ROMAN CAMP TO ATHELSTANEFORD. 115 



Mr. John Booth^s Knight Errant, dam by Booth's 

 Cardigan. This bull has rather revived the days 

 when the Duke was wont to be so often in the van 

 of the Highland Society^s shorthorn classes, as he 

 beat the second- prize Royal Nev/castle bull at Stirling 

 last August. It is also well worthy of notice that 

 he and another first-prize winner, Mr. Mitchells 

 Blue Belle were both from Cardigan cows bred by 

 Mr. Wood of Stanwick Park, near Darlington. A 

 good many crosses of all sorts are also fed off in the 

 Park, and a dairy of from twenty-five to thirty Ayr- 

 shires is kept to supply Dalkeith House. In and 

 round it his Grace keeps about 500 acres of old grass 

 and arable in his own hand. Mr. Black, who brought 

 out so many Highland Society winners, is dead, and 

 has been succeeded by Mr. James Deans, brother to 

 Lord PolwartVs factor. 



Mr. Aitchison of Alderson, Mr. Scot Skirving of 

 Camptown, Mr. Sprot of Spot, Major Hunter of 

 Thurston, and Mr, Nisbett Hamilton, all breed South- 

 downs ; and Mr. Skirving has had a pretty fair share 

 for some years past of the Highland Society prizes. 

 Forty years ago, his late father began at Camp- 

 town with a small lot of Southdowns, selected 

 by Mr. Giblett, the well-known London salesman. 

 Then came a high-priced tup from Lord Jersey, for 

 which his lordship had given £90, at a time when he 

 had a flock of 1,100 ewes. In those days their wool 

 was worth 2s. 6d. per lb., and was very much sought 

 rafter by the makers of hats. Other tups succeeded 



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