported in his task by an 

 enterprising brother-partner, the life and work 

 of Amos Cruickshank looms up above all con- 

 temporary effort in the North of Scotland even 

 as Ben Nevis dominates in majesty the moun- 

 tain wilderness of the West. 



A new type sought. Amos Cruickshank 

 was a man with a well-defined purpose. Firm 

 as a rock in his convictions, steadfast to the 

 end in maintaining his views, he recognized no 

 test of value in cattle save that of demonstrated 

 ability to turn straw, turnips and "cake" into 

 pounds, shillings and pence at a profit. Beauty 

 was to his severely practical eye but skin-deep 

 at best. Of itself it paid no rent. He never 

 allowed himself, therefore, in making his selec- 

 tions of breeding stock to lose his heart or head 

 to any beast, be it ever so " bonny," if it had 

 only graceful outlines or mere "sweetness" of 

 character to recommend it. 



The Cruickshank creed demanded first of all 

 "a good middle." The signs of constitution 

 and digestive capacity in cattle present their 

 most visible manifestations in the body rather 



37 



