BALIOL COLLEGE FARM HERD. 325 



of animals of the polled breed. Of scarcely less import- 

 ance in spreading the fame of the breed in England have 

 been the magnificent lots of polled oxen annually exhibited 

 at the Christmas Market in London. It is only in recent 

 years, however, that herds of polled cattle have been started 

 in England. One of the first to do so was Mr Carter Wood 

 of Felcourt, Sussex, and during the past year there has 

 been a large accession to the ranks of polled breeders in 

 England. We give below a few notes on English herds : 

 Baliol College Farm. For several years before Mr 

 Stephenson, Baliol College Earm, Benton, near New- 

 castle, turned his attention to a breeding stock of polled 

 cattle, he showed some specimens of the breed at the fat 

 shows. In 1878 he won the first prize at Smithfield with 

 a black polled heifer, while again at the same show in 

 1880 he had the best black polled heifer. Recognising 

 their great aptitude to fatten, he resolved to start a 

 breeding stock ; and through Mr Eobert Bruce, Great 

 Smeaton, laid the foundation of a herd in purchases from 

 Mr Bean, Balquhain. Good looks, combined with good 

 pedigree, were made two essential points in selecting his 

 females, and although he now has a great number of 

 strains or families represented in his herd, yet there is a 

 great uniformity of type and character running through 

 the lot. Of one thing he is very particular he is 

 decidedly opposed to " SCUTS," and makes a true polled 

 head a cardinal point in the selection of his animals. 

 Having, as we have said, no large number of any par- 

 ticular family, Mr. Stephenson decided on buying an Erica 

 bull after seeing how impressive they had been in many 

 herds in the North of Scotland. A journey to Ballindal- 

 loch in the early autumn of last year, before North-country 

 breeders had begun to think of buying bulls, enabled him 

 to get, after one was drawn for home use, a pick of the 

 Erica bulls, and he was fortunate in choosing one which 

 he has since named Englishman from the favourite cow 



