204 SHORTHORNS 



farm, ranging from 500 to 900 feet of elevation 

 above sea-level. It is open to the blasts, and most 

 of the arable land is of second-rate or worse quality. 

 The farm has some useful rough grazing well up the 

 slopes, and the highest part on Linton Hill merges 

 into heather. Stock bred on the farm naturally 

 thrive best under the grazing conditions. 



HARVIESTOUN. 



" The secrets held by the creatures nearer than we 

 To earth he sought, and the link of their life with ours." 



MEREDITH'S Nelampus. 



It is sometimes held that strength is lost in 

 diversity, or that specialism is endangered by the 

 play of one man's mental forces on several depart- 

 ments. Yet here we have Mr John Ernest Kerr of 

 Harviestoun as a practical rebuke to one of the 

 standard texts. From the foundation of a very few 

 female animals he has ere his early prime built up 

 what experts in general claim to be the finest Aber- 

 deen-Angus herd in the world ; he is in the front rank 

 with two breeds of horses, at least three breeds of 

 dogs, and a good many varieties of poultry and 

 pigeons ; he is a wonder in cavies, and he is never 

 ^without surprises in other departments. Then to 

 crown all, he is a most usefully endowed general- 

 purpose farmer. When Mr Kerr took up the Short- 

 horn cause about thirteen years ago, those who knew 

 him predicted that he would come to distinction in 

 this as in other lines. His course has not been with- 



