A HISTORY OF SHORTHORNS IN KANSAS 91 



accumulated in the herd he exchanged him with 

 the Thompsons of Amity, Missouri for Scottish 

 Chief, also an aged bull and sire of many worthy 

 animals, among them the great breeding cow, 

 Rosedale Violet 9th. It happened as is often the 

 case that neither bull proved sure during the 

 few months following their change of location 

 and the owners decided to change back again. 

 Upon a query from the Tomsons as to what Mr. 

 Babst intended to do with Thistle Top they were 

 advised that they could have him at a very nom- 

 inal cost. He was then eight years old and there, 

 of course, existed some uncertainty as to his use- 

 fulness. He was purchased and for four years 

 proved a sure breeder. 



Thistle Top was a red possessing more than 

 usual scale, weighing approximately 2400 

 pounds with great depth and unusual flesh cover- 

 ing. He was a wonderful feeder. His form was 

 compact, his quarters well rounded and he had 

 a thick coat of curly hair, characteristics which 

 he transmitted generally to his get. He was one of 

 the most richly bred of Cruickshank's pro- 

 ductions. His daughters were given preference 

 in the Tomson herd and soon it was largely com- 

 posed of growthy, thick-meated, roomy cows by 

 him. 



From the time the first bull calves were 

 offered for sale there was a gradual increase in 

 the values but at best they held to a low level for 



