ALTYRE HERD. 183 



Robertson has given much attention to the milking-proper- 

 ties of the breed ; and his experience is that, by very little 

 extra trouble, it is possible, without sacrificing the merits of 

 the breed in beef-production, to rear animals that will yield 

 a copious supply of milk of choice quality. Mr Robertson 

 has made some important private sales. The Erica cow 

 Ella was sold to Mr Stevenson, Blairshinnoch, for 100 

 guineas; the Erica cows Editha 1737 and Elf 3751 went 

 to Mr Wallis, Bradley Hall, at long prices ; the Erica cow 

 Esther 4843 was bought for Mr Stephenson, Newcastle-on- 

 Tyne ; Honesty 4th 3757 was sold for exportation, as were 

 also three Erica females. Mr Stewart, Auchindellan, se- 

 cured an Erica heifer, and the Erica bull Whig 1867 was 

 sold to Major Smith, Minmore, for 100 guineas. 



Altyre. 



Sir William G. Gordon Gumming, Bart, of Altyre, and 

 his factor Mr Robert Walker, have done much in recent 

 years to popularise the polled breed. On several occasions 

 animals from Altyre have won cups for Scotch cattle at 

 the Smithfield Fat Stock shows; and, as noticed elsewhere, 

 Sir William had the unique honour of gaining, not only 

 the Scotch cup, but also the champion cups for heifers and 

 oxen, and the " blue ribbon " of the show, with polled ani- 

 mals at London last year. The breeding herd at Altyre 

 has not hitherto appeared much in public competitions, 

 but it is of high merit, and contains a great deal of good 

 blood. The herd has been in existence since 1874. At 

 the Westertown dispersion, specimens of Mr Brown's Rose 

 and Victoria families were acquired. At Mulben, in 1875, 

 some of Mr Paterson's Mayflowers were introduced. The 

 heifer Oakleaf 1836, by Bon Accord 446, was bought at 

 Rothiemay that year for 54 guineas. In the summer of 

 1876, 60 guineas were paid to Mr Ferguson for Princess of 

 Altyre 3126, of the Kinnochtry Princess family. From 



