586 A HISTORY OF SHORT-HORN CATTLE. 



General plan pursued. Briefly stated, the 

 methods of the Messrs. Cruickshank did not 

 differ materially from those of the elder Booth. 

 Bates proceeded on the theory that a combina- 

 tion of certain bloods must necessarily produce 

 the type he sought. Thomas Booth and Amos 

 Cruickshank worked for type alone, utilizing 

 at first any good material attracting their at- 

 tention and finally "fixing" the desired con- 

 formation by resort to in-and-in breeding. In 

 the purchase of the foundation cows and heif- 

 ers for Sittyton choice was usually made of 

 those that seemed to possess good constitutions 

 and an aptitude to fatten. If milking qualities 

 were shown that point was also prized at its 

 full value. Cattle were draw 7 n from widely 

 separated sources, and while Mr. Cruickshank 

 endeavored to adhere to one general ideal as 

 closely as possible, he was unable to collect a 

 cow herd which in point of uniform excellence 

 would satisfy his aspirations. Realizing that 

 the bull was the key to the situation, greater 

 attention was bestowed upon the selection of 

 sires than upon choice of females. Beginning 

 with bulls bought from Capt. Barclay, no stone 

 was left unturned for a quarter of a century to 

 obtain for service at Sittyton stock bulls of the 

 very highest order of merit. In the course of 

 that time nearly every leading herd and every 

 important show-yard in the Kingdom was 



