314 EUROPEAN AGRICULTURE. 



but few compared with the whole number to be seen I found 

 in Lincolnshire, in the possession of one of the best farmers in 

 England, a tenant of Lord Yarborough. They were not in the 

 Herd Book, but had been in possession of the family more than 

 fifty years. A superior lot of cows, in appearance and condition, 

 I never saw, nor expect to see ; but they were not distinguished 

 for their milking properties. The property to take on fat is con 

 sidered inconsistent with that of large secretions of milk. This 

 is not without exceptions within my own knowledge, but is 

 generally true. I shall recur again to the milking properties of 

 the short horns. The beef of the short horns, though good, is 

 not considered of the highest quality. This may be partly as 

 cribed to the early age at which they are killed. It is believed, 

 however, that few animals, under proper management, pay better 

 for the care bestowed upon them ; and although the prices of 

 the present day are small compared with what they were at one 

 time, this may be traced to various causes, not implying a les 

 sening of public esteem for the breed. The breed, for instance, 

 is greatly extended, and good animals are not difficult to be 

 procured. The prices formerly given were much too high, 

 owing to the small number of animals to be had, and the much 

 higher comparative prices of all agricultural products, at that 

 time. For labor, as far as my observation goes, they are not 

 used at all. 



(2.) Hcrcfords. The great competing breed with the short 

 horns are the Herefords, which, excepting in Herefordshire and 

 the neighborhood, are not so widely spread as the short horns. 

 It would be difficult to adjust the rival claims between these two 

 great breeds. The Hereford cattle are exceedingly neat in their 

 limbs and form, and of good size. At the show of the Smith- 

 field Club, held at Christmas, the highest prices appear to alter 

 nate between the short horns and the Herefords. Under proper 

 treatment, they may be brought to as early maturity as the short 

 horns. I think I have never seen so fat animals as some Here 

 fords; but the fat is not so evenly diffused as in the short horns, 

 and seems laid on in large lumps and patches, which is an ob 

 jectionable circumstance. They are not so great consumers as 

 the short horns, and their thrift is remarkable. Some farmers in 



