124 AMERICAN CATTLE. 



years between 1724 and 1740, brought "Holderness" cattle, or 

 "those derived from them," on to his estates to improve the 

 dairy, qualities of his cows, is probable, as the old Holderness 

 cattle were extraordinary milkers, and had the colors described 

 in the early Ayrsliires. It was on the Earl of Marchmont's 

 estate that the improvement in the Ayrshires first began. Some 

 years afterwards, it appears that "Mr. Dunlop imported some 

 Dutch cattle" and crossed on the Ayrshires, or their immediate 

 progenitors. This "Dutch" importation we must be permitted 

 to doubt, as by a long standing British order in Council, 

 passed previous to, and continued many years after the sup- 

 posed Dutch improvement happened, the importation of foreign 

 cattle was prohibited. "Mr. Orr, about the year 1767, brought 

 to his estate near Kilmarnock, (in Ayrshire,) some fine milk 

 cows of a larger size than any which had been on his farm. It 

 was not, however, till about 1780, that this improved breed 

 might be said to be duly estimated, or generally established in 

 that part of Ayrshire." In 1790, and in 1804, the Ayrshires 

 were further disseminated, and about the latter year, Mr. Alton 

 takes them up. Youatt also says, "the breed has been much- 

 improved since Mr. Alton described it." And now the grand 

 question arises: what bulls were used to make that improve- 

 ment? for it appears that up to Alton's time, the Ayrshires were 

 a composition of dififerent breeds, based mainly on the Kyloe. 



As Mr. Alton is made the chief authority for this origin, and 

 improvement, we wish that gentleman had been more particular 

 iu facts, and dates, for he leaves the matter altogether to infer- 

 ence, and guess work, as to how the improvements were effected ; 

 and in that dilemma we venture a guess. It could be from no 

 other than a direct cross of small, compact short-horn bulls, 

 descended from the best milking cows in the north-eastern coun- 

 ties of England, on the cows descended from the "Holderness" 

 bulls of Lord Marchmont, and their crosses from the "conjee- 



