1904. J 



Stock in Northumberland. 



357 



improvement of the stock in the various districts where the bulls 

 have been stationed. 



Up to the end of last year 1,599 cows had been served, or an 

 average of 265 per season, from which it will be seen that 

 advantage has been largely taken of the arrangement. 



The Society cannot, of course, afford to pay high prices for 

 the bulls, but most of them have been very useful animals of 

 good pedigree. They have been purchased from the following 

 well-known herds: — Sir James Miller, Bart, Manderston ; 

 Mr. G. Harrison, Gainford Hall, Darlington; Mr. W. Bell, 

 Ratcheugh, Alnwick ; Mrs. A. H. Browne, Callaly Castle, 

 Whittingham (whose herd was sold off a few years ago) ; 

 Sir Walter Thorburn, Orchard Mains, Innerleithen ; Mr. John 

 Robson, Newton, Bellingham ; Mr. A. F. Nichol, Bradford, 

 Belford ; Mr. J. S. Shield, Sourhope, Kelso ; between 

 £40 and £50 being the highest price paid, whilst the average 

 figure has been ,£30, 



An altogether different method has been employed for the 

 improvement of farm horses. As there were already a number of 

 horse clubs and cart horse societies doing excellent work in the 

 county, the Council of the Society decided to assist them by 

 subsidies, thereby enabling them to obtain better stallions, and 

 in some instances to extend their districts. In several cases 

 the subsidy received has been the means of enabling the clubs 

 to keep going. Since the year 1900 approximately ,£350 has 

 been apportioned in this way with very good results, there being 

 a marked improvement in the quality of young stock at the 

 local and county shows. Too little attention, however, is paid by 

 the average farmer to the class of mare from which he breeds, 

 but where the dam has been of good size and quality the fact of 

 the owner being able to put her to an undoubtedly good horse 

 has naturally resulted in many good foals being produced 

 good prices being obtained for many of them as yearlings 

 and two-year-olds. 



Speaking generally, it is safe to assert that a great deal of good 

 has resulted from the efforts of the Society to improve the class 

 of stock in the manner indicated above, and it should not be 

 forgotten that it has been done on a comparatively small income, 

 with a membership varying between 500 and 600, and a sub- 



