SHORTHORN HERDS OF KNOLAND. 167 



When reaching West Derehain Abbey, we come to the largest 

 herd of Booth shorthorns in this country, and one that is known 

 not only in every County of the British Isles, but on both the 

 American and European Continents, as well as the Australian, 

 Canadian, and New Zealand Colonies, for the excellence of the young 

 bulls sent forth year after year by its owner, Mr. Hugh Aylmer. 

 Second only to the herd are the Long Woolled Flock, established 

 over seventy yea-is, fiom which something like four hundred rams 

 are annually sent out to various home breedeis, the Continent, and 

 the Colonies. During the shoit period the flock was exhibited, 

 upwaids of six hundred prizes were won. The commencement of 

 the herd took placj in 1840 when two calves, one of each sex, werj 

 purchased from Sir W. Bagge ; but twenty years later more than 

 one half the herd succumbed to the cattle plague. Not dis- 

 heartened by this most unfortunate loss, Mr. Aylmer began to 

 acquit e more fashionable bred animals, from time to time, and to 

 which he used many of the best bulls to be hired at Warlaby, vi/ ; 

 General Hope well 17953, Prince Christian 22581, Ravenspur 20628, 

 British Crown 21322, Eoyal Broughton 27352, High Sheriff 26392, 

 Sir Wilfrid 37484, and Lord President 40908. Not included in 

 this list is Royal Commander 29857, bred at Warlaby, exported to 

 Canada by the Hon. M. H. Cochrane, and after four seasons in the 

 Hillhurst herd, he was b; ought back to England, and used jointly at 

 West. Dereham Abbey, and West Hall. In addition it had always 

 been Mr. Aylmer's practice to use the best of his own breeding with 

 the heifers, which custom is still continued. The herd having been 

 very prolific, and increased to one hundred and fifty head, it was 

 decided in the spring of 1883, to offer the young bulls with seven 

 entire families, consisting of the Mistresses, obtained by the purchase 

 of Mistress Margaret, at the Rev. J. Storer's sale in 1868; Ladies, 

 and Phillises, both springing from one foundation cow, bred by Mr. 

 Jolly ; Easthorpe Strawberries, descended from the Panton stock ; 

 Strawberry Duchesses, of Blencow origin ; Gems, obtained by the 

 purchase of Gem, at Mr. Crawley's sale, at Stock wood Park : 

 Roseleaves, tracing to a cow of that name, bought at Mr. Wetherell's 



