38 



THE FARMER'S MAGAZINE. 



into this country is of two pairs imported by Henry Clay in 

 1820 or 1821, wlio "bred from them and their crosses until 

 led to discontinue in consequence of an apprehension that he 

 should breed in and in to3 far." Mr. Clay says of the breed 

 tbat thty " have the advantage of the Devons in size, greater 

 length, more power consequently; and I think they are as 

 quirk in step, and as good at the pail." Mr. H. S. Randall, 

 quoting the above language (Transactions N. Y. State Ag. 

 Soc, vol. i., page 252), says that Mr. Clay had probably se- 

 lected his stock for milking purposes, and heuce they were 

 better milkers than usual. Surely, if Mr. Clay found them 

 good at the pail, it shows what might be done with the breed 

 if breeders would allow nature to have more scope in develop- 

 ing the animal. 



MR. RANDALL'S VIEWS. 



Other importations were made at about the same time as 

 Mr. Clay's and subsequently, but they have failed to be- 

 come favourites generall}--, having given place to their great 

 rivals the Shorthorns. Mr. Randall, in the article above 

 rererred to, says judiciously : " There can be but little 

 doubt but that in the points regarded by the butcher, 

 Hereforda have few rivals, though perhaps the grazier would 

 prefer a variety maturing somewhat earlier. In a country 

 where feeding properties are regarded as the prime point, 

 and the demand of whose markets will render it profitable 

 to breed and graze a race of cattle exclusively for the 

 shamble?, the Herefords, from their aptitude to take on 

 flesh, from the high quality of their beef, and from their en- 

 durance of travel, will always be deservedly held in high 

 estimation. And although it cannot be denied that the 

 more popular breed have, within a few years, superseded 

 Herefords in a large majority of the more fertile districts 

 of England, the latter not unfrequently bear away the palm 

 from their more successful rivals at the English agricultural 

 exhibitions, particularly where influences prevail arising 

 from the proximity of large markets." Mr. Randall con- 

 cludes thus : " In the remote Western States, on whose 

 iramenss natural pastures early maturity is less a matter of 

 consequence, where dairying properties are little regarded, 

 providing the cow will yield suflicient milk to properly rear 

 her progeny, and where beef-cattle must be driven great dis- 

 tances to market, there is little doubt that the Herefords 

 would prove an invaluable breed." This coincides with cur 

 own opinion. We do not think that, as the breed is now 

 constituted in this countrj',it can compete with Shorthorns 

 in the rich pastures oi the older States, where but few cattle 

 would be kept on a place, and these be tended with great 

 care ; where, too, dairy stock is in demand, and can be had 

 by crosses of Shorthorns on our native cows— for, as we 

 have already shown, the Hereford men have bred almost 

 entirely to beef, and have reduced the milking capacities of 

 their stock to a low point; but on the western prairies, 

 where the great droves of stock are raised for our consump- 

 tion, we feel satisfied that pure Herefords of the Berwick 

 a'jd Batemau stamp, and crosses on our common stock, 

 would prove eminently profitable. 



It will be seen, therefore, that we assign to each breed a 

 distinct sphere of usefulness, and do not admit that either 

 embraces in itself all that is good and perfect. The field is 

 wide. Let each have a share. 



MR. CORNING'S PLACE. 

 Fifteen years ago, Mr. Erastus Coming commenced his 

 career as a Hereford breeder, by the purchase of about 

 twenty animals from Mr. Sotham, and entered into an ar- 



rangement with him to superintend and manage the herd' 

 This connection continued for two or three years, when 

 the direction of affairs was confided to Mr. Coming's son, 

 Erastus, who has since continued in charge of the herd. At 

 various times, importations have been made of nine cows in 

 calf, and two bulls, one of which latter. Cardinal Wiseman, 

 was bred by the Rev, Mr. Smithies, of Leominster, Herts. 



Mr. Coming's farm, comprising 300 acres, lies on the 

 banks of the Hudson, three miles below the City of Albany. 

 Like all the land in that vicinity, his farm is mainly hilly ; 

 the soil of fiiir quality. There are 35 acres of pasture, 80 

 meadows, 15 corn, 32 oats, and the balance in roots, woods, 

 orchards, &c. In almost any direction within three miles 

 of the city, land is worth, on an average, £20 per 

 acre, the price decreasing as the farm is more and more re- 

 moved from market. Mr. Corning has had much difiiculty 

 from the washing of his side-hills, but thinks he has found 

 an eifectual remedy in tile-drainage. Seventy acres of tile 

 have been laid, on an average 4-^ feet deep, and usually 14 

 or 15 yards apart. We were shown adjoining lots— one 

 thorough drained, the other not — both laid down to pasture. 

 On one the sod was smooth, even, and unbroken, the crop 

 luxuriant and healthy; on the other could be secD.here 

 and there, large masses that had been undermined by cur- 

 rents of rain-water, and washed away, so as to leave their 

 former resting-places denuded of verdure. Mr. Corning was 

 about commencing to drain this lot, and purposes extending 

 the system over the entire farm. He has perhaps one of 

 the most extensive and valuable collections of green-house 

 plants in this country, and some specimens exceedingly 

 rare and valuable. There are over 450 feet of hot-houses, 

 built in a substantial manner, and with taste. The plea- 

 sure-grounds adjoiniog the house are so well kept, the layu 

 is so beautifully green and closely shorn, and the trees so 

 disposed, as to vividly recall the memory of English coun- 

 try-places recently visited. The collection of heaths is 

 perhaps the finest in the country, there being over 200 

 varieties of this graceful plant. We noticed especially a 

 Harlnellii of fine symmetry, very large and healthy. It 

 must be 18 inches in diameter and 14 in height. The 

 Philadelphia florists have doubted that it could be so suc- 

 cessfully grown in this country'. The Victoria, quite a new 

 variety; the Vestila alba in a tub outside the house, proba- 

 bly 4 by 3 feet in size, and very compact at that, were well 

 worthy of examination. Of the orchids, the BendroUum 

 speciosfl, unpretending in appearance, but very costly ; the 

 Dendrohium noliile, a fine specimen, with 30 blooming 

 shoots that will give it 300 flowers next season ; the Droe- 

 cina nohilis, with its smooth crimson leaves; the Perfugium 

 grunde, and hundreds of other.', testify to the skill and zeal 

 of the modest Sco!ch gardener, William Grey. In the 

 ground we noticed a magnificent Erica tramparens, 6 by 6 

 feet, that has scarcely a mate this side of " Edinboro'toon." 

 But to " return to our muttons," v/hich in this case are 

 Herefords. 



Mr. Corning says that he has given faithful trials, side 

 by side, to Short-horns and Herefords, and has convinced 

 himself of the superiority of the latter, for withstanding our 

 cold Northern climate, for making flesh on less food, and 

 for activity as workers. He has had at times twenty or 

 thirty of each breed in his stables, and the result is that he 

 has chosen what he thinks is the "good part that cannot be 

 taken from" him. His animals sre not kept up and fed to 

 get them in high condition, for he has bred not for the but- 

 cher but for the breeder. 



