426 THE BREED IN THE SHOW-YARD. 



Jock, the ■winner of the sweepstakes, the official report 

 of the Perth show remarks : " He was particularly reported 

 by the judges as an exti-aordinary animal, and unrivalled 

 for strength, symmetry, and quality, though now four- 

 teen — [should be ten or eleven] — years old. In fact he 

 showed the perfection to which judgment and attention 

 can bring this valuable breed." 



Mr M'Combie, with Bloomer 201, on this occasion 

 commenced in earnest that extraordinary run of show- 

 yard success with members of the Queen tribe which 

 has few parallels in the annals of cattle exhibitions. 

 Bloomer was out of Queen Mother 348, and after Mon- 

 arch 44, a son and daughter of Panmure 51, being thus 

 an example of close breeding. The cow was regarded by 

 Mr M'Combie as one of his best. She bred some fine 

 stock, chief among which may be named The Belle 205 

 and Mr Tayler's famous bull Napoleon 257. " Bloomer 

 was larger than Charlotte 203, but not so level and sweet, 

 nor so fine in the bone." 



It was this year that the polled Aberdeen or Angus 

 cattle elicited the highest encomiums of the directors of 

 Society, and their pronouncement undoubtedly stimulated 

 the extension and still further improvement of the breed. 

 " The directors rejoice that this and preceding shows 

 indicate a praiseworthy amount of effort and care on 

 the part of breeders of polled stock followed by a cor- 

 responding improvement in the stock. They cannot but 

 regard it as the most valuable breed of Scotland, combin- 

 ing as it does in a great measure the constitution of the 

 Highlander with the feeding properties of the Shorthorn." 

 On this historic occasion Mr Watson, as we have seen, 

 was first for aged bulls, and also gained the sweepstakes. 

 Mr Bowie was first for two-year-old bulls with Cupbearer 

 59. Mr M'Combie was not only first for cows, but also 

 for two-year-old heifers ; Mr Scott, Balwyllo, being first 

 for yearling heifers. 



