TWO TAKIETIES IN BUCHAN. 73 



tions. The polled cattle were of two classes, one large 

 and another small. I knew ihe small kind weU. They 

 were rather puny creatures, always thin in flesh, and very 

 badly used. They were pre-eminently the crofter's cow, 

 as they were able to live through the winter on the straw 

 of oats and here, and water, if necessary. Of the larger 

 portion of the cattle, about one-half were jet black, ex- 

 cepting the udder, which was usually white, and often the 

 whole underline was white. They could not stand starva- 

 tion so well as the small polls, but with better treatment 

 they gave a heavier yield of milk. When creamed, how- 

 ever, their milk was thinner than that from the small 

 cows. A considerable portion of the cattle were large- 

 sized, well-fleshed brindled polls ; and these were the 

 finest-looking animals in Buchan. When well fed, they 

 had a short glossy coat of hair ; some were good milkers, 

 but some went to flesh and fat instead of milk. A few 

 were of a dull red colour, but they were not so high in 

 favour as the brindled cattle. The polled cattle were the 

 dairy stock. The butter they produced was very fine 

 in summer and autumn, but hard and white in winter. 

 The establishing of a beef trade with England, and the 

 introduction of Shorthorn bulls and turnip husbandry, 

 opened up a new era for Buchan. The native cattle 

 fattened well, and money was made by doing so. Short- 

 horn bulls were introduced, and put to a,ll kinds of cows. 

 Often when a Shorthorn bull was mated with a small 

 polled cow, the produce was a black poll of the finest 

 character — immensely superior to either of the parents. 

 When a heifer of this stamp was again put to a good 

 Shorthorn bull, the result was quite as fine a black poll, 

 of still larger size. If the produce were also a heifer, and 

 mated with a pure Shorthorn bull, the produce was still 

 a poll, yet larger in size, but bluish-grey in colour. If a 

 heifer again, and put to a Shorthorn bull, the produce was 

 once more a grey poll, probably lighter in colour. When 



