78 SHORTHORNS 



Pitcorthie-bred Sultan (1485), which was by Jupiter 

 (1147), out of Phoenix, by North Star (458), the 

 noted full brother to Comet (155). 



Mr Robertson did excellent work as a breeder of 

 Shorthorn steers, and in this way he won over many 

 of the more intelligent of tenant farmers. He died 

 in the spring of 1831, and his stock were sold on 16th 

 and 1 7th May of that year. One of Mr Robertson's 

 contemporaries in Berwickshire was Mr Abraham 

 Wilson, Edington Mains, who had a good herd before 

 1820. Mr Wilson did much for the breed in a quiet 

 manner, and he attracted to the Shorthorn cause 

 capable men in the tenant-farmer ranks. 



When at its best, from about 1885 to 1900, the 

 Mertoun herd, owned by Lord Polwarth, was in some 

 respects unexcelled. Its cows were certainly a superb 

 collection, true to their order in character, of grand 

 scale, yet free from coarseness ; and when they 

 sauntered about the pastures, they showed that 

 distinction which arrests and holds the attention 

 of a breeder. Lord Polwarth began to make his 

 selections in 1867, from the best herds in England 

 and Scotland, his strong preference being for the 

 Booth families. For a long time his lordship's dis- 

 tinctive Norse countenance, with its intense eagerness 

 against a backing of analytic reserve, was familiar 

 to all supporters of the Booth standard. In its mid- 

 career the herd had representatives of the Farewell, 

 Wave, Bright, Hiby, Madaline, Gowan, Butterfly, 

 Bracelet, and Medora families. The Aylesby - de- 

 scended Waves he acquired from Newbie. Uppermill 



