Shorthorns  in  Scotland  and  Ireland. 
61 
oxen  there  as  the  class  of  stock  the  farmers  of  the  north-east 
ought  to  aim  at  producing,  and  lost  no  time  in  bringing  the 
Improved  Shorthorn  into  their  midst.  Others,  as  will  be 
shown,  soon  followed  the  example  of  “ The  Captain,”  as  he  was 
familiarly  called  ; and  by  1840  the  reputation  of  the  Improved 
Shorthorn  as  the  best  of  all  breeds  for  crossing  purposes  had 
become  fully  established  and  universally  acknowledged.  From 
that  date  onwards  the  breed  spread  over  the  north-east  with  great 
rapidity,  clearing  away  nearly  all  the  native  varieties  of  horned 
cattle,  and  producing  in  their  stead  a new  class  of  stock  nearly 
twice  the  value  of  the  old.  The  native  Polled  breed  alone 
made  a stand  against  the  popular  invader ; and  had  not  the  late 
Mr.  William  McCombie  and  a few  other  ardent  admirers  of  the 
black  “ humlies  ” or  “ doddies  ” come  to  their  rescue,  these  two 
would  have  fallen  a prey  to  the  remarkable  craze  for  the  new- 
fashioned  cross.  The  “ deliverance  ” of  the  blacks  was  a fortunate 
circumstance.  The  Polled  Aberdeen  or  Angus,  and  the  Shorthorn 
breeds,  now  hold  undisputed  sway  all  over  the  north-eastern  coun- 
ties, and  between  them  they  produce  the  finest  class  of  butchers’ 
cattle  to  be  found  anywhere.  The  one  breed  adds  to  the  value 
of  the  other.  A Shorthorn  bull  for  crossing  purposes  is  worth 
more  among  Polled  cows  than  amongst  cows  of  any  other  known 
variety  of  stock.  Two  elements,  congenial  yet  distinct,  are 
required  to  produce  a satisfactory  “ cross.”  The  Black  Polled 
breed  of  the  north-east  of  Scotland  supplies  the  best  possible 
base  for  the  Shorthorn  edifice — hence  the  fame  of  the  “ Aber- 
deenshire beef,”  and  here  also  is  found  substantial  proof  of  the 
wisdom  of  the  late  Laird  of  Tillyfour  in  preserving  his  favourite 
black  cattle. 
At  the  outset,  as  might  be  expected,  the  Shorthorn  met  with 
opposition  in  certain  districts.  It  was  supposed  or  feared  that 
the  race  was  delicate,  and  would  not  thrive  in  the  rigorous 
climate  of  the  North.  Wherever  it  received  a fair  trial,  how- 
ever, the  breed  produced  such  excellent  results,  and  so  readily 
adapted  itself  to  the  peculiarities  of  climate  and  treatment,  that 
it  soon  overcame  all  prejudices.  The  Strathbogie  Farmers’ 
Club  was  established  in  1835,  and  one  of  its  rules  declared 
“ That  no  Shorthorn  cattle  will  be  allowed  to  compete  [at  the 
Show  of  the  Club],  as  they  are  considered  unsuitable  for  the  dis- 
trict.” Three  years  later  Mr.  C.  Bruce,  of  Broadland,  moved  that 
this  Rule  be  rescinded,  and  only  one  member  stood  up  against 
him.  Having  discovered  their  error,  the  Strathbogie  farmers 
turned  kindly  to  the  “ new  comer ; ” and  for  more  than  thirty 
years  the  great  majority  of  bulls  used  by  them  have  been  pure- 
bred Shorthorns.  Here,  as  throughout  the  north-east  generally, 
the  stock  of  cattle  prior  to  the  introduction  and  spread  of  Short- 
