THE SHOET-HOENS. 151 



animals, and successfally bred them during several years. The 

 stock became widely distributed, and well known. 



About the year 1839, Mr. George Vail, of Troy, N. Y., 

 made an importation of a bull and heifer, purchased of Mr. 

 Thomas Bates, of Kirkleavington, the first cattle from that 

 particular herd which had been introduced into the State. A few 

 years later, he purchased and imported several more cows from 

 the herd of Mr. Bates, crosses of his "Duchess" and other fami- 

 lies. He bred them with success, and widely distributed their 

 blood. Mr. Vail made a final sale of his herd in the year 1852. 



A period of some years now occurred, in which few more, if 

 any, short-horns were imported. Cattle, as well as all kinds of 

 agricultural produce, were exceedingly low ; but as things grew 

 better, the demand for "blood" cattle revived, and the spirit for 

 their breeding was renewed. Mr. Thomas Bates, a distinguished 

 short-horn breeder in England, died in 1849. His herd, fully 

 equal in quality to any in England, was sold in 1850. The 

 choicest of them — of the "Duchess,'' and "Oxford" tribes — fell 

 mostly into the hands of the late Lord Ducie, at Tortworth Park, 

 already the owner of a noble herd, to which the Bates stock was 

 added. He was a skillful breeder, and of most liberal spirit, and 

 during the brief time he held them, the reputation of the Bates 

 stock, if possible, increased. Within three years from the time of 

 the sale of Mr. Bates' herd. Lord Ducie died. In 1853, a peremp- 

 tory sale of his stock was widely advertised. Allured by the 

 reputation of his herd, several American gentlemen went over 

 to witness it. The attendance of English breeders was large, 

 and the sales averaged higher prices in individual animals than 

 had been reached since the famous sale of Charles Colling, in 

 1810. Mr. Samuel Thome, of Dutchess county, N. Y., bought 

 several of thi best and highest-priced animals, of the "Duchess" 

 and "Oxford" tribes, and added to them several more choice 

 ones, from different herds. Messrs. L. G. Morris, and the late 



