376 
Polled Aberdeen and Angus Cattle. 
dairy purposes. It would seem, however, that the main aim of 
the improvers of the breed has been the development of its 
beef-producing properties ; and thus the milking powers of the 
breed have been somewhat neglected, perhaps even allowed to 
deteriorate to a slight degree. But they are not actually de- 
ficient in this respect, and with a little care their ancient repu- 
tation in the dairy might soon be restored. Several families of 
the breed are still excellent milkers, and I am glad to find these 
becoming more highly esteemed than they were a few years ago. 
As a rule, the breed is exceptionally hardy and healthy, and in 
fecundity and prepotency is excelled by none. 
Polled cattle have risen rapidly in public estimation within the 
past ten or fifteen years. Their reputation may now be said to 
be world-wide. Animals of the breed have been exported to the 
Australian Colonies, to the continent of Europe, to Buenos 
Ayres, Canada, and the United States. In the two latter 
countries a keen demand has recently sprung up for them, 
and within the past six months over a hundred good speci- 
mens of the breed have crossed the Atlantic. There are now 
several Polled herds in England and Ireland ; and within Scot- 
land itself the breed is extending its territory. In all, there are 
over 100 Polled herds in Scotland, the large majority being in 
the counties of Aberdeen, Banff, and Forfar. Of the ' Polled 
Herd-book,' first published in 1862, six volumes have been 
issued. In the last volume there are the names of 190 breeders. 
It contains the register of 1193 animals — 885 cows and heifers, 
and 308 bulls. There have now been registered 1930 bulls and 
5054 cows and heifers — in all 6984. The ' Herd-book ' is now 
owned by the Polled Cattle Society, which was organised in 
1879 for the purpose of promoting the interests of the breed. 
The rise in the value of the breed within the past fifteen 
years has been remarkable. Good average Polled cows, with 
mixed pedigree, bring, as a rule, from 30 to 45 guineas ; 
while females of the better bred and more popular families 
bring from 50 to 100 guineas on an average — the " cream " of 
these fashionable tribes ranging from 120 to 270 guineas each. 
At a sale held by the Marquis of Huntly, at Aboyne Castle, in 
the autumn of 1879, six heifer-calves brought an average of 
over 42?. each. The prices obtained at the dispersion of the 
Tillyfour herd in the summer of 1880 have already been indi- 
cated. In May last (1881), the select herd belonging to 
Mr. H. D. Adamson, Balquharn, was dispersed at Aberdeen, 
when very high prices were obtained. The averages were : 
15 cows, 74Z. I85. ; 10 yearling heifers, 477. 15s. 6c?. ; 9 calves, 
20Z. 15s. 4f/. ; and 2 bulls, 118Z. 2s. GrZ.- — 36 animals making 
an average of 56Z. lis. Ad. Eleven "Prides of Aberdeen" 
