HISTORICAL TESTIMONY. 181 



cows and the purchase and hiring of bulls, the 

 animals were as thoroughly miscellaneous in 

 their breeding as it was possible for them to 

 be. For a long period scarcely a year passed 

 without the introduction of some new strain. 

 During all this time the herd had steadily 

 gained in reputation. This was often and 

 plainly shown by the large prices realized at 

 various sales. Nor was the success in the more 

 important direction of securing and maintain- 

 ing the excellence in form and quality, which 

 Mr. Cruickshank made his principal aim, less 

 notable. None who saw the herd questioned 

 the success of the effort to breed a fine type of 

 easy-feeding, short-legged, deep-fleshed butch- 

 er's beasts. 



After so long a time, when the excellence 

 and the fame of the herd were placed on so 

 sure a footing, when Mr. Cruickshank was him- 

 self well past the meridian of life and might 

 naturally think the time had come to reap as 

 thoroughly as possible the results of his labors 

 and reputation, a change of method was inau- 

 gurated. But this change was neither radical 

 nor violent. The constant introduction of all 

 kinds of fresh blood from any and every source 

 was given up. The only rule of practice hith- 

 erto discernible was the gathering in of the 

 best animals anywhere to be found. This led 

 to an extreme form of outbreeding, followed 



