THE UNITED KINGDOM. 173 



fords. But Hereford cattle have not always thus assimilated so closely 

 to a. common type. Up to well within the present century there were 

 four distinct varieties of the breed differing widely from one another in 

 appearance, but three have succumbed so completely to the "red-with- 

 white" face that a Hereford not thus marked is as rare as a white crow. 



The origin of the breed is doubtful. The best authorities consider it 

 aboriginal; others claim its importation from Normandy or Flanders; 

 others, again, think the climate and conditions of Hereford County 

 have made what they have out of an animal that originally inhab- 

 ited the shire of Devon. Be its origin what it may, its environment 

 in Hereford County and surrounding counties has resulted in one of the 

 finest beef-producing breeds of cattle in the world, nor is the breed to 

 be despised for the dairy under conditions more favorable than are to 

 be obtained in its home county. 



The authentic history of the breed begins about the year 1800. In 

 the year before this occurred the first cattle show of the celebrated 

 Smithfield Club, and a Hereford ox was the winner of the first prize ; 

 a more general acknowledgment of merit then than now, because at 

 that time, and indeed up to the year 1851, all breeds were shown in 

 competition with each other. This ox was G feet 7 inches high, 10 feet 

 4 inches girth, and weighed 1,070 pounds (live weight). His success 

 was maintained by the breed so well that up to 1851 the Hcrefords are 

 credited in Smithfield Club records with one hundred and eighty-five 

 prizes for their oxen and steers against one hundred and ninety for all 

 other breeds together, including Shorthorns, Devons, and Scotch. The 

 record of prizes won by Hereford cows and heifers is, however, by no 

 means so good, being twenty- two for them against one hundred and 

 eleven for all other breeds. Mr. Duckham, in his interesting and val- 

 uable little work on the breed, comments thus on this disparity between 

 the success of the males and females. He says : 



This is certainly a great falling off compared with the oxen and steers, and goes far 

 to prove tho correctness of my remark respecting the study of nature's Jaws in the cul- 

 tivation of tho soil and of the adaptation of stock to it. Tho soil of the county of 

 Hereford being neither applicable for dairy or feeding purposes, those who have cul- 

 tivated it for ages made it their study to breed steers and oxen which should, by iheir 

 superior quality and aptitude to fatten, command tho attention of the distant grazier. 



Herefordshire has 550,000 acres. About 100,000 acres are utilized nei- 

 ther for pasture nor agriculture ; the balance is divided equally, almost, 

 between these two pursuits. The substratum is a light-red sandstone, 

 and the soil generally is a deep-red heavy loam, sometimes with some 

 clay in it. The surface of the county is hilly, and averages about 250 

 feet above sea-level. There are some small but beautiful and fertile 

 valleys. The culture of tree-fruits, notably apples, and of hops is 

 largely pursued. Damp fogs prevail at some seasons and help to keep 

 the grass beautifully green all the year round. 



Mr. Southall has kindly furnished me with the following particulars 

 of temperature, rainfall, &c., the results of his own observations at his 

 house in Eoss, the sourthern part of the county: 



* Tho temperature reached this extremely moderate height only on three or four days in the year. 

 tOa one day only. 



