progress when Old Grannie entered in 

 on the scene. During the first twenty- 

 nine years of her life she produced the 

 twenty-five calves, after which she 

 ceased breeding. In fact, after her 

 twenty-eighth year she produced no milk 

 for the calf to suckle. 



This cow had more merit than simply 

 age and fecundity. Mr. Watson valued 

 her offspring, and they became impor- 

 tant factors in his herd. Some of her 

 daughters were purchased by the best 

 Scotch breeders. Mr. Ferguson of Kin- 

 nochtry bought in 1839 Young Favorite 

 (61) and Edinburgh (64), and Mr. Mc- 

 Combie of Tillyfour bought Lady Clara 

 (4). In 1882 Macdonald and Sinclair 

 wrote: "The blood of Old Grannie (1) 

 circulates in the male line in many exist- 

 ing tribes of cattle, and she has also 

 several living female descendants." 

 Through the work of Mr. Ferguson, re- 

 sulting from his 1839 purchase of Young 

 Favorite (61), came the Princess and 

 Baroness families, while Edinburgh (64) 

 became the foundress^ of the Emily fam- 

 ily. There is little difficulty in tracing 

 back Angus pedigrees of to-day into the 

 direct blood of Old Grannie. 



Some of the unregistered offspring of 

 this old matron were also highly es- 

 teemed. A son of hers, that later came 

 into service as an ox, Hugh Watson con- 

 sidered the most perfect specimen of the 

 polled breed he ever raised. This ox 

 won first prize in class in 1843 at the 

 Highland show at Dundee, and he walked 

 the thirteen miles from Keillor to the 

 grounds to be exhibited. At Belfast, Ire- 

 land, Prince Albert, husband of Queen 

 Victoria, purchased him, and, as his prop- 

 erty, showed him at Smithfield in 1844. 

 This ox met with such favor in the royal 

 family as to be made a life pensioner. 



A painting was made of him for Mr. 

 Watson, and colored engravings were 

 also published and widely distributed, 

 one of which is in the possession of the 

 writer. A portrait was also made of h'im 

 by the celebrated animal painter, Gour- 

 lay Steell. This ox served as a valued 

 laborer on the (arm and lived to be 17 

 years of age. 



In searching for specific information 

 concerning Old Grannie, the writer has 

 been unable to find any statement as to 

 her type and personal character. ' No 

 mention of these things is made in con- 

 siderable Angus literature at my dis- 



22 



