South Australian Register (Adelaide, SA : 1839 - 1900), Tuesday 9 September 1873, page 6


MR. FISHER'S STUD AT BUCKLAND PARK.

In the list of those to whom groat credit ia due for the efforts they have made to improve ; the stock of horses, sheep, and cattle in the celony the name of Mr. C. B. Fisher must occupy

a foremost if not the first position, and while his endeavours have no' doubt been beneficial in a high degree to himself they have been of great benefit to the province generally. It is not alone in South Australia that these efforts have been made, for Mr. Fisher, while holding large areas of land in several of the colonies, has, by the combination of agricultural with pastoral pursuits, managed to produce and maintain good stock with profit; and by not letting the land lie useless he has removed much of the objection which attaches to persons holding large tracts of country. Mr. Fisher has, as is, well known, many valuable studs of stock in various parts of Australia, but his largest collection of draught stock is at Buckland Park, in this colony. This beautiful estate is situated at Port Gawler, about 14 miles from Salisbury, and is a finely-wooded, abundantly-grassed, and well-watered country. Besides the horses, many thousand choice sheep, which, by-the-by, are this year promising a fine clip of wool, are fed on the property. The stud consists of both Clydesdale and Suffolk horses, and there are at present about 150 mares of the former breed— a splendid col lection, and one that is not, we believe, to be equalled in any of the colonies. Out of the 150 mares about 20 are of absolutely pure blood, of which ten have been imported, and the others are their progeny. Belle the First, Maggie the Third, Nancy, Heather 'Nancy, Young Nancy, Mag, Flower, Jessie, Annie Laurie, and Caledonia have all come from celebrated stocks in Scotland, and without exception they are well-known prizetakers iu the old country. It can well be imagined that the present fine collection of mares has not been easily brought together, but is the result of much care aad labour. They have been selected from Learmonth's, Niel Black's, Cox's, Carmichaels, Ritchie's, and other leading studs of Victoria, and are cer-tainlythe best that could be got for money. They have been obtained regardless of expense, and all inferior animals have been culled out. There are two Clydesdale entires, and both are really magnificent animals. Rantin Robin has just arrived from Melbourne, having been imported from Scotland hut year, and he has been purchased by Mr. Fisher, at an expense of £1,200. He is rising seven years old, and was bred by Mr. James Murdoch, of Hallside, Cambuslang. He has been the winner of many first prizes. He took the Highland Society s first prize at Dumfries, beating Riddle's great horse, Prince of Wales, which was afterwards sold for £1,500 in Scotland, and all the crack horses of the day. He also won the Highland Society's gold medal at Perth, as a five-year-old. He was certainly the best horse in Scotland, and it is thought ho is the best of his class in the world. He stands about 17 hands high, his proportions appear to be perfect, he has a beautiful glossy skin, and is altogether a most handsome horse. The Marquis of Lome, which was imported by Mr. McCulIoch, and was brought to Buckland Park last year, is also a handsome horse, of good substance, and very active. He is rising seven years, and before coming to the colonies won several prizes in Scotland. In fact he took first prizes wherever he went, except at Perth, where he gained second honours as a yearling. At Inverary as a two-year-old, and at Aberdeen as a three-year-old, he took first prizes. His young stock are exceedingly promising. The Suffolk mares are of the finest blood in England. There are eleven in all, out of which two ware imported. The rest are their increase by the imported stallion Crisp, which is now in Melbourne. This class of horses is now receiving a great deal of attention in England, and good specimens are scarce and valuable, owing to the demand for cavalry aad artillery horses. A cross of the Suffolk with a lighter horse gives just the animal that is required for the work — strong and active. Two Suffolk Punch entires have just arrived from Melbourne; one is called Suffolk, and the other Punch. Both were bred in Victoria from first-class imported stock by the Hon. C. Sladen, and are very superior animals, although not at present in very good condition. Altogether, Mr. Fisher's stud is an interesting sight., and it is gratifying to see the immense pains which are taken at Buckland Park to improve the horseflesh of the colony.