280 AMERICAN AGRICULTURE. 



most extensive pure-bred family of cattle in the United 

 States. 



During the speculative times of 1835 to 1840, they brought 

 high prices, frequently from $500 to $1000, and sometimes 

 more. The following years of pressure, reduced their market 

 price below their intrinsic value, but the tide is again turning, 

 and they are now in some demand, but still at prices far 

 below their utility and merits. They have from the tirst, been 

 favorites in the rich, corn vallies of th West, their early 

 maturity and great weight giving them a preference over any 

 other breed. The only drawback to this partiality, is their 

 inability from their form and weight, to reach remote eastern 

 markets in good condition ; an inconvenience now in a great 

 measure remedied, by the recent remission of duties on for- 

 eign beef in the English market, which makes them of nearly 

 equal value where fed, to pack for exportation. On light 

 lands and scanty pastures they will probably never be largely 

 introduced. All heavy animals require full forage within 

 a limited compass, so as to till their stomachs at once, and 

 quietly compose themselves to their digestion. 



The weights reached by the Short Horns in England, as 

 given by Mr. Berry, have been enormous. Two oxen, six 

 years old, weighed nett, 1820 Ibs. each. A heifer of three 

 years, and fed on grass and hay alone, weighed 1260 Ibs. A 

 four-year-old steer, fed on hay and turneps only, dressed 1890 

 Ibs. A cow reached the prodigious weight of 1778 Ibs. A 

 heifer, running with her dam, and on pasture alone, weighed 

 at seven months, 476 Ibs. An ox, seven years old, weighed 

 2362 Ibs. From their comparatively small numbers in this 

 country, most of them have been retained for breeders, and 

 lew have as yet been fattened, and such only as were deci- 

 dedly inferior. The animals which have been extensively 

 produced by crossing upon our former stocks, have given 

 evidence of great and decided improvement ; and the Short 

 Horns, and I heir <jr;ule, descendants are destined at no 

 distant d;i\, to occupy :i hrge portion of the richest feeding 

 ground-; in the United States. 



1 1 KKKFOKDS are the only remaining pure breed, which Ins 

 hitherto occupied the attention of graziers in this country. 

 Like the Devons, they arc supposed to be one of the most 

 ancient races of British cattle. Marshall gives the following 

 description : " The countenance pleasant, cheerful, open ; the 

 forehead broad ; eye full and lively ; horns bright, taper, and 

 spreading ; head small ; chap lean ; neck long and tapering ; 



