THE AYRSHIRE BREED OF CATTLE. (From the Farmers' Gazette).

Waikato Times, Volume XXII, Issue 1857, 31 May 1884, Page 4

THE AYRSHIRE BREED OF CATTLE. (From the Farmers' Gazette).

It is now all but Universally admitted that the Ayrshire stands unrivalled as the best breed of cattle for dairy purposes in Great Britain. Its origin and gradual formation is involved in considerable obscurity ; in fact, all that is certainly known about its early history ia that it became- recognised as a distinct bieed in the first h.ilt of the last centuiy in that county of Scotland from which it takes its name. Its extension, especially in Liter years, Ins been more rapid than that of any other kind of cattle in the kingdom. It prevails almost universally iv the Counties of Ayr, Lan-irk, Renfrew, and Dumbarton, and it has in a la.rg« measure supplanted the native Galloway btced in Dumfnesshiie and Galloway. Considerable numbers of Ayrshirea are kept in most other Scotch counties, and of Utrs they h.ive been making a steady inroad into England, where they arc (riadually becoming great favouiites. Steps have very recently been taken to establish an A) rshire Herd Book, from which the best results may be anticipated. The Ayrshires possess many superior qualities, which sufficiently account for the high and growing estimation in which they are deservedly held. They are elegant, symmetrically.founed animals, and look well, wlvether seen in largo heida or in small numbers. They are, moreover, extremely quiet and docile m temper. There is no more peaceful spectacle than that of a large dairy of Ayrshire cows industriously grazing or quietly lyinj; at rest ; while individuals of them are frequently made great pets. But the characteristic for which they aie most highly prized is their milkgiving power, which is really extraordinary, especially considering their size and the quantity and quality of the food which they consume. Great pains have been taken by the selection of breeders to develop their milk-yielding capacity. Indeed, anyone conversant only with grazing cattle could not but be amazed at the quantity of milk given by an Ayrshire cow at the height of the season ; ana while the milk is inferior in richness to that of the Jersey, the produce in butter or cheese is mo-it s itisfactory, A valuable characteristic of the Ayrshiie is its hardy constitution, and its consequent suitability for the \aried climate which is founi in the different parts of Great Britain. Nowhere do they thuvc better and give more satisfaction than on the richest pastures and milde&t localities ; but their marked superiority o\cr other breeds of dairy cows consists in their being equally suitable for higher-lying upland districts ; for they not only thrive well in a comparatively cold and variable climate, but they also possess in a special degree the faculty ot col verting the herbage of indifferent and even poor soils into dairy produce of the best quality. Lirge and profitable dairies of them are kept in the west and south of Scotland as high as 700 feet above se% level, where at one time it was thought the daii y system of fanning would not succeed. The cross between a shoi thorn bull and an Ayrshiie cow is a most valuable animal of a good size, combining all the fattening properties of the sire with the hai dness of constitution of the dam ; it conies even earlier to matmity than, and does not requiic to be so much pampered as a puie-bred shot thorn ; the beet is also of a supeuor well-mixed character. Jamks Bruok, Dumfries.

ExK'TTrov or Two Women at Liverpool.—On Match, 2, the two women, Cithciine Flannagnn and Margaret Ihggins, weie executed at Kirkdole prison, near Lheipool, for the murder of Thomas Higgins, the husband of the latter prisoner, by poison. The convicts admitted their guilt, and knew that there was no possibility of a commutation of their sentence. Five reporters were admitted to witness the execution, according to an arrangement between the High Sheriff and the visiting Justices ; but they were not permitted to go to the scene of the execut'on until about half a minute before the culprits were brought out of the pinioning-room, where Binns, the executioner, and his assistant had pinioned the culprits' arms. The women appeared resigned to their fate, and attentively repeated the responses to the prayers for the dying. On the scaffold being mounted the process of pinioning was completed, during which the women betiayed little or no emotion, and stood under the drop with their oyes closed, lepeating the prayers. The white caps having been adjusted over then pale faces, Binns palled the lever, and the two women fell with a drop of over 9lt. Theie was no movement of their bodies after the drop, ontl death appeared to be instantaneous. Snow fell heavily during the execution, and continued to fall while the bodies remained hanging. The women in their confession made a circumstantial statement, detailing how the crime was effected, and adding some startling revelations. They have given the authorities the names of several persons, who they allege, were concerned in other poisonings carried out in the same mnnnor. The names of the victims havo also been isiven. It is believed that this will lead to tho arrest of at lea^t tlnce individuals. Pjuxob Bismakck. — A correspondent of a Home paper says :— lf Bismarck has ever had any taste for gambling, it has long since left him, and at present ho never touches a card. As a youngster lie rather liked whist, and once remained at the w hist table for .seven full hours, playing twenty rubbers. " But,' he said once, when talking about this, " I was only interested when the stakes were high, and that does not do for a paterfamilias.'' It is true that in the summer of 1805 he took pait in a game of quinze, but solely for political purposes, with political thoughts at the back of his mind. "It was at the time," he told us at Versailles, " when I concluded th^ treaty of Gastein with Blome Although as a rule I have long since left off playing, I played so recklessly that all the others were greately astonished. But I knew what I wanted. Blome had 1 card that at quinze you had the best opportunity of getting to know people, and he was trying it then. I thought, you shall know him well. I lost a few hundred thalers. . . . but I confused him ; he thought me foolhardy, and gave in." In addition to card-playing tie has also discontinued smoking, partly on account ot his health. He has of late suffered much from neuralgia, and •' if he suffers from nervousness, it is no wonder ; for more than twenty years the most important part of the history of Germany, and not a little of the history of the neighbouring countries, with its puzzles and problems, confusion, and danger, have passed through his head, and he has taken it to heart as well." Irritation affects his health more than anything else, and that he should have his full share of it is the constant care of the parliamentry parties and of some court circles. Prince Bismark is rather short-sighted, but reads and writes without glasses, and has a very fine ear. Like all nervous people he likes warm clothes and rooms, and as soon as the weather becomes cool all the rooms in his house, even the spare rooms and passages, have a fire. The temperament of the Chancellor is rather choleric, but the volcano dies out as quickly as it is kindled, and his good nature soon gets the upper hand. Says Dr Busch : He has been called a bitter character, a despiser and hater of mankind, a scoffer and calumniator. Preposterious 1 ! He hates and despises only that which in man is not human." Prince Bis'mhrk's annual revenues amount to about £5000'; be' lives quietly, but is hospitable, and wishes atl his visitors to feel at 'lionje as' long as they are under his roof, 'When* Jivimp on his estates he occupies -himself - with * forestry, and his favourite, wnlk' id'in the oak woods, \vhen his favourite flower, [ the heather, i» in bWoih, ' * » "• •