392 
The Management of a Shorthorn Herd. 
different state of affairs. Nowhere, perhaps, was the combina- 
tion of dairy and grazing properties more completely effected — 
both of them in the highest possible degree of development in 
union — than in some of the old herds of this county. The herd 
of Messrs. Angus, of Broomley, of former years, was a notable 
example of what may be done in this respect ; and Mr. John 
Angus, of Bearl, has still a herd in the management of which 
he endeavours to follow as far as possible the traditions of his 
district and family. In some modern herds, a great demand for 
Shorthorns at high prices having sprung up of late years, the 
temptation to comply with that demand has induced breeders to 
neglect the " weeding " which is necessary in order to keep up 
a herd to the highest point of excellence ; and this, although it 
belongs to the subject of breeding rather than of management, 
is so important a condition of the success of management, that 
I cannot omit a passing reference to it. Mr. John Angus, of 
Bearl, and his brother, Mr. Jonathan Angus, of Newcastle (the 
latter not now connected with Shorthorn breeding, but perfectly 
clear in his recollections of Broomley), both confirmed the reports 
I had previously heard, that the old Broomley cattle were almost 
invariably not only good, but really deep milkers, yet of the 
true grazier's type, square-built, wide chested, with big ribs and 
well-covered backs. The bulls were of masculine character, 
not too fine and neat, yet not coarse in the bone. 
Broomley and Bearl lie on opposite heights, Broomley on the 
right, Bearl on the left, of the beautiful river Tyne, with Bywell, 
its castle and two churches, the latter in curiously near neigh- 
bourhood, lying in the intervening valley, just above the bridge 
by Stocksfield-on-Tyne railway station. Broomley may be seen 
from the road close by Bearl. It is high and much exposed 
land, and the crown of the hill at Bearl stands out bare and 
bold. The district is a comparatively dry one. The practice 
at Broomley was to have the cows calving from the beginning 
of January to the beginning of May, which they did almost 
without an instance of failure. After the calves " got upon their 
legs," they were kept on skim-milk and boiled linseed until 
August, when tliey were weaned, and they were substantially 
wintered on hay and straw without artificial food of any kind, 
and at two years old the best heifers were selected and brought 
to service. Here was a process of selection constantly going on ; 
each crop of calves tried and sorted, the worst rejected and the 
best retained. The young stock did not go out in winter except 
to water. They were kept in large open yards with a com- 
fortable shed, and were always to be seen in fair store condition. 
The cows were never housed, even to be milked, during summer. 
