802 A HISTORY OF SHORT-HORN CATTLE. 



a certain source of immediate improvement; 

 imparting scale, shapeliness and quality to his 

 progeny. The Short-horn grade heifer is the 

 foundation upon which bulls of other improved 

 breeds have builded some of their most signal 

 successes. In a lean or " store" condition the 

 Short-horn is still attractive by reason of his 

 level lines and general symmetry. 



Feed-lot favorites. Cattle-feeding as a lead- 

 ing industry in connection with American farm- 

 ing had its origin in Short-horn blood one hun- 

 dred years ago in the valley of the south branch 

 of the Potomac River in Virginia. Crossing the 

 Blue Ridge it became a source of wealth to the 

 Ohio Valley States, and the grazing and feed- 

 ing of Short-horn steers has followed as a mat- 

 ter of course the establishment of pure-bred 

 herds throughout the newer West. In the fore- 

 going pages we have endeavored to afford a 

 general view of the character and breeding of 

 the pedigreed stock from whence farmers of 

 the corn-belt and contiguous territory have 

 drawn their supplies of Short-horn blood; but 

 space will not admit of extending our inquiry 

 to the gates of the myriad farms upon which 

 this blood has been utilized as a machine for 

 the profitable conversion of grain and grass 

 into beef and milk. 



While the leading breeders were engaged in 

 exhibiting, importing and selling high-class 



