220 STATE BOARD OF AGRICULTURE. 



*'It is conceded by all cattle lueu on the plains, that have bred from Short- 

 horn and Hereford bulls, that the Hereford bulls are the best. And feeders 

 in the States, ^vho have fed grade Hcrefords from the plains, say that they never 

 fed anything at so much profit; and our man says he will never feed anything 

 else, if he can get Herefords; and when grade Herefords come on the Chicago 

 market, they command from 1 to 1|- c. per ib. higher figures than the balance 

 of the lot." 



"The Messrs. Swann Brothers, to whom I have sold so many bulls, say they 

 produce the best western cattle they ever saw ; and as workers (oxen) they 

 have never seen their equal." 



"1 liave now been breeding Herefords for seven years, and I have been more 

 fully convinced each year that they were to make the greatest success ever 

 made by any breed of cattle in this or any other country. I have been obliged 

 to work against a very strong Shorthorn influence. The State and county 

 agricultural societies discriminating against me, both in classification and 

 judging." 



''But the merits of the cattle have carried them to the front. Of this there 

 is no doubt, and they have now such a position that they will command fair 

 treatment everywhere." 



'* They are equal to any other breed as a general purpose cow. Their milk 

 is always rich, and as a butter cow they rank high." 



"Edwin Phelps, of Pontiac, in this State, writes me: "I commenced 

 breeding Herefords in lS6-i, from the herd of Erastus Corning, Albany, N. 

 Y." 



"My reasons for adopting this breed, were their evident hardihood and. 

 ability to bear ordinary or even poor treatment, and yet retain their good qual- 

 ities and valuable meat." 



" As Sanford Howard expressed it, after extended travel and careful com- 

 parison of the improved breeds of cattle, he unh.esitatingly pronounced the 

 Herefords peculiarly the poor man's cattle, thriving better under ordinary care 

 than any other breed." 



"I have abundant illustrations of this in my short experience." 



" I have fed Short-horns and Hereford grades for beef, having an equal 

 chance from first to last, and the Herefoi'ds outsold the Shorthorns a penny 

 per ib. in New York market, their weight being about equal." 



" I find the Hereford grades, like Suffolk pigs, ready for market at any age, 

 while the Short-horns do not fit well until three years or over. I have lately 

 been buying some stockers of my neighbors, and they universally hold half 

 blood Herefords at from ^o to §15 per head higher tlian half blood Short- 

 horns." 



"1 have milked the cows more or less ever since I have had them, and find 

 them only fair milkers (as to quantity) but giving milk rich in cream, of which 

 butter of superior quality and good quantity can be made." 



You are aware that I have sold myself short on several occasions, and nota- 

 bly this fall ; the demand being urgent and money so tempting, I let more go 

 than I ought, viz. : 



3 Bull Calves, at $125 00 e.icli, $375 00 



1 Heifer Calf, at 125 00 125 00 



1 Yearling Heifer, at 150 00 150 00 



2 Two Years Old, at 175 00 each. .350 00 



1 Cow, over 5 years old, at 150 00 150 00 



4 Calves, 1 yearling, 2 two years old, and a Cow $1,150 00 



