258 SHORTHORN HKRDS OF ENGLAND. 



herd, and certainly the buildings he has erected are highly finished, 

 and worth an inspection, especially what is known as Easthorpe barn ; 

 this building is 105 feet, by 72, and has a spacious " cellarage " to 

 accommodate roots, and silage, while the chaffing and pulping is also 

 done down below. The first floor is arranged for a granary, the loft 

 over the same containing the hay and straw. On the right of the 

 granary floor are five bull boxes, with small open yards attached 

 thereto, and on the left is a lean-to with standing for eighteen head 

 of cattle. Both the bulls and cows are fed f rom shoots on the main 

 floor (a small tramway has naturally been laid for greater convenience), 

 where also are windows enabling the owner to have a quiet stroll 

 under cover on a wet day, and thus see the larger part of his herd 

 without disturbing them. This handsome looking building is sur- 

 rounded by a large yard, with an open shed, 25 feet span, a range of 

 loose boxes, calf houses, boiler house, &c. The buildings are capable 

 of holding sixty head of cattle, while the hay when secured is placed 

 in Dutch barns. 



The first purchase made for what is now the Ruddington herd 

 was Blanche 8th, bred at Maplewell, a massive thick cow, with what 

 the owner terms an iron constitution ; she has bred regularly, and is 

 still to be seen, although passed her twelfth year. One of her first 

 produce, Lady Blanchette, by Mr. R. E. Oliver's Grand Duke 27th, 

 is a cow of great merit, far surpassing her dam for style, she has 

 followed the old cow's good example in breeding well, so that now 

 the Blanches are the most numerous family at Ruddington. The 

 younger members by their names, Oxford Blanches, and Rosedale 

 Blanches, denote the breeding of their sires, two of the oldest 

 heifers we learn have since found a purchaser with several others to 

 go to South America. The most important purchase was made by 

 Mr. Mills, when Grand Duchess of Oxford 34th was bought atHolker, 

 she is lengthy and well formed, with a beautiful head and horn, but 

 her hindquarters are getting " cushioned " like so many of the elder 

 Grand Duchesses of Oxford we have seen on the shores of Morecambe 

 Bay, as the owner has not had the best of luck with her progeny, 

 we welcome the news of the arrival of Oxford Duke of Rosedale. 



