32 HISTORY OF THE SHORT-HORNS. 



or rather by a more intelligent appreciation of the value of Short- 

 horns by those interested in their propagation. 



This change of sentiment and action was partially introduced by 

 two young men, brothers, just beginning active business life on their 

 own account, Robert and Charles Colling. They were sons of a 

 substantial farmer living in the valley of the Tees, who had many 

 years been a Short-horn cattle breeder. He brought up his sons in 

 his own pursuit, and no doubt aided them with an outfit, for it 

 appears that they were each enabled to occupy a good farm in the 

 year 1783, not a far distance apart, stock it with the necessary appli- 

 ances, and commence in a spirited way the breeding of Short-horns. 

 That they were intelligent, sagacious, enterprising, there can be little 

 doubt, as their subsequent career was altogether successful. 



In writing what follows, and saying much of the operations of the 

 Colling brothers, it is not that we feel any partiality for them over 

 other breeders of their time, but because more historical matter has 

 been given relating to them and their proceedings than of other 

 breeders contemporary with them, and further, that their course of 

 breeding has been more freely commented upon during and since 

 the time they were on the stage of action. It has been asserted that 

 they were the chief and real improvers of the Short-horn race, and to 

 them has been ascribed the great merit and glory of raising them 

 from an obscure breed in a narrow locality, into the peerless excel- 

 lence and popularity they have since enjoyed wherever they have 

 obtained a foothold, and proved successful in their breeding. We 

 say such has been asserted sometimes by those who know nothing 

 about it, other than by information through partial publications of 

 incidents in the Ceilings' career, and sometimes by others who had a 

 particular partiality for them through the stock descended from their 

 herds; and the assertion has been as strongly denied by others. 

 This question of their improvement of the Short-horns will be dis- 

 cussed hereafter. 



We propose to state all the facts which have come within our 

 knowledge relating to the Ceilings in their course of cattle breeding, 

 and the results which have followed it. From such facts the reader 

 may draw his own conclusions of their correctness, or otherwise. 

 The results determined by the extended practice in breeding by the 

 Collings have been too long discussed, both in England and the 

 United States, by those who have considered themselves masters in 

 the studies of natural history and physiology, to set up our own judg- 

 ment in decision, either one way or the other. We have opinions, 



