Shorthorns  in  Scotland  and  Ireland. 
73 
“The  value  of  pood  blood,”  adds  Colonel  Ffolliott,  “has 
become  so  well  known  in  Roscommon  within  the  last  twenty 
years,  that  I believe  better  cattle  can  now  be  found  nowhere  in 
the  West  than  in  that  county.  I consider  that  what  is  most 
noteworthy  about  Shorthorns  in  Ireland  is  their  remarkable 
value  for  crossing  purposes.  Even  a bull  with  but  one  or  two 
crosses  of  pure  Shorthorn  blood  has  improved  the  stock  far 
beyond  what  could  have  been  expected,  so  that,  notwithstanding 
the  parsimony  shown  in  declining  to  pay  anything  like  value 
for  the  service  of  really  good  bulls,  the  breed  has  effected  great 
improvement  in  the  county.  Of  course,  where  a really  high- 
class  bull  has  been  used,  the  improvement  has  been  propor- 
tionally greater.” 
In  county  Clare,  the  Shorthorn  influence  upon  the  general 
cattle  stock  began  to  show  itself  about  twenty  years  ago,  and 
during  the  past  fifteen  years  the  improvement  has  made  rapid 
progress.  In  the  better-farmed  districts  of  this  part  of  the 
West  a large  proportion  of  the  cattle  consists  of  good  half-  or  three- 
parts  bred  Shorthorns  ; and  in  all  respects — alike  in  regard  to 
size,  form,  quality,  and  early  maturity — they  present  a striking- 
contrast  to  the  rough  slow-growing  cattle  of  twenty  or  thirty  years 
ago.  Before  Shorthorn  bulls  were  used,  the  best  class  of  three- 
year-old  heifers  sold  at  about  12/.,  and  steers  at  about  13/. 
a-head.  Now  they  would  average  from  18/.  to  19/.  each — in  store 
condition,  of  course.  More  than  one  half  of  the  advance  is 
credited  solely  to  the  use  of  Shorthorn  bulls.  It  is  found  that 
the  Shorthorn  cross  becomes  as  well  matured  in  growth  and 
condition  at  two  and  a-half  years  old  as  the  unimproved  cattle 
even  of  the  present  day  will  do  when  a year  older. 
In  the  county  of  Limerick  and  adjoining  districts  the  im- 
provement by  the  use  of  Shorthorn  bulls  commenced  at  a very 
early  date.  Although  the  many  excellent  herds  that  existed  at 
one  time  or  another  in  that  county  (since  the  late  Mr.  Christy  first 
gave  his  attention  to  the  rearing  of  Shorthorns,  now  more  than 
half  a century  ago)  have  all  been  scattered,  the  good  they  have 
done  still  displays  and  develops  itself.  The  value  of  a pure- 
bred bull  is  duly  appreciated  by  the  leading  agriculturists,  and 
the  proportion  of  good  well-bred  Shorthorn  crosses  in  this  part 
of  the  country  is  pretty  large.  No  better  proof  could  be  desired  of 
the  greatvalue  of  well-bred  Shorthorn  bulls,  even  forthedirect  pro- 
duction of  beef-  and  milk-yielding  cattle,  than  is  afforded  in  the  ex- 
perience of  the  Hon.  H.  G.  N.  Massey,  of  Elm  Park,  Clarina.  Mr. 
Massey  maintains  large  dairies  of  good,  useful,  mixed-bred  cows. 
W ith  these  he  has  always  kept  a well-bred  Shorthorn  bull  ; and 
he  has  lound  it  profitable  to  pay  even  as  much  as  100/.  for  a 
bull  lor  this  purpose.  He  usually  selects  one  of  the  best  bulls- 
