686 A HISTORY OF SHORT-HOKN CATTLE. 



running on the dam's side to imp. Esterville. 

 She proved a good investment. In 1862 he 

 purchased from George Miller of Markham the 

 good cow Cherry, by Prince of Wales (18630), 

 that also did well. It was not until 1871 that 

 Mr. Davidson commenced importing direct from 

 Sittyton.* In June of that year Mr. Jamieson, 

 an Aberdonian relative who was in the em- 

 ploy of Mr. Grant Duff for more than twenty 

 years selected and shipped five heifers, includ- 

 ing Oak Wreath, a red by Allan (21172); Rose 

 Blossom, a red by Senator (27441); Matchless 

 15th, a red by Champion of England; Match- 

 less 16th, a roan by Senator, and Water Witch, 

 a red by Scotland's Pride. Two of these, Rose 

 Blossom and Matchless 15th, were among the 

 best Cruickshank heifers ever brought to this 

 country and were sold to the Messrs. Moffatt. 

 The other three were retained for a time, but 

 after a few years Oak Wreath was sold to Mr. 



* Just before the dispersion sale of the famous herd of Grant Duff of 

 Eden was announced in 1868, Mr. Davidson wrote to his friend and relative 

 Mr. Jamieson, Mr. Duff's overseer, for a price on a good yearling heifer. He 

 was advised that the price would be 40 guineas. Instead of sending the 

 money direct, Mr. Davidson forwarded a draft to a near relative, with in- 

 structions to procure and ship the heifer. The recipient of the money, 

 however, took it upon himself to decide, that the price was too high and 

 determined to wait and execute the order at the sale. In order that Mr. 

 Davidson's agent might not make any mistake and bid on the wrong ani- 

 mal, Jamieson agreed to enter the ring during the sale and adjust the halter 

 on the heifer chosen. The plan worked all right until the bidding began, 

 but as the heifer was started at 50 guineas and in a few minutes was going 

 at 100 guineas, the order was never filled. This proved a costly interfer- 

 ence with Mr. Davidson's plans, as a granddaughter of the heifer in ques- 

 tion (Venus, by Grand Duke, Vol. XI, E. H. B.) during the "boom" days 

 of the seventies commanded the great price of $2,300 at a sale made by 

 Edward lies at Springfield. I1L 



