uperior to all other stock. The herd has
been kept up to its wonted standard, and even raised higher, by the
present proprietor, Sir George Macpherson Grant, of Ballindalloch and
Invereshie, by selections from the best herds in the kingdom. Coming
fast into notice is the Drumin herd; it consists of about twenty cows
and their followers. Mr Skinner has improved his stock by drafts from
the best herds in the country. He never forces for the show-yard, but
his stock have been very successful at the Spey and Avonside
Agricultural Society's shows. He has won the first prize for cows for
the last two years--no small victory, when he had Sir George Macpherson
Grant and Mr Paterson to contend against. He has also had his fair
share of prizes for bulls, heifers, and bullocks. A bullock bred at
Drumin took the first prize at Liverpool, in the Polled class, in
December last. Mr Skinner has not exhibited his stock at the Highland
Society's shows, but there is no doubt we shall see them there
by-and-by.[7]

[7] Mr Skinner was an exhibitor at the Highland Society's show at
Aberdeen last summer, and gained the first prize for his
two-year-old heifer.

V. HINTS ON THE BREEDING AND CARE OF CATTLE.

It has been suggested to me that I should add my experience as a
breeder of Aberdeen and Angus stock to my observations on the feeding
of cattle. It is with considerable hesitation that I have ventured to
put upon paper my views upon a subject on which there is such diversity
of opinion. It will, however, lessen the field of controversy, that my
practice and observations apply only to the Aberdeen and Angus breed;
although I presume what applies to one breed may apply in a great
degree to all. My observations may be of some use to those readers who
have not devoted much attention to the subject; they may prove of
interest even to more experienced breeders, should I be able to adduce
facts that may have escaped their notice, or in confirmation of their
own observations. I can hardly speak with the same authority as a
breeder, generally, that I can as a feeder; yet I have been a close
observer now for many years, and devoted my earnest attention to the
improvement of the Aberdeen and Angus polled breed of cattle, with
respect to size, symmetry, fineness of bone, strength of constitution,
and disposition to accumulate fat, sparing no expense in obtaining the
finest animals from the purest stock.

Laying the foundat