SHORTHORN HERDS OF KVGLA.ND. 355 



CHAPTER XIV. 



The Gloucestershire Herds ( continued). Butler's Court. Hathcrop. 

 Southrop House. Kastleach. Maiseyhatnpton. Marston Hill. 

 Poulton Priortj. North Cerney. Sherbourne. Great Hissin/jton. 

 Oxfordshire Herds. Sarsden Lodge Farm. Melbourne Villa. 

 Berkshire Herds. Windsor. Grazeley Court. Charlton House. 



In continuing our visits to the numerous and excellent herds 

 in the county of Gloucester, we enter by way of the Great Western 

 branch running from Oxford to Fairford and it is necessary to travel 

 to Lechlade, only one station short of the full length twenty-six 

 miles of this useful line before we have a halting pla^e. The late 

 Mr. W. Atkell was well known for the extensive herd of dairy 

 shorthorns bred by him at Dudgrove, and in the cattle department 

 of the farm, his sons at Butler's Court and Hatherop, believe 

 there is nothing like the pure bred shorthorns to help to pay the 

 rent. Both herds began with the old Dudgrove stock, while their 

 modus operandi may also be said to be the same, no public sale has 

 been held by either, surplus females being sent to Bingley Hall as 

 near their calving as possible, and the young bulls annually to the 

 March sale, where they have been successful in the prize lists. 



The Dudgrove herd was begun in 1841, with animals purchased 

 from the Misses Strickland of Apperley Court, and at their sale seven 

 years later, Frost, whose progeny have been of great repute for 

 dairy purposes, and not a single quarter was lost by the tribe for 

 the thirty years they remained in the late Mr. Arkell's possession. 

 Bulls were largely used from the Siddington herd, as well as their 

 sons from Dudgrove cows. Mr. Daniel Arkell first came to Butler's 

 Court in 1872, bringing with him Flower Girl and Formosa of the 



