110 BOARD OF AGRICULTURE. 



ideas respecting the many questions still remaining- to be 

 answered, in agricultural science, will continue. It is often the 

 case that an experiment is tried at the recommendation of some 

 agricultural journal, or some writer, or friend of improvement, 



The Carcass — rouiul throughout ; full and capacious, with the under line of 

 the belly level, or nearly so, .......... 3 



The Flank full and wide, .......... 3 



The Legs — straight, upright ; firmly placed to support the superincumbent 

 "weight; a strong back sinew, but by no means a large, coarse, cannon bone, . 3 



The riatcs of the belly strong, and thus preserving nearly a straight under 

 line 3 



The Tail — large and full at its point of attachment, but fine in its chord, . 2 



The Carriage — prompt, resolute, and cheerful ; and in the ox, gay and lively, 3 



The Hair — thick, close and furry, and if accompanied with a long growth, 

 and a disposition to curl moderately, is more in estimation, but that which has 

 a harsh and wiry feel is objectionable, ........ 3 



The Udder should be such as will afford the best promise of capacity and 

 product, ............. 2 



Color — Reds or rich browns, oftentimes very dark, with a white or " brock- 

 led" face, are now the colors, and marking of the Herefords, though gray 

 Herefords or cream-colored, are not uncommon, ...... 1 



Quality — On this the thriftiness, the feeding properties, and the value of the 

 animal depends ; and upon the touch of this quality rests, in a good measure, 

 the grazier's and the butcher's judgment. If the " touch " be good, some de- 

 ficiency of form may be excused ; but if it be hard and stiff, nothing can com- 

 pensate for so unpromising a feature. In raising the skin from the body, 

 between the thumb and finger, it should have a soft, flexible and substantial 

 feel, and when beneath the out-spread hand, it shoidd move easily with it, and 

 under it, as though resting on a soft, elastic, cellular substance ; which, how- 

 ever, becomes firmer as the animal '< ripens." A thin papery skin is objection- 

 able, more especially in a cold climate, 15 



100 

 Points op the Hereford Bull. 



As regards the male animal, it is only necessary to remark, that the points de- 

 sirable in the female are generally so in the male, but must, of course be attended 

 by that masculine character which is inseparable from a strong, vigorous constitution. 

 Even a certain degree of coarseness is admissible, but then it must be so exclusively 

 of a masculine description as never to be discovered in the females of his get. 



In contra-distinction to the cows, the head of the bull may be shorter, the 

 frontal-bone broader, and the occipital flat and stronger, that it may receive and 

 sustain the horn — and this latter may be excused if a little heavy at the base, so its 

 upward form, its quality and color be right. Neither is the looseness of the skin^ 

 attached to, and depending from the under jaw, to be deemed other than a feature 

 of the sex, provided it is not extended beyond the bone, but leaves the gullet and 

 throat clean and free from dewlap. 



The upper portion of the neck should be full and muscular, for it is an indication 

 of strength, power and constitution. The spine should be strong, the bones of the 



