68 
Shorthorns  in  Scotland  and  Ireland. 
cattle  were  very  low  after  the  potato  failure  in  1846,  and  up  till 
about  1854,  when  they  rose  somewhat.  The  average  price  per 
head  at  the  present  time  is  from  two  to  two  and  a-half  times 
more  than  in  1852,  and  one-fourth  of  that  value  may  be  fairly- 
assigned  to  the  use  of  Shorthorn  bulls.”  Mr.  Armstrong  has 
known  some  remarkable  instances  of  the  ability  of  pure-bred 
Shorthorn  bulls  to  produce  good  stock  from  small  inferior  cows, 
cases  in  which  the  produce  of  Kerry  cows  and  Shorthorn  bulls 
brought,  when  sold  in  store  condition  at  two  years  old,  twice 
the  price  of  similar  cattle  of  the  original  Irish  breed.  He  has 
found  that  the  Shorthorn  cross  reaches  maturity  at  least  twelve 
months  earlier,  and  weighs,  when  matured,  about  1^  cwt.  more 
than  unimproved  cattle.  As  further  proof  of  the  value  of 
Shorthorn  blood  in  crossing,  Mr.  Armstrong  mentions  the  case 
of  neighbouring  small  farmers  who  have  had  the  use  of  his  bulls 
for  over  thirty  years.  “ These  farmers,”  he  says,  “ had  four  or 
five  common  cows  at  the  commencement,  which  were  kept 
entirely  for  dairy  purposes,  and  which,  at  present  prices,  would 
have  been  valued  at  about  15Z.  a head,  when  close  at  calving. 
Their  cows  are  now  worth  25 1.  each  ; and  they  say  when  they 
sell  their  yearlings  they  get  fully  21.  a head  more  than  their 
neighbours,  who  have  not  followed  the  same  practice ; and, 
besides  this,  their  animals  are  always  easily  sold.” 
Throughout  the  property  of  his  Grace  the  Duke  of  Leinster, 
ample  evidence  is  to  be  found  of  the  ameliorating  influence  of 
the  Shorthorn.  His  Grace  has  been  in  the  habit  of  keeping 
good  pure-bred  Shorthorn  bulls  at  different  places  for  the  use  of 
his  tenants,  and  from  this  commendable  practice  a great  amount 
of  benefit  has  arisen.  At  Carton  his  Grace  owns  a small 
Shorthorn  herd,  and,  besides,  rears  and  feeds  a large  number  of 
excellent  mixed-bred  cattle.  A good  many  Kerries  are  brought 
in  ; and  from  these  and  Shorthorn  bulls  stock  of  wonderful  size 
and  quality  are  bred.  Indeed,  I have  seen  steers  at  Carton, 
crosses  between  small  Kerry  cows  and  Shorthorn  bulls,  which, 
in  shape  and  size,  showed  but  little  inferiority  to  highly  graded 
Shorthorns.  Some  were  blue  in  colour,  like  the  Galloway  and 
Shorthorn  crosses,  so  highly  esteemed  in  the  North-West  of 
England  ; while  others  were  red,  and  a few  roan,  the  majority- 
having  black  or  spotted  noses.  In  Queen’s  County  and  sur- 
rounding districts  the  general  stock  of  cattle  has  been  improved 
very  greatly  by  the  direct  and  indirect  use  of  Shorthorn  blood. 
The  small  farmers  breed  only  half-bred  bulls — that  is,  bulls 
from  the  best  of  the  common  country  cows  and  pure-bred 
Shorthorn  bulls — but  through  this  much  good  has  been  done 
in  improving  the  cattle  of  the  district.  Few  farmers  will  pa' 
more  than  from  Is.  to  2s.  Gd.  for  the  service  of  a bull  except 
