SHORT HORN CATTLE. 369 



quantities of milk of excellent quality, whenever any attention has been paid 

 to this particular branch of their usefulness. 



The question is often asked, what is the true and best color of the Short 

 Horns? From the first the white, cherry red or any admixture or combina- 

 tion of the two have been recognized as characteristic colors. As to the best, 

 color cannot be eaten, hence one is as good as another, provided no shade of 

 black appears, as that is a sure sign of defective pedigree. 



The first Short Horns found their way to America through the enterprise 

 of a Mr. Heaton, who emigrated from England to New York about the year 

 1775, and followed for some years the occupation of a butcher. His call- 

 ing afforded him the means of knowing the deficiencies of the common cat- 

 tle then bred in the vicinity. His first importations were made in the year 

 1791. The results were so satisfactory that he returned to England again in 

 1796, this time selecting stock from the herds of Kobert and Charles 

 Colling. The descendants of these cattle were a very valuable stock, the 

 impression of which could be traced for many years, until at last through 

 the non-appreciation of other people of that vicinity, they " ran out," or in 

 other words, were lost in the common herds of the country. Other enter- 

 prising gentlemen of Kentucky, Ohio and New York were not long in 

 deciding to follow Mr. Heaton's example, until now every State and territory 

 is in possession of their blood; everywhere they meet with appreciation, and 

 everywhere demonstrate their value. Once tried they are never discarded. 

 The great demand for them has always rendered their breeding remunerative, 

 and at times they have reached very high figures. At the New York Mills 

 sale, September 10, '73, which was the greatest cattle sale so far known, one 

 hundred and eight animals averaged three thousand five hundred and twenty- 

 three dollars, and one animal brought the astonishing price of forty thousand 

 six hundred dollars. 



For the great majority of farmers the all-work horse is the best, and for 

 the same class the general purpose breed of cattle is the one wanted, and this 

 we emphatically assert is the Short Horn. We hear and read a good deal 

 about the various breeds, "the cow of the future," "the comiog breed," etc., all 

 tending to foster expectation of a great revolution in cattle matters, but we pre- 

 dict that the Short Horn will emerge from the midst of all these controversies 

 with fresh honor, equaling the best averages of all rival breeds. 



The demand for improved cattle of some kind or breed will certainly 

 extend. Our agricultural circumstances greatly favor its extension. Within 

 the next decade greater strides will be made in the improvement and 

 extension of live stock than ever before. Improvement is made, has been 

 made, will be and can only be made by comparison. Hence arises the great 

 good of all well conducted fairs and stock shows; they cannot be too well sup- 

 ported. In no other way can so large a number of breeders, farmers and good 

 Judges be brought together to compare ideas, results, and fine specimens. 



Many are slow to realize how much they could profit from a study of the 

 experiences of others found in the best agricultural papers. In this experi- 

 ence we mingle with the more cultivated classes of cattle breeders, observe 

 the drift of discussions and profit thereby. 



Many are also slow to profit from the lesson worked out time and again for 

 the public good at the Fat Stock Shows, Agricultural Colleges and from the 

 experiments made by individuals. I was advised that I could never under- 

 stand pedigrees and breeding well enough to protect myself against the shrewd 



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