The Value of Pedigree. 
43 
I may observe that Lord Suffolk agreed ■with me as to the 
fattening propensities of pure-bred stock — the fine-boned, good- 
quality animals feed quicker, more evenly, and make better 
beef than animals not so well bred. As to first crosses, his 
Lordship regards them as constituting a very good resort for 
people who do not keep pedigree herds, but he has not him- 
self had very remarkable results in the direction of milking 
properties from crosses between Shorthorns and Channel Islands 
cattle. 
Mr. James Peter stated, on the other hand, that with 
regard to feeding properties, his experience is that no animal 
will feed so well as a cross-bred — a w'ell-bred animal crossed 
with one under-bred, in order to produce more flesh and less fat. 
These effects have been brought about at considerable outlay, 
but to-day the pure-bred animal is obtainable by everyone at 
little if any higher cost than common stock. The necessity of 
the adoption of fresh blood is obvious, and the question has been 
asked. Where is fresh blood (in Shorthorns) to be obtained ? 
The Bates blood has long been known for the size and quality, 
the hair and colour, and the good milking properties of its 
animals ; the Booth blood for form and substance, and quiet 
feeding. Latterly the Scotch blood has come to the front. 
Breeders in Aberdeenshire, and the adjoining counties, many 
years ago took up good Shorthorns both of Booth and Bates 
blood, and both females and males. In some cases, after years 
of long and careful breeding, they have succeeded in establishing 
pedigrees of their own, as Mr. Stiles Rich and his father before 
him did in Gloucestershire, and Mr. Stratton and his family in 
Wiltshire. Whether, however, it is due to blood, or to soil and 
climate and management, the Scotch Shorthorns have displayed 
noteworthy feeding properties and hard constitution ; at the shows 
they have been exhibited with great success. The Aberdeen Polls 
are well known to be a very hardy, hea'vy-fleshed race, and some 
of the Scotch Shorthorns seem to acquire the lean flesh-fonning 
qualities of the local breed. 
A word as to the “ Marts ” which are so extensively patronised 
nowadays for the purchase of bulls — Birmingham, Bristol, 
Lincoln, Pem'ith, or any other. I have used the first two my- 
self for the sale of bulls, yet I cannot but consider them as 
somewhat dangerous places for breeders or dairymen to resort 
to for the purchase of their sires. There is no opportunity of 
seeing the herd or family from which the animals come, or of 
judging the qualities of their sires and dams, or of ascertaining 
whether those qualities are more conducive to fattening or to 
milking properties. There is lacking the opportunity to dis- 
