116 CATTLE HEREFORDS 



Of the three most valuable strains at the end of the 

 eighteenth century the darker shades of red prevailed in the 

 Tomkins herd, the pale red in the Skyrme herd, and grey in 

 the Tully herd, from which descended the celebrated Knight 

 Greys of the herd of Thomas A. Knight, founded about that 

 time by selections from the three herds. Some strains of 

 modern white-faced Hereford have a tendency to delicacy in 

 the eyes, especially when exposed to the influence of a tropical 

 or semi-tropical sun. Abnormal growths, which produce blind- 

 ness and finally death, are found protruding from the eyes. 

 Even in the home climate defective sight in the case of 

 objects at a few yards distance, has been known to produce 

 bad temper in the bulls, which, as a rule, are naturally 

 docile and tractable. A brown patch on the eyelids and 

 immediately surrounding parts is found to be the best 

 preventive, and animals with this natural protection against 

 the sun are much preferred for exportation to Jamaica and 

 Argentina. Until North America set the fashion for 

 absolutely pure white faces, to distinguish the pure from 

 graded cattle, the brown ring was not objected to in this 

 country, and some of the best strains are so marked, notably 

 the celebrated Horace blood. Many of the winning cattle 

 bred by Arkwright of Hampton Court years ago had brown- 

 spotted eyes, and they were believed to be a heavier and better 

 fleshed variety than others. North America has practically 

 ceased to take Hereford cattle from this country, as there are 

 over 70,000 pure-bred animals there. The American trade, 

 while it lasted, raised prices to record point. " Lord Wilton " 

 sold for 3800 guineas in 1883. Sir Jos. Pulley made ^"1200 for 

 11 Protector," and John Tudge sold " Albany" for the same price 

 to C. A. Jameson of Illinois, U.S.A. The tide of export has in 

 recent years set in the direction of South America. From June 

 1890 till the end of December 1903, 496 pedigree Herefords 

 went out to Argentina and 139 to Uruguay; from 1903 to 

 1906, 570 Herefords were exported to South America. A 

 larger number even went before 1890. At Richard Green's 

 displenishing sale at Whittern in October 1903, the cow 

 "Silkweed" made 315, and her. yearling heifer, " Spirea," 

 472, los. 1 



1 Indebtedness for recent information is acknowledged to G. C. 

 Britten, Secretary, Hereford Herd Book Society. 



