810 A HISTORY OF SHORT-HORN CATTLE. 



Mary family, weighing from 2,000 to 2,440 Ibs. 

 each. These cattle were three and four years old. 

 At the show of 1879 the championship fell 

 to the Kentucky-bred roan three-year-old steer 

 Nichols, shown by J. H. Graves at a weight 

 of 2,060 Ibs. He represented mainly the Duke 

 of Airdrie and Kenick blood, and was a grand 

 specimen of the best type of prime beeves in 

 demand at that period. Even at this early 

 day a call was made for the abolition of the 

 class for four-year-olds. After the holding of 

 the second show it was pointed out that the 

 championships had both been won by three- 

 year-olds. Besides this Mr. Gillett had under- 

 taken to carry over the champion of the first 

 show in the hope of winning again at the 

 second, but he came back so rough and tallowy 

 that he failed to receive even second prize. 

 Notwithstanding this fact Nichols was re- 

 turned to the show of 1880* and again received 

 championship honors, tipping the scales at the 

 great weight of 2,465 Ibs. Mr. Gillett was 

 again prominent as an exhibitor, but as he 

 brought his cattle direct from the pastures 

 without special handling or fitting in the mod- 



* Nichols was shown at the exhibition of 1879 as a pure-bred Short-horn, 

 but his exhibitor acting upon information alleged to have been subse- 

 quently furnished, presented him at the show of 1880 as a grade. The 

 steer's age was also called in question and a heated controversy was 

 waged in reference to him during the exhibition of 1880. There was no 

 question as to his outstanding superiority or as to his being to all intent? 

 and purposes a purely-bred Short-horn. 



