92 
Shorthorns  in  Scotland  and  Ireland. 
for  them  Ireland  is  in  a great  measure  indebted  to  fox-hunting.  About  the 
beginning  of  the  present  century  there  was  comparatively  little  intercom- 
munication between  England  and  Ireland.  From  the  rural  districts,  at  least, 
tew  went  across  the  Channel,  excepting  some  gallant  country  squires  drawn 
from  home  by  an  ambition  to  show  the  Saxon  by  example  how  to  follow  the 
hounds.  On  days  unsuitable  for  the  chase,  inspection  of  farms  and  farm-stock 
would  seem  to  have  been  a congenial  pastime,  and  thus,  through  cogitations 
on  these  “days  notout,”  the  Improved  Shorthorn  made  its  way  into  Ireland. 
It  is  generally  understood  that  the  late  Mr.  Luke  White,  of  Woodlands,  Co. 
Dublin,  grandfather  of  the  present  Lord  Anally,  had  the  honour  of  bringing 
the  first  highly  bred  registered  Shorthorn  into  Ireland.  In  May  1818  he 
purchased  from  Mr.  Booth,  of  Killerby,  the  bull  “Agamemnon”  (9),  calved 
in  1814,  and  two  heifers,  and  the  produce  of  these  passed  chiefly  into  the 
Westland  and  Kingsfort  herds.  The  “ Medora,”  or  own  sister  to  “ Isabella” 
tribe,  a numerous  variety  in  Ireland,  trace  to  “ White  Cow  ” by  “ Agamem- 
non ” (9). 
The  example  of  Mr.  White  was  soon  followed  by  a good  many  enterprising 
country  gentlemen,  by  whom  a number  of  good  Shorthorn  bulls,  most  of  them 
of  excellent  lineage,  although  not  to  be  found  in  the  Herd-hook,  were  brought 
over  and  used  with  great  effect  amongst  the  native  cattle.  A few  unregistered 
cows  and  heifers  came  along  with  the  earlier  bulls,  and  from  the  outset  these 
are  said  to  have  thriven  well  and  to  have  bred  admirably.  Among  the 
earliest  importers,  besides  Mr.  White,  were  Mr.  La  Touche,  of  Harristown, 
Co.  Kildare;  Mr.  It.  Archbold,  of  Davidstown,  Co.  Carlow  ; Sir  J.  Kennedy; 
Mr.  Borrowes,  father  of  Major  Borrowes,  of  Giltown ; Sir  R.  Bateson,  Belvoir 
Park,  Belfast ; Lord  Ross ; Mr.  G.  Fasbery,  of  Curragh  Bridge ; Mr.  John 
Christy,  Lord  Cloncurry,  Mr.  Kearney,  Mr.  McClintock,  Colonel  Cradock,  &c. 
At  the  great  Chilton  sale,  in  August,  1829,  Ireland  made  a bold  start  in  the 
systematic  breeding  of  Shorthorns.  The  “ Irish  Contingent  ” formed  an  im- 
portant element  in  the  assemblage,  and  the  selections  made  for  the  Green  Isle 
reflected  much  credit  on  the  judgment  of  the  enterprising  gentlemen  who  made 
the  purchases.  The  following  are  the  Irish  purchases  made  on  that  memorable 
occasion : 
Cows  and  Heifers. — Messrs.  Adamson  and  Holmes  bought  No.  1 (8  years 
old),  by  “ Cato  ” (,119),  the  progenitrix  of  the  “ Victorias,”  for  131  guineas. 
Mr.  Robert  Holmes  also  secured  No.  37  (1  year  old),  by  “ Satellite”  (1420), 
for  125  guineas ; No.  61  (3  months  old),  by  “ Monarch  ” (2324),  for  46  guineas; 
and  No.  62  (11  months  old),  got  by  “ Monarch  ” (2324),  for  40  guineas.  Mr. 
Adamson  acquired  No.  8 (5  years  old),  by  “ Dr.  Syntax  ” (225),  the  pro- 
genitrix of  the  “ Britannias,”  for  52  guineas;  No.  22  (3  years  old),  by 
“Satellite”  (1420),  at  35  guineas;  and  No.  42  (1  year  old),  by  “Satellite” 
(1420),  for  78  guineas.  Mr.  La  Touche  purchased  No.  16  (4  years  old),  by 
“ St.  Albans,”  for  73  guineas  ; No.  27  (2  years  old),  by  “ Satellite”  (1420), 
for  60  guineas  ; No.  31  (2  years  old),  by  “ Satellite  ” (1420),  for  69  guineas; 
No.  38  (1  year  old),  by  “Satellite”  (1420),  for  78  guineas;  and  No.  44 
(1  year  old),  by  “Monarch”  (2324),  for  78  guineas.  Mr.  Archbold  took 
No.  17  (4  years  old),  by  “ St.  Albans,”  at  54  guineas  ; and  No.  26  (3  years 
old),  by  “Richard”  (1376),  at  37  guineas.  Mr.  Cusacke  obtained  No.  24 
(3  years  old),  by  “Satellite”  (1420),  at  21  guineas. 
Bulls. — Mr.  La  Touche  bought  “Monarch”  (2324),  (3  years  old),  at 
270  guineas.  Mr.  Archbold  secured  “Driver”  (1928),  (3  years  old),  at 
33  guineas.  Mr.  O’Farroll  purchased  “ Herdsman  ” (2117),  (2  years  old), 
at  28  guineas.  Mr.  Cassidy  took  “Punch”  (2471),  (L  year  old),  at 
32  guineas. 
With  these  valuable  importations  the  systematic  breeding  of  high-class  Short- 
horns was  begun  in  earnest  in  Ireland.  It  may  truly  be  said  that  few  singlt 
