MIDDLE-HORNED CATTLE — THE DEVON, THE SUSSEX & POLLED DURHAM. 717 



Xllla. POLLED DUKHAM CATTLE. 



Among the several distinctive breeds of improved domesticated cattle, 

 we know of but one originated in the United States, that has become cele- 

 brated, under the specific name of Polled Durhanis— an offshoot of the 

 famous Short Horn family. In this connection it is remarkable that two 

 distinct origins should have occurred at about the same time, wthout 

 either party knowing of the Avork of the other, until these "sports" had 

 for some time been perpetuated. 



One of these was in a herd of high grade Short Horns; the other in a 

 herd of the highest bred pedigreed Short Horns in the United States. 

 There is in these no taint even of the far away Collins Galloway Cross. 

 The writer of this had been conversant with the offshoot of the Short 

 Horns for some time i)revious to its appearance before the public, and 

 assisted in organizing the Polled Durham Society and had the honor of 

 suggesting the specific name adopted by the Society, November 14th, 1889. 



The Polled Durhams were and are not only specifically like Short Horns 

 in color and characteristics generally, but besides being eminent in flesh, 

 are also deep milkers, and eligible to entrance in the American Short Horn 

 Herd Book. 



The stock holders and breeders of this j^olled family of the Short Horn 

 race now comprise nearly three hundred — in sixteen States, principally in 

 the Middle- AV est and South— the home of the great breeding grounds of all 

 the superior breeds of domestic cattle of the Avorld. 



The breeders of Polled Durhams have had to contend with misrepresen- 

 tation, of course, relating to this now well fixed breed of hornles.s cattk'. 

 The American Short Horn Herd Book welcomed the purely bred to its herd 

 book, and the eminent breeders of the other classes of pedigreed cattle Avel- 

 comed them. But the farming Avorld, of England, alone, sought to cast 

 reproach in the following words, as collated from the "Prairie Farmer" 

 soon after the organization of the Polled Durham Society. 



"Our enterprising cousins on the other side of the Atlantic arc ever 

 hunting after improvements. There is no limit to their inventive genius. 

 Not satisfied Avith the pure breeds of cattle which we send them from this 

 country, they have now resolved to found a breed of their own. By mating 

 Aberdeen-Angus sires with Short Horn cows, they have succeeded in form- 

 ing a class of cross (bred?) without horns, but in regard to color and other 

 cattle characteristics strongly resembling the Short Horns. ' ' 



So much for this tirade which fell still born. 



During the life of the great Dr. Johnson, soon after he had compiled his 

 dictionary, he received a visit from the then Duke of Argyle, surnamed the 

 Great. The Doctor had the habit of keeping notable people Avaiting before 

 he received them. The Duke amused himself Avhile waiting in looking over 

 the then new dictionary. The Doctor saluted him and observed, "Oh, my 

 lord, I see you have my dictionary. How do you like it ? " 



The Duke replied, sarcastically, "They are braw stories but unko short. 

 By the way. Doctor, I see here the word Aits (Scotch for oats) food for 

 horses in England and men in Scotland, and where, mon, will you find 

 such horses and such men?" The Polled Durham breeders can aptly reply 

 to cavillers, "Where will you find such a combination of milk and beef as 

 in the Polled Durhams?" 



