332 THE BREED IN ENGLAND AND IRELAND. 



guineas a-piece, then considered a high figure. At the 

 same time he bought the first-rate old cow Naiad 978, of 

 the Balwyllo Keepsake family. Mr M'Combie had 

 acquired her at a sale of Sir George Macpherson Grant's, 

 she being the highest-priced animal at the sale. Two or 

 three others of lesser note were obtained at Tillyfour. A 

 great milker, Mary of Kinnochtry 1770, was got from Mr 

 Adamson, Balquharn, and a couple of cows from the 

 Balquharn dispersion were added before Christmas of 

 1881. As stock bull, Mr Dickinson took from Tillyfour 

 Blackleg 1350, bred at Easter Skene out of the well-known 

 prize breeding cow Grizzle 995, and got by Moudiewart 

 686. Blackleg went to the butcher after a year's service, 

 his place being taken by a promising yearling. Baron de 

 Eoos, out of Naiad, who was served when at Tillyfour by 

 Altanour 641, being thus Tillyfour bred. This yearling 

 was assisted by another of the same age, named Burton, 

 out of Heather Bloom, who was in calf, when sold, to Sir 

 Garnet 684. A buU from Mains of Kelly followed, and in 

 1880 Chard, out of Heather Bloom, sire Baron de Eoos, was 

 used. In 1881 he was assisted by a yearling named 

 Heather Lad, also out of Heather Bloom, and by the Mains 

 of Kelly bull. In addition to the progeny of the cows 

 named, the Eoos herd contains many good non-pedigree 

 animals, which have gradually taken the place of cross- 

 breds and dairy Shorthorns. Mr Dickinson finds that 

 certain strains of polls give fully the average quantity of 

 milk, the quality being second only to that of the Jersey. 

 The polls are hardier and are easier kept than the dairy 

 Shorthorn or cross-bred. The bulls show their potency, 

 nine-tenths of the calves from cross-bred cows coming 

 black and hornless. 



Smeaton llanor. — Major Godmau, who is improving and 

 beautifying his property, recently took one of his farms 

 into his own hands, and being favourably impressed with 

 the polled cattle exhibited at the Carlisle show of the 



