1853. 
THE CULTIVATOR. 
351 
Mr. Thorne’s Importation of Stock. 
Among the many heavy importations of domestic 
animals the present season, those of Mr. Jonathan 
Thorne, of Washington Hollow, Dutchess county, N. 
Y., will probably rank the highest in character, as well 
as cost; and exceed, indeed, in these respects, any for¬ 
mer importation by a single individual. Having con¬ 
cluded to stock his farm at Thorndale, Mr. T. determined 
upon placing upon it the best animals which could be 
procured; and to enable him to accomplish this, he en¬ 
gaged the services of Mr. F. M. Eotch, of Morris— 
one of the best judges in the country, and whose previ¬ 
ous tours in Europe had made him familiar with the 
best herds and flecks of Great Britain—to make his 
selections and purchases; and as he was not limited as 
to price, Mr. R. has been enabled to procure a select 
herd of Short-Horns, which, for quality in an equal 
number, it would be difficult to find in the hands of any 
one person, even in England, while his flock of South 
Downs will be unsurpassed in numbers and excellence, 
by any other in the country. 
We congratulate the farmers of this state and of the 
union, upon these important acquisitions, as also upon 
the extensive and very valuable importations of Messrs. 
Morris and Becar and others: for, though the mass 
of them may not, from the high figures at which these 
select animals are now held, feel an immediate and. 
direct influence upon their interests, the blood will ere 
long be scattered abroad, and its beneficial effect be 
exhibited in the improvement which will be certain to 
inure to the herds and flocks of the whole country. It 
is to such sources—to the importations of the last thirty 
or forty years—that we are indebted for the great im¬ 
provement which has taken place in our domestic ani¬ 
mals ; and we consider it a source of gratulation that 
we have so many gentlemen among us, possessing the 
means as well as the requisite pride' and public spirit 
manifested by these numerous and heavy outlays, to 
introduce from abroad all those animals necessary for 
the continued advance in improvement of our farm 
stock. 
We have noticed at various times, as we have seen 
them alluded to in our English papers, the purchases 
made by Mr. Rotch ; but we are greatly obliged to Mr. 
Thorne for the following letter, giving a more particu¬ 
lar and authentic account of the principal purchases 
made on his account: 
Respected Friend —I now have on my farm, some 
choice Short-Horns and South Down sheep of my own 
importation. To give thee some idea of the stock I 
am about importing, I take the liberty of adding some 
particulars relating to it, and some extracts from letters 
I have received from Francis M. Rotch of Morris, 
Otsego co., who, as thee may know, is now in England, 
making selections of stock for me. 
In addition to the South Down buck, (112) secured 
at Jonas Webb’s Letting, 11th July, at 130 guineas, 
and the two pens of prize yearling South Down ewes, 
shown before the Royal Agricultural Society of Eng¬ 
land, by Mr. Lugar, Mr. Rotch selected from Mr. 
Webb’s flock, fifteen yearling ewes and five older ones 
(the latter as an especial favor.) He has subsequently 
added the first prize pen of yearling South Down ewes, 
shown at the York (England) Agricultural Fair, by 
Lord Walsingham. Mr. Rotch remarks of them— 
“ I was really tempted to take them. They are a beau¬ 
tiful lot.” 
In connection with the ewes purchased of Mr. Lugar, 
Mr. Rotch says—“ It is to be remarked that Mr. L. is 
the only breeder, with one exception, who has succeed¬ 
ed in winning both the first and second prizes, with 
yearling South Down ewes at the Royal Agricultural 
Society’s Fairs! A breeder who can win with ten of his 
ewes, ought certainly to stand higher than the one who 
wins with only five. Mr. L. was my competitor at Mr. 
Webb’s, for the buck, (112).” 
Of Short-Horns, Mr. Rotch writes—“ The Bates’ bull, 
Grand Duke, (10,284) is a superb animal, and to my 
thinking the best in England; his handling can not be 
surpassed. He is a true Dutchess bull, with all their 
character and quality.” Subsequently he writes—“ I 
have purchased the Bates’ bull, Grand Duke, decided¬ 
ly the best bull in the world! at the long price of 
1,000 guineas He looks every inch a Bates, and is 
grand in size and appearance, with a majestic carriage.” 
Grand Duke was purchased of S. E. Bolden. 
Mr. Rotch also purchassed of Mr. Bolden, at 100 
guineas, “Peri,” a roan yearling heifer by Grand 
Duke—dam, Pink, by 2d Duke of York (5959)—grand 
dam, Marygold, by Raspberry, (4875) Ac. “You will 
see she has two crosses of the Duchess blood ; then she 
goes to Booth’s Raspberry, he being the sire of his fa¬ 
mous cow Faith, mother of Hope, and she of Charity, 
his prize cow, thus going back to his best blood.” 
From Mr. Tanqueray he purchased “Aurora,” a 
two-year old heifer, at 150 guineas. ; n speaking of 
her before making the purchase, he says—“ I think 
Mr. Tanqueray’s heifer, Aurora, by 3d Duke of York, 
one of the most desirable animals ; she looks very like 
a Duchess.” 
From Mr. Townely he has secured two heifers, 
“Frederica ,” his choicest, two years old, at 300 guineas; 
color red—sire, Upstart; dam, Feathers, by Duke of 
Cornwall, &c. She is far advanced in gestation, and 
was only shown at the York fair this season, where she 
was a winner. “ Ltalah Rookh ,” his choicest yearling, 
at 400 guineas ; color red—sire, The Squire ; dam by 
Prince Earnest, <fcc. This heifer was winner of the first 
prize at both the York (England) and the Irish shows, 
the only two at which she was shown this year. Mr. 
Rotch says-—“ Her pedigree is full of winners, and she 
is undoubtedly the most beautiful creature in England.” 
In speaking of prices he adds—“ Mr. Townely frank- 
ty told me I had asked for their best animals; thgt 
they did not wish to sell, and nothing but an enormous 
price would tempt them.” 
At the late Earl Ducie’s sale, thee is aware of his 
purchase of Duchess 59, roan, 5 years old, dam Duchess 
56, at* • ..''•••'•*. 350 guineas. 
Duchess 64, red, 4 years old, dam Duchess 
55, at. 600 “ 
Duchess 68, red, 11 mos. calf, dam Duch¬ 
ess 64, at.. 300 “ 
In speaking of this sale, Mr. Rotch remarks—“ There 
was a large gathering of about three thousand persons. 
The average price of the animals sold, was double that 
at Bates’ sale ! I think I could have taken three hun¬ 
dred guineas for my bargain before I left the ground ! 
Mr. Bolden was beseiged by several bidders, to send 
cows to Grand Duke, but put the price up to one hun¬ 
dred guineas a cow—on your account, of course !” 
Mr. Rotch was disappointed in not getting Duchess 
66, (her dam Duchess 55,) which Morris & Becar 
were fortunate in securing at 700 guineas. Had Mr. R. 
secured this Duchess, it would have given me all the 
Duchess cows Earl Ducie left, that have bred of late 
years. 
The buck (112) and apart of the ewes, have come 
to hand, and fully answer my most sanguine expecta¬ 
tions. They are doing finely. The balance of the stock 
I do not expect until about the first November. Very 
respectfully, Jonathan Thorne. Washington Hol¬ 
low, Dutchess co., N. Y., 9 mo. 28, 1853. 
