SECRETARY'S REPORT. 129 



for which defect, may be cast in the opposite scale the fact that 

 the flesh of the Hereford ox surpasses all other breeds for that 

 beautiful marbled appearance caused by the intermixture of fat and 

 lean which is so much prized by the epicure. The Hereford is 

 usually deeper in the chine, and the shoulders are larger and coarser 

 than the Devon. They are worse milkers than the Devon, or than, 

 perhaps, any other breed, for the Hereford grazier has neglected 

 the female and paid the whole of his attention to the male." It is 

 said that formerly they were of a brown or reddish brown color, 

 and some had grey or mottled faces. Mr. P. TuUy states that the 

 white face originated accidentally on a farm belonging to one of his 

 ancestors. "That about the middle of the last century the cow- 

 man came to the house announcing as a remarkable fact that the 

 favorite cow had produced a white faced bull calf This had never 

 been known to have occurred before, and, as a curiosity it was 

 agreed that the animal should be kept and reared as a future sire. 

 Such, in a few words, is the origin of a fact that has since pre- 

 vailed through the country, for the progeny of this very bull became 

 celebrated for white faces." Of late years there has been much 

 yniformity of color ; the face, throat, the under portion of the body, 

 the inside'and lower part of the legs and the tip of the tail being- 

 white, and the other parts of the body a rich deep red. 



Compared with the Short-horn the Hereford is nearly as large, of 

 rather less early maturity, but a better animal for grazing, and 

 hardier. The competition between these breeds in England is very 

 close and warm, and taking many facts together it would seem 

 probable that the Hereford is really the more profitable animal 

 to rear, and the Short-horn decidedly the more fashionable one. 

 Challenges have been repeatedly offered by Hereford men to Short- 

 horn men to feed an equal number of each in order to test their 

 respective merits, and have been declined, perhaps because if the 

 decision was against them, the loss might be serious, and if they 

 won, the gain would be little or nothing, the Short-horns being 

 more popular already and commanding higher prices. 



As working oxen the Herefords are preferable to the Short-horns, 

 being more hardy and active. Some complaint is made of their 

 being "breechy." Their large frames demand food, and if enough 

 be furnished they are content, but if not, they have intelligence and 

 activity enough to help themselves if food be within reach. Their 

 chief merit is as large oxen, for heavy labor, and for beef Some 

 grade cows from good milking dams give a fair quantity of milk, 

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