L74 CATTLE AND DAIRY FARMING. 



The rainfall amounted in 1883 to 31.52 inches, being 1.34 inches more 

 than the average. There were in this year 197 days on which rain fell. 

 The ideal Hereford is thus described by Mr. Duckhain : 



The face, throat, chest, lower part of the body and legs, together with the crest or 

 mane, and the tip of the tail, a beautifully clear white; a small red spot on the eye, 

 and a round red spot on the throat, in the- middle of the white, are distinctive marks 

 which have many admirers. The horns are of a yellow or white waxy appearance, 

 frequently darker at the ends ; those of the bull should spring out straightly from 

 a broad flat forehead, whilst those of the cows have a wave and a slight upward tend- 

 ency. The countenance is at once pleasant, cheerful, and open, presenting a placid 

 appearance, denoting a good temper and that quietude of disposition which is so es- 

 sential to the successful grazing of all ruminating animals; yet the eye is full and 

 lively, the head small in comparison to the substance of the body. The muxzlo white, 

 and moderately fine thin cheek. The chest deep and full, well covered on the outside 

 with mellow flesh ; kernel full up from shoulder-point to throat ; and so beautifully 

 do the shoulder-blades blend into the body that it is difficult to tell in a well-fed ani- 

 mal where they are set on. The chine and loin broad; hips long and moderately 

 broad ; legs straight and small. The rump forming a straight line with the back, and 

 at a right angle with the thigh, which should be full of flesh down to the hocks, 

 without exuberance ; twist good, well filled up with flesh even w r ith the thigh. The 

 ribs should spring well and deep, level with shoulder-point: the flank full, and the 

 whole carcass welland evenly covered with a rich mellow flesh, distinguishable by 

 yielding with a its pleasing elasticity to the touch. The hide thick, yet mellow, and 

 well covered with soft, glossy hair having a tendency to curl. 



A glance at the cuts presented here will show us immediately how 

 closely the animals whose portraits have been selected to accompany 

 this article answer to this description. The bull, Borneo, is perfect. 

 He was bred by Mr. Carwardine, of Leorninster, in Herefordshire, and 

 was sold in 188*2 to Messrs. Earl & Stuart, of Lafayette, Ind., where he 

 now is. 



The ox pictured here was bred by Mr. J. Price, of Penibridge in 

 Herefordshire. He won the Elkington Challenge Cup at Birmingham 

 in 1881, and again in 1882. This prize has never before been won twice 

 by the same animal, and, in recognition of his great feat, the portrait of 

 this ox is to have the place of honor, the title-page, of volume 14 of 

 the Hereford Herd-Book, just about to be issued. The general rule 

 is to admit to the herd-book only cuts of such animals as take first prize 

 at a royal agricultural show. The thirteenth volume, I may mention 

 here, contains the names of 199 breeders, of whom 11 are either in the 

 United States or Canada. The fourteenth volume, which is to be issued 

 in February next, contains, I am informed, a much larger number of 

 breeders' names. I hardly think it necessary, but still I venture to 

 suggest that no American owner or breeder of Herefords eligible for 

 entry should omit to register them. The herd-book is under the con- 

 trol of S. W. Urwick, esq., of Leominster, and all breeders of these cat- 

 tle are under obligation to him for the accuracy and completeness of 

 the work. I take pleasure in acknowledging here the obligation I also 

 am under to Mr. TJrwick for assistance rendered and information ex- 

 tended in connection with this report. 



The two cows portrayed here are both royal prize winners at late 

 shows. Golden Treasure has a little too much white for a perfect 

 Hereford, but in other respects she is all that a pure-bred Hereford 

 should be. 



Herefords were formerly used considerably in the yoke, where "they 

 combined the activity of the Devon with the strength of the Short- 

 horn." There, as well as in grazing, their placed, quiet temper rendered 

 them doubly valuable. In these old days when they were put to the 

 yoke, when the demand for meat was not so pressing as now, nor money 

 requiring so rapid a turn-over, they were often kept until six or seven 



