CLOSING EVENTS OF THE CENTURY. 723 



the herd book record (Vol. XX, p. 15482) she 

 proved remarkably prolific, most of her heif- 

 ers being sired by the Rose of Sharon bull 

 Bell Sharon 9507 by imp. Duke of Airdrie. In 

 numerous cases Bell Sharon was bred back to 

 his own daughters. Other bulls used in found- 

 ing the family were Earl of Barrington 23017 

 and Duke of Noxubee 9920.* Messrs. Hamil- 

 ton were, advocates of the principle of in- 

 breeding from the beginning, and double 

 crosses of these bulls appear frequently in the 

 pedigrees of many animals of their produc- 

 tion. It was calculated in the spring of 1884 

 by the Messrs. Hamilton that sales of this 

 Mary cow's descendants had at that time ag- 

 gregated in value upward of $100,000! 



On the decline in values of Bates tribes 

 Messrs. Hamilton became buyers of Duchesses, 

 Kirklevingtons, Barringtons, Renick Rose of 

 Sharons, etc., breeding largely from Duchess 

 and Barrington bulls, included among the num- 

 ber being imp. Grand Duke of Geneva 23344 

 and 20th Duke of Airdrie 13872. The late Mr. 

 A. L. Hamilton, son of George Hamilton and 

 son-in-law of B. F. Van Meter, was the leading 



*Duke of Noxubee appears to have been bred by Mr. Simeon Orr of 

 Mississippi. He was descended from the Bates-bred cow imp. Darlington 

 6th by 4th Duke of Oxford. A foot-note in a catalogue issued by Messrs. 

 Sudduth & Redmon of Clark Co., Ky., many years ago, contained the rather 

 remarkable statement that this bull was " a remarkable breeder, getting 

 fine calves since he was eighteen years old." This astonishing statement, 

 however, lacks confirmation. 



