2$6 HISTORY OF THE SHORT-HORNS. 



of opinion, have assured us that the early Patton bulls Buzzard 

 (3253); Pluto, 825; Mars, 1850; and Shaker, 2193 taken into Ken- 

 tucky and Ohio, had the appearance and characteristics of Short- 

 horns, and good ones; while those of the well-known Kentucky 

 importation of 1817 bulls and cows alike were, to all appearance, 

 true Short-horns, showing purity of blood, with the distinguishing 

 qualities of good breeding, which mark the race at the present day. 

 Yet these animals had no written pedigrees, being sent out of Eng- 

 land years before a Herd Book was known in that country, and what 

 genealogy they had was only kept in the private notes or memoranda 

 of their breeders, or retained in their memories, or by tradition, 

 except that of the cow Mrs. Motte, whose pedigree has since 

 been traced in our previous account of the particulars of the 1817 

 importation. 



We are not disposed to argue the question of the purity of Short- 

 horn descent in all or any one of these animals, nor of any others which 

 have come into the country claiming to be well-bred Short-horns, but 

 without certified pedigrees. We purpose to calmly and plainly state 

 facts, so far as we have been able to obtain them. We are aware that 

 of late there has grown up a prejudice against the blood of the above 

 named tribes of cattle right or wrong, we do not decide, yet we 

 believe very much of that prejudice to be unfounded. 



Let us state the case clearly. When the Patton bulls came into 

 Kentucky, although the blue-grass region at that early day had herds 

 of good native cattle, they were at once recognized as a superior 

 breed to any ever before seen in that locality, and were immediately 

 adopted and encouraged for use in breeding by the most sagacious 

 of the cattle breeders there. In course of time came the 1817 im- 

 portation of Col. Sanders. They were represented as without taint 

 or blemish of outside blood in their compositions; as true Short- 

 horns from near the river Tees, the ancient, and then best known 

 home of the race. That was five years before the name of a public 

 Herd Book was known in that or any other country. The enter- 

 prising cattle breeders of Kentucky at once adopted them, as well as 

 the Hereford bull Embassador, and the Long-horn bull Rising Sun, 

 which were both of good and ancient established breeds, and down 

 to the present day are held in high estimation in England. These 

 two bulls were not much used, the Short-horns having a decided 

 preference with the principal breeders, and after some crosses on the 

 Short-horns they soon run out, leaving but few visible traces of their 

 blood among them. This course of breeding continued several 



